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

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Levy, v. Also: levie, -ey, (levin); leivel; leavy, -ie. [e.m.E. and late ME. levy (1469), -ie, -e(e, leavye (1550), f. Levyn. Cf. also Leviat p.p. and v.]

1. tr. To raise or enlist (troops, an army). 1573 Reg. Privy C. II. 256.
Licence to levey and tak up [300] men of weare 1578 Moysie 13.
Captane Dauid Homes drummer being giangand throw the toun … to leivey men vnder his charge in the Kingis name 1639 Dunferm. Ann. 304.
The said [25] men to be leavit and chosen out of the inhabitants of this burgh 1641 Acts V. 715/1.
It is thoght expedient that sex scoire men sall be levieit for … assisting the execucioune of the said commissioune 1649 Ib. VI. ii. 702/1.
Ruitmaster of the horse to be leavyed out of the said shyre [of Peebles] 1693 Ib. IX. 265/1.
[2979] foot to be levyed off the severall shyres and burghs

b. To raise troops from (a district). a1676 Guthry Mem. (1702) 45.
The General … appointed the Earl of Montross … to levy [gl. raise the countries of] Fife, Strathern, Angus and Merne

c. intr. Of troops: To be levied, to enlist, muster. c1650 Spalding II. 95 marg.
Soldiouris levying for France 1689 Melville Chart. 188.
I saw … a great many foot suldiers levieing, and wes informed the uholl kingdom of France wer mustred once a weik

2. tr. To raise (contributions, taxes). 1607 Acts IV. 376/2.
That ane taxatioun … be leveit and vpliftit 1640 Kirkcaldy Presb. 182.
The brethren ar content to levin [sic] ane thousand merks of thair voluntar contribution for further defrayeing of the publik charges of the countrie 1649 Acts VI. ii. 447/1.
That all officers that levied mony for souldiers and did not compleat their number shall restore the double to the Commissioners