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

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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Promes, v. Also: -ese, -ess. P.t. and p.p. promes(s)it, -ed; promest. [e.m.E. promes(se (1467), f. Promesn.  Cf. Promis, Promeis.]

1. tr. To promise. = Promis v. 1.a. (1) 1568 Waus Corr. 61.
Quhat I may promes in my lordis name a1578 Pitsc. II 8/6.
And alswa promesit pledgeis to be delyuerit in Ingland c1650 Spalding I 277.(2) 1530 Aberd. B. Rec. I xxxvi.
Sua that it is we promest your lordschipe the said tovne of wyne for wyther caus than [etc.] 1549 Compl. 26/13.
Promest (p.p.) Ib. 92/23.
Promes (pres. t.) Ib. 95/15.
Promest (p.t.) a1568 Wedderburn Bann. MS 260 b/24.
Scho promest him hir luve 1570–1 Inverness Rec. I 198.
Wyth ane blok he promest him for the leyne of the eaxe 1579 Ib. 269. 1589–1600 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 57 b.
Geuene Tomes Clerke … mar nor was promest him xii lib. 1610 Wedderb. Compt Bk. 102.
James Myln … hes … promesit me yeirly [etc.] 1622-6 Bisset II 235/20.
Uthir then is promesed theme c1650 Spalding I 6.
Who had priuilie promesit thame assistans(3) a1578 Pitsc. I 82/13.
He keipit never ane word that he had promessit for the repairing of his offenceis Ib. 194/12.
The enemyeis … promesis sic fair hechtis vnto thameb. (1) 1526–7 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 84.
For the forsaid Gilbert promest to bryng his preiff 1549 Facs. Nat. MSS III xxiv.
That the quenis grace … promest faithfullie be hir hand writ … to tak the said erle in mariage 1549 Compl. 11/20.
Promest 1559–60 Soc. Ant. XI 520.
And than promeseit faithfully to refound [etc.] 1561 St. A. Kirk S. 113.
Becaws the said Johan … had promesed and consented to marye Elizabeth 1574 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 34.
Promesis 1590 Crim. Trials I ii 210.
Promesing to haif mareit hir 1595 Waus Corr. 522.
Promessis 1610 Rep. Hist. MSS, Var. Coll. V 116.
The chyrurgeane … hes promesit to handill the same [corpse] agane 1623 Aberd. Council Lett. I 206.
And what ever your lordship does … the haill brether of gild promess to hauld firme and stabill 1650 Aberd. Journal N. & Q. VI 248.
They went to a fauld and promesit to let it ly onlaboured(2) 1593 Acts IV 26/2.
The said morowing gift sa faithfullie … promesit to be vpsett and maid guid(3) 1580 Fam. Innes 138.
To acknawlege him as cheiff … as inlykwayis promesit be his aithec. 1558-66 Knox I 48.
And tharefoir he promessed, that he should follow the counsall of the bischoppes [etc.] 1586 Thanes of Cawdor 190.
Bayth the saidis parteis promesis faythfullie ilk ane to uthir that [etc.] 1590–1 Crim. Trials I ii 239.
It wes promesit that he sould be callit ‘Robert the Comptroller alias Rob the Rowar’ 1598 Misc. Spald. C. I 119.
The Quene of Elphen promesit to thé that thow suld knaw all thingis [etc.]d. 1612 Orkney & Shetl. Ct. Bk. (ed.) 18.
Quhairunto the saidis pairteis consentit and aggreit and promesed hinc inde to utheris viz [etc.]

2. To declare as a hostile intention, to vow openly, to threaten (something hostile or unpleasant). 1590 Crim. Trials I ii 211.
Quhair Satan promesit to raise ane mist 1596–7 Misc. Spald. C. I 86.
And thairby thow, as thow promesit, murtherit tham Ib. 88.
Thow … bostit him, and promesit to gar him repent that ewir he saw … hir