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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.

Promeis, n. Also: promeis(s)e. [Late Sc. var. of Promis n. Cf. also Promes.]

1. (A) promise. = Promis n. 1.(1) 14.. Acts (1566) To Reader iij.
Lawis … ar … the commoun promeis, band and obligatioun of the realme and of ilk member thairof to vther, efter the quhilk [etc.] a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xiv 19.
Be of thy promeis and conditioun leill a1578 Pitsc. I 342/23.
King Harie … than was at Ȝork remaineing vpone the King of Scotlandis cuming to him as his promeis was Ib. 92/26, 33. 1578 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. I 76.
In nocht haifing his hous he had of hir watterfast and lokfast conform to hir promeis c1590 Fowler II 22/10.
Idolatrous Papists, quha perceuing that nather thair friuole arguments, nor alluring promeissis, micht perswade me [etc.] Ib. 122/23. 1607 Facs. Nat. MSS III lxxxvii.
Thinking to haue beine fred of his former promeis 1614 Denmylne MSS in Highland P. III 153. 1611-57 Mure Sonnets x 3.
One … Quhose othe & promeis ar a slidrie ground To build wpon 1652 Red Bk. Grandtully II 147. 1644 Kirkintilloch B. Ct. 7.
[He] acknowledged the said debt and alledgeit ane promeise of her for another halffe yeare(2) 1561 Reg. Privy S. V i 216/1.
And havand regard to hir … moderis faithfull promeis contenit thairin maid in the aith of ane prince promittand faithfullie [etc.] 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 164. a1578 Pitsc. I 343/5.
Gif all promeisis had stand quhilk was maid be the King of Scotland 1586 Cal. Sc. P. VIII 443.(3) 1558-66 Knox II 126.
According to the promeisse of thair heyghness commissionaris maid to us 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 116. c1590 Fowler II 85/7.
That fals promeis, that the king did mak to the pape in furneshing him with forces 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 131/8.
Quhen ye are married keipe inuiolablie youre promeise maid to God in youre mariadge(4) a1586 Maitland Geneal. Setoun 11.
Sua that I could not performe the promeis 1558-66 Knox I 346.
That sche was bundin to keap na promeise to hereticques a1578 Pitsc. I 343/18. 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 97/7.
Keipe præcislie youre promeise unto thaime 1614 Denmylne MSS in Highland P. III 153.(5) 1560 Rolland Seven S. 6043.
And my promeis to hir quyte I haue brokin 1558-66 Knox II 130.
How that this promeise was illuded c 1568 Goodall Lett. Mary 6.
May not ane man of my age … inlacke of his promeis(6) 1567 Reg. Privy C. I 536.
All kingis [etc.] … sall mak their faythfull liegue and promeis to the trew kirk of God, that thai sall manteine … the trew religioun 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 46.
To the manteinance of the quhilk thay desyrit ane promeis of the quene a1578 Pitsc. I 343/24.
Bot that he sould keip the promeis of meitting 1614 Denmylne MSS in Highland P. III 171. 1615 Crim. Trials III 275.
And mony promeisses and vowis maid that na bak-starting sould be fra ȝour intendit rebellioun 1621 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 332.
That he had ane promeis of his maiestie … off ane bischioprick in Ireland 1662 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 267.
The said Mr. Johne did instead of signing the foirsaid promeise of canonicall obedience … give in a paper Ib. 268.(7) c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 19592.
As in the prolog … Quhair I maid promeis for to do my best 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 25.
Nor in ressetting … of hir rebellis contrair to promeis and solemnit contract of pacificatioun betuix thir twa realmis 1609 Crim. Trials III 27.
That the sub-officer thair hes gevin thame promeis of protectioun 1634 Peebles Gleanings 176.
For his guid adveis … and promeis of a conteinuowance(8) 1558-66 Knox II 298.
That the quenys majestie wold keapt promeisse maid unto thame a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xx 15.
All leifsum promeis keip iustlie Till all maner of staitis a1578 Pitsc. I 23/3.(9) 1558-66 Knox II 37.
And to break promeisse with France will appeir dangeruss 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 164.
Knowing that my lord of Mar had brokin promeis in that [etc.] 1586–7 Waus Corr. 379.
The reproche of breking of promeis to ane prince(10) c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus iii 53.
To gif sentence clene, For fauour or feid, contract or ȝit promeis [: Erudices, Hercules, wis, is] a1568 Scott i 134.
Credence is past off promeis, thocht thai sweir 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 24.
Sic men as ar … without fayth in promeis, mesour in covatise [etc.]

b. Freq., of marriage.1562 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 11 (see Han(d)fast v. 1). 1567 Buch. Detect. (1727) 95.
And being als fre and abill to mak promeis of mariage Ib. 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 92.
[They] hes subscriuit this present faithfull promeis with thair handis 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 196.
Tumult … maid be Archibald Ruthvene … quha allegit that he haid the first promeis of hir 1577 Perth Kirk S. MS 14 Oct.
Quha deponit … he neuir made faithfull promeis of mairiage to hir 1579 Stirling Kirk S. in Rogers Social Life I 108.
Bayth … granted mutuall promeis of marriage 1584 Elgin Rec. II 3. 1591 Crim. Trials I ii 252. 1615 Fraserburgh Kirk S. fol. 44 b (10 Jan.).
For that being vnder promeis of mariag with hir … the said John notwithstanding is lopin back 1619 Perth Kirk S. MS 12 Jan.
George Ȝoung and Margaret Fenttoun … gaif wp mutuale promeis of mariage betuix theme 1641 Alyth Kirk S. in Sc. N. & Q. 1 Ser. XII 59.
For going bake in hir promeis of mariage maid befoir the session with Thomas Tailȝour

c. Butt onye promeis. = Promis n. 1 c. 1614 Denmylne MSS in Highland P. III 171.
He has broght hame frie the twa gentilmen … butt onye promeis or condicion

2. A scriptural promise. = Promes n. b. 1560 Confession of Faith in 14.. Acts II 527/2.
Of the revelatioun of the promeis: … we … beleif that God … maid vnto him [sc. Adam] ane maist ioyfull promeis to witt [etc.] 1558-66 Knox II 263. c1568 Lauder Minor P. i 684. a1568 Maitland Bann. MS 14 a/186. a1570-86 Arbuthnot Maitl. F. xxx 112. a1568 Bann. MS 41 a/13.
And for Thy onlie trewth and promeis saik Gif eir 1567 G. Ball. 3.
The threitning of God maid to them that brekis his commandementis, and His promeis made to them that keipis them Ib. 57. 1573 Tyrie in Cath. Tr. 15/26.
Albeid that the Romane Kirk haue the promeis of God to be mantened a1568 Montg. Bann. MS I p. 49/37. c1590 Fowler II 38/35.

3. In unfavourable sense: An assurance or threat of future harm to another, a menace. 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I 88.
Testifeit be Alexander Warrak … quha hard thé mak the promeis quhairvpoun the mwrthour followit Ib. 131.
For fulfilling of the quhilk deuilische promeis and wow maid be thé thow keist thy socerie … on him