Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

(Riding-money,) Riding-monie, Ryding-mon(e)y, n. Also: rideing-. [Riding vbl. n. and Money n.] ? A charge levied, or a payment made, to cover the maintenance of mounted troops raised for some purpose.Appar. sometimes illegally exacted for their own benefit by troopers collecting fines from Covenanters and others. 1668 Douglas of Morton 147.
[Unjustly imprisoning her … because she would not pay a sum of] ryding money [to which he has no claim] 1668 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. II 396.
That no money be exacted [by a troop of horsemen sent to Caithness to collect unpaid taxes, etc.] aff any persons under the name of ryding money c1679 Kirkton Hist. 223.
This did not satisfie …, till first they behoved to run to Edinburghand report the receiver's discharge, and there satisfie the troupers for their pains beside, and this exaction they called their rideing money 1689 Glasg. Arch. Soc. 46.
Where we [sc. troopers] wer all night, and receved our ryding mony 1692 Conv. Burghs IV 617.
[Kirkcudbright.] Ther cess is payed by a tax on ther inhabitants … and ther riding monie is payed out of the common good