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

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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Manrent, n. Also: -rente, -rend, -renth, mannrent, mantrent. [Var. of Manredyn n. with metathesis as also in haterent, kinrent, etc.]

1. The solemn undertaking to be another's ‘man’ or faithful supporter and the obligation so constituted.Normally in return the patron promised his maintenance and backing to the supporter.(a) 1375 Barb. v. 296.
All the leill men of the land … This gud man gert cum … And mak him manrent … And he himself first homage maid c1420 Wynt. viii. 4273.
The Erle off Atholle … Throwch the Stwartis senyhowry Had tane manrent and fewte ?1438 Alex. ii. 17.
He … maid him manrent with his hand 1441–2 Foulis Chart. (Reg. H.) 18 Jan.
Giff it happin me … to brek my manrent and obelysinge made to my forsaide lorde 1446 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 405.
The said Malcolm to be man to the said Alexander … for the quhilk manrent we ordande the said Alexander to gif the saide Malcolm Mekil Wardris … in fee and heritage 1457 Acts II. 50/2.
At na man duellande within burghe be fundyn in manrent … bot with the King … or with the lorde of the burghe 1472 Misc. Spald. C. V. 288.
The said community [of Nairn] … are bound … to the said … Lord … Lovett, … for the whilk mannrent … the said lord … is bundine … to the said community 1474 Reg. Cupar A. I. 215. a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1218. 1476 Thanes of Cawdor 61. 1482 Reg. Morton II. 245. 1483 Misc. Spald. C. II. 253. c1490 Porteous Noblenes 174/4.
To thaim [sc. nobles] was gevin hie honour manrent and seruice of thar subiectis 1510 Crim. Trials I. 66. 1512 Elphinstone Mun. 18. a1538 Abell 76 a.
At nane suld sweir manrent to ony bot to the King 1557 Bk. Carlaverock II. 479.
In manrenth and seruice a1568 Bann. MS. 89 b/17.
Be stark manrent with thame to gang a1568 Scott xxxiii. 13. 1585 Lag Chart. 56. 1681 Stair i. ii. § 12.
A kind of bondage … called manrent, whereby persons became the men or followers of those who were their patrons(b) 1456 5th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. 625/1.
Landis … haldin … be seruice of ward and relief, mantrent and seruice Brus xvi. 303 (C).
[They] thair mantrent till him can ma 1511 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 455.
To mak homag mantrent and seruice till our souerane lord 1552 Breadalbane Doc. No. 81.
Prouiding alwais the saidis Duncane and his sone … keip thair band and mantrent(c) 1530–1 Maxwell Mem. I. 261.
It salbe lefull to thame to bynnd thame in manrend to quham thay plesor

b. Band, letter(is (= written contract) of manrent.For a number of examples, see e.g. Misc. Spald. C. II. 252 f.(1) 1476 Acta Aud. 42/1.
It is clerly pruvit … that thare wes a letter of manrent maid betuix him and the said Sir William 1478 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 339.
[He] sall gif his letteris of manrent and retenew … as for fee pait befor hande 1488 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I. 320. 1490 Misc. Spald. C. II. 259.
And this my lettre of manrent to indur for … twa yeris 1491 Acta Aud. 156/2. 1498 Acta Conc. II. 195.(2) 1482 Acta Aud. 103/2.
That the sade Johne sal mak the sade lord seruice tharfore efter the forme of his band of manrent and seruice 1482 Thanes of Cawdor 65. 1522 Coll. Rebus Alban. 86.
Forasmekle as our lovitt cousin … hes gevyn us his band of manrent … we bindis us … that we sall mantene [etc.] … the said Johne 1525 Douglas Chart. 223. 1525 St. A. Formulare I. 271. 1528 James V in St. P. Henry VIII IV. 499.
[Angus] usit our autorite … aganis … our liegis that wald nocht entir in band of manrent to him 1533 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 409. 1554 Crim. Trials I. i. 373. 1555 Acts II. 495/2. 1558 Red. Bk. Menteith II. 438. 1559–60 Bk. Dunvegan I. 44. 1581 Reg. Privy C. III. 368. 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Homagium. 1687 Lauder Notices Affairs II. 847.
Entering into bands of manrent with some of the gentrie 1698 Misc. 3 Spald. C. II. 103.
He hath … received band of manrent from them

2. The homage of vassals within one's domains; vassalry, vassalage. 1531 Bell. Boece II. 345.
The hous of Cumingis war in thir dayis full of riches, landes, and manrent: forby thir three erllis and lord foresaid, thair was xxx knichtis and landit men, all of ane surname Ib. 383.
Thair hicht and gret pissance, baith in manrent and landis Ib. 428.
Ane man … of gret manrent and landis a1578 Pitsc. I. 42/2.
Remember … that ȝe ar promovit to the greit dependance of vasallis and landis of manrentis with wther great strength and powar 1583 Reg. Privy C. III. 614.
[Montrose, being] baillie of the dukrie of Lennox … and havand commandiment of the manrent of all … inhabitantes of the said dukrie a1595 Descr. Isles 435.
McCowle of Lorn hes the stewartship of the haill ile [Lismore] and manrent thairof