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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Expens, Expence, n. Also: expense, exspence. [ME. expense (Wyclif), expence, AF. expense, late L. expensa.]

1. Money or means for spending. c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1208.
Quhen the Gregionis ost gan fale The expenses oft-syis and wittale, … The said oist releved I Ib. 1227.
The quhilk oist ay was but falyng In-to expenses haboundand 1427 Acts II. 16/1.
The king forbiddis that ony of his liegis sende ony expens til ony baratoure that now is outewith the realme c1475 Wall. v. 537.
Fra tyme thai wyst that Wallace leiffand was, Gude expensis till him thai maid to pas

2. Expenditure of money or means; a sum or sums spent. Freq. in plural.(1) sing. (a) 1456 Hay I. 272/8.
Gif he aw to content the party of the expens resonable Ib. 274/5.
To lesse all expens and travailis of parties [at law] 1478 Acts II. 118/2.
The expense of the said ambassiat to be takin of the hale burowis 1507 Treas. Acc. III. 365.
To the Franch knychtis expens in Hadingtoun … to his dynar, his hors met and belcher 1555 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 220.
He had … aduertist tham … that litill expens in tyme wald remeid the samyn c1568 Lauder Minor P. i. 224.
Moir grit expens is maid … Upon ane pair of prophane monstruus hose(b) a1500 Bernardus 78.
On glutony to waste and mak expence a1500 Henr. Fab. 249.
My dische weschingis is worth ȝour haill expence(2) pl. (a) 1466 Acta Aud. 4/1.
Isabell sal content and pay the said Margret x marcs for hir expensis 1483 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 48.
Gif he beis … not of powar to mak his expenssis hastely vpoun his fredome 1506 Peebles B. Rec. 34.
The costis, skathis, dampnagis, and expensis sustenit be the said baillies and communite 1548–9 Treas. Acc. IX. 282.
To William Lauder, for making of his play and expensis maid thairupoun a1570-86 Maitl. F. xxxiv. 40.
Lordis and lairdis, ȝour wyffis but weir Puttis ȝow to grit expensis 1608–9 Misc. Spald. C. V. 84.
His expensis in passing to the Stanehyve for the clengearis(b) 1488 Treas. Acc. I. 97.
To Peter Falconar, for the exspencis maide be ȝong Kere Garde with him before this da 1492 Ib. 201.
The haile exspencis maid be the Lordis of Pertht, at the ayre of saim 1596 Dalr. I. 47/6.
Ane new palice … erectit and bigit with gret cost and expences

b. In the phr. on or upon (one's) expens(is; freq. with awin (own).(1) sing. 1476 Acta Aud. 49/1.
Thare to remain apoun thare awin expens 1491 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. 257.
Gif he hes nay gudis of his awin to bring him furtht … the College sal bringe him furtht on thar expens 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1797.
I sall … do ȝour command, Vpon my awin expens a1578 Pitsc. II. 14/17.
[To] remaine and hald hous with hir in thair expens a 1610 Rec. Earld. Orkney 380.
All this claithis forsaid was maid on my expens and on my geir(2) pl. 1460 Ayr Charters 35.
The said fayr thai haff wndertakyn wpon thare awyn expensis 1549 Compl. 89/1.
He furnest the empriour vitht sex thousand fut men … on his auen expensis 1570 Leslie 74.
Ane … costly ship, quhilk had bene apoun the Kingis expensis a1578 Pitsc. II.. 34/2.
The king … bad thame pas in Scotland and tak ceassing wpoun his expenssis

c. Clerk of expensis (in the royal household). 1526 Reg. Privy S. I. 537/2.
Ane lettre to Johne Abbot of Jedburgh, makand him clerk of expensis to our soverane lord 1543 Ib. III. 5/1.
Ane lettir maid … to George Ogilvy makand him clerk of expenssis to the quenis grace

3. For thair expence, for their pains. a1500 Henr. Fab. 1834.
The fowlar saw, and greit aithis hes sworne Thay suld be tane trewlie for thair expence