trans. [a. F. convoy-er (12th c. in Littré) = It. conviare: see CONVEY.]
I. To accompany, escort.
1. In general sense. Chiefly Sc.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, XV. 269. Quhen he convoyit had to these His brothir Edward and his menȝhe.
c. 1425. Wyntoun, Cron., VIII. xxxviii. 61. [He] conwoyit þame wpwart þe gate And went be-for þame to þe yhate.
1549. Compl. Scot., xvii. 149. The comont pepil met them ... vitht grit solempnite, and syne conuoyit them to the plane mercat befor the capitol.
a. 1670. Spalding, Troub. Chas. I. (1829), 19. The king … convoyed in form foresaid, came frae the Abbey and sat with the lords of the articles.
1774. Pennant, Tour Scot. in 1772, 303. Several gentlemen, who … convoyed us from place to place.
fig. 1879. Lowell, Poet. Wks., 388. May sunniest hours Convoy you from this land of ours.
b. esp. To escort (a lady), conduct (guests). arch.
1764. Foote, Mayor of G., I. i. Gad’s so, you will permit me to convoy her in?
1785. Burns, Cotter’s Sat. Nt., vii. Jenny … Tells how a neebor lad cam o’er the moor To do some errands, and convoy her hame.
1816. Scott, Old Mort., iii. May I be permitted to convoy your ladyship and Miss Bellenden home?
1849. C. Brontë, Shirley, vi. Caroline, having been convoyed home by Robert.
1889. Cornh. Mag., Feb., The County, v. We are convoyed through the hall by Sir Joseph.
2. To accompany as guide or conductor; to conduct, guide. arch. Chiefly Sc.
1536. Bellenden, Cron. Scot. (1821), I. 101. Vespasian … was convoyit be certane treasonabill Britonis, quhare the Albianis war.
1549. Compl. Scot., vi. 42. Ther come pipis, calland and conuoyand mony fat floc to be fed on the feildis.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., VII. (1682), 295. And change as many Horses as he listeth, having the masters which owe them to convoy them for less or longer way.
1846. Hawthorne, Mosses, I. iii. 67. Many of the company had bespoken a will-o’-the-wisp to convoy them home.
fig. 1513. Douglas, Æneis, VII. ii. 34. O thou sueit goddes … Convoy and teche thi poet to say richt.
1585. James I., Ess. Poesie (Arb.), 42. That old blind Dame … which dois conuoy Her quheill by gess.
† 3. To conduct or lead (a band of men); to conduct or drive (a vehicle). Obs.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, XI. i. 51. And all the ȝonkeris meyt for swerdis dynt Of thar tentis convoyit in array.
1667. Milton, P. L., VI. 753. The Chariot of Paternal Deitie … convoyd By four Cherubic shapes.
4. To escort with, or as, an armed force for protection.
1559–66. Hist. Estate Scot., in Wodrow Soc. Misc. (1844), 57. John Knox, being convoyed to Dundie, preached the Word.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 93. The King … sent the Governour of the Citie and about fiftie horsemen to convoy him to his lodging.
1675. Lond. Gaz., No. 976/2. Yesterday … 2500 French Foot, Convoy’d by several Squadrons of Horse, approach’d the Suburb of this City.
1726. Cavallier, Mem., IV. 297. A fresh Guard was to convoy me to Dijon in Burgoundy.
1823. Southey, Hist. Penins. War, I. 294. For honour as well as protection, Tio Jorge, with an escort of musqueteers, convoyed him the first stage.
b. esp. said of ships of war accompanying merchant or passenger vessels.
1641. Evelyn, Mem. (1857), I. 18. Embarked in a Dutch frigate, bound for Flushing, convoyed and accompanied by five other stout vessels.
1665. Pepys, Diary, 9 May. This day we have newes of eight ships being taken by some of ours going into the Texel, their two men of warr, that convoyed them, running in.
1759. Robertson, Hist. Scot. (1817), I. II. 342. The fleet without delay convoyed the Queen into France.
1790. Beatson, Nav. & Mil. Mem., I. 182. To prevent Admiral de Torres from convoying the galleons from the Havannah to Old Spain.
1862. Sat. Rev., 15 March, 288. In the present situation of belligerent rights, numbers of English men-of-war must … be employed in convoying merchantmen.
1885. J. K. Laughton in Dict. Nat. Biog. IV. 33/2. The squadron … which convoyed the homeward trade in the next autumn.
II. To convey, carry, carry on.
† 5. To convey, carry. lit. and fig. Obs.
c. 1430. Pilgr. Lyf Manhode, III. xxxi. (1869), 152. Þere j see gretest winnynge, thider j conuoye my tunge … as j see þer ben most pens.
1633. P. Fletcher, Purple Isl., III. xiii. To fitter place their noisome load convoying.
1641. Milton, Ch. Govt., II. iii. 47/1. With what loyalty they will use me in conuoying this Truth to my understanding.
a. 1670. Spalding, Troub. Chas. I. (1829), 72. Alexander Keith … was convoyed out of the tolbooth of Aberdeen in a trunk to a boat ready lying at the shore.
1673. R. Ligon, Barbadoes, 1. To lay hold on the first opportunity that might convoy me to any other part of the World.
1703. Lond. Gaz., No. 3888/4. Boast to convoy Letters and Pacquets between England and the Islands of Barbadoes, Antego, etc.
† b. refl. To transport or betake oneself. rare.
1706. Maule, Hist. Picts, in Misc. Scot., I. 13. Those Britons convoyed themselves into the western parts of the Island.
† 6. To conduct or carry through (an affair); to manage. Obs. Chiefly Sc.
1430. Lydg., Chron. Troy, Prol. To convoy it with thine influence.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, ‘Thir ladyis fair.’ With littill noy, Thay can convoy Ane mater fynaly.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, XII. v. 15. Not onexpert to convoy sik a thing.
1549. Compl. Scot., Ded. 4. His … entreprise vas conuoyit and succurrit be ane diuyne miracle.
a. 1662. R. Baillie, Lett. (1775), I. 382 (Jam.). A thorny business … which the moderator, by great wisdom, got cannily convoyed.
Hence Convoying vbl. sb.
1632. J. Hayward, trans. Biondi’s Eromena, 161. His daughter was a convoying homewards by the Prince of Mauritania.
1651. Reliq. Wotton., 453 (R.). I aim at the convoying of you up to your Eton.
