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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.

Regal(e, -all(e, n. and adj. [ME and e.m.E. regalle noun (Manning), -ale, noun (c 1330), adj. (Chaucer, rendering L. regia), OF regal, -ale, L. regalis, f. rex king. See also Regalia] Regal, in various senses and applications.

A. noun. Only Sc.: A regality.a. Territorial jurisdiction granted by the king. = Regalité n. 2. b. A partricular territory subject to regality. = Regalité n. 3. c. attrib. with court. = Regalité n. 4.Appar. obs. in this sense after 1521, though cited by Skene (after the quot. for 1440, see b below) in Reg. Maj. ii 163 and Verb. S., s.v. Iter.a. (1) 1397 Slater Early Texts No. 34.
And ovre lord the kyng sall gif hym for his mariage all the landis … in Angus … in to fre regalle erytabilly c1420 Wynt. vii 681.
The Barys Rayk in regale To the kyrk the kyng gave hale(2) c1420 Wynt. vii 705.
Wyth the regale, and all the lave, That to the kyrk that tyme he gave Wyth … Rychtys, essys, and fredwmys Ib. 717.
The Byschape off Sayntandrewys … Joysys the regale in sic fredwme, As thai yhit oysys Ib. 926.
Off that land hale, That thai have in thare regaleb. 1381 Douglas Chart. 29.
Our brothir Schir Thomas qwhilom Erle of Marr lorde of the regale of the Garyauch c1420 Wynt. ix 1953.
Syne he renownsyt … till all lordschippis pertenand Till it, and till all regalis 1425 Liber Melros 544.
Archebald Erle of Dowglas … lord of … the regale of Lauwedre 1440 Acts II 33/1.
Lordis of regaliteis within thare regalis. Ande alsua the kingis balȝeis of his regalis 1466 Ib. 85/2.
The lordis of regalis … sal haue the vnlawis within thare landis 1491 Ib. 225/2.
Regallc. 1521 Fife Sheriff Ct. 221.
The said regale court of Sanctandrois

d. ? absol. for burgh regale. Cf. B (2) below. — 1698 Glasgow Procurators 105.
Given to John Whartlaw as per warrand servitor to the regall, £1 13 s. 4 d.

B. adj. Of, or pertaining to, a king; royal. Also in fig. context.Burgh(e regale, also (once) regall burrow, a ‘royal burgh’, see Royal(l adj.(1) c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) 129/22.
Ȝour hie regale majestie 1533 Boece 405b.
Indulph … was … decorit with regale diademe a1538 Abell 98b.
Thare cheif is honorit in regale blude & neir in linial successioun Ib. 3*b.
Chair regal of Scotland wes brocht to Yrland 15.. Clar. v 884.
His regall stok and his ofspring 1605 Glasgow B. Rec. I 234.
To be grantit be his majestie and speciallie be wertew of the justiciarie and regall powar a1633 Hope Major Pract. I 213.
Salmon fischeing within the … flood mark perteins only to the king, as regall(2) 1401 Introduction to Scottish Legal History (St. S. 20) 384.]
[Rothesay was designated a ‘royal burgh’ (burgus regalis) in 1401 1575 Glasgow Chart. I ii 164.
All priuelegis, fredomes, and immwnities pertening to ane fre burgh regale 1587 Conv. Burghs I 250.
The erectioun thairof [sc. Anstruther] in ane frie burghe regall vnder the kingis maiesties greit seill 1597 Acts IV 153/1.
That the bruch of Jedburgh … wes … for wirdie considerationis erected in ane frie burcht regall dottit with the commoun landis [etc.] 1622-6 Bisset II 56/9.
The burgh of the Cannogait besyde Edinburgh liberties and previlegis thairof united … togidder as frie brugh regall in ane baronie called the lordschip and baronie of Brochtoun 1673 Lauder Notices Affairs I 77.
All the other regall burrows of Scotland(3) 1588 Burntisland B. Ct. ?10 May.
In fre burgage regallfig. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) 6/75.
Hie trone regall Of Godis celsitud