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

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Breve, Brewe, Breive, n. Also: breue, brieve, briewe, breeve, breave. [Northern ME. breve (c 1300), also e.m.E. (1536), L. breve, or from brevis as pl. of Brefe n.] = Brefe n. 1.Also coursable breve; breve of divisioun, inquest, lining, perambulatioun: see these words.(a) pl. 1443 Reg. Great S. 86/1.
Gilbert Menȝies … folowit Johne of Tulch … be the kingis brevis of compulsione 1450 Reg. Episc. Brechin I. 147.
The tenour of ane perambulatioun be breuis of our chapell passit thairupon 1474 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 442.
The lordis of counsale … deliueris that the said ballies has procedit ordourly in the seruing of the said brevis 1489 Acta Aud. 138/1.
He … maid the said breuez to be seruit the tyme of our souuerane lordis hoist & assege of Duchell 1509 Reg. Privy S. I. 288/2.
With power … brevis of the Kingis chapell direct to him and pertenyn to his office, to resave, opin and proclame 1538 Ib. II. 413/1.
To him and to the personis of inqueist that wes apoun the serving of his brevis purchest apoun the landis of Carnbaddy 1548 Montgomery Mem. 145.
Hew … wes seruit be breves and retowrit as said is c 1550 Bisset II. 233.
It is accorded betuix the said duik, and all maryneris … that brevis be gevin 1555 Peebles B. Rec. 216.
That na nychtbouris … caus men of law to cum to procure ane aganes ane vther … except it be brevis raisit of heritage alanerlie 1588 Douglas Corr. 240.
We haif thocht goud to wret for ȝow … to acumpane us the said tym of thair breuis 1615 Highland P. III. 232.
Before breeves be directed at the instance of your partiesing. 1472 Lennox Mun. 88.
That I … mak ony … clame, … be ony maner of law or breve pledabile or vther 1493 Acta Conc. II. p. ciii.
The serving of a breve of inquest purchest be William of Levingstoun 1502 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 642.
An breue producit be the sad Adam 1531 Prestwick B. Rec. 53.
To be enterit be ane breve of fawore, as wse of burght ys 1561 Misc. Maitl. C. II. 289.
The proclamatioun of his breve raisit be him(b) c1420 Wynt. ix. Prol. 39.
And eylde, my mastres, withe hir brewis Ilk day me saris and grewis 1491 Dunferm. B. Rec. 34.
Henre Bothewell protestit that na brewis that wer seruit suld turne hym to na preiudice in til his fe and heretagis in tim to cum 1543 Inverness Sheriff Ct. MS. 16.
Johne Roy … presentit ane brewe of our souerane ladies chapell dewlie executit and indorsate 1566 Melville Chart. 113.
To … proceid in the serwing of Jhone Maluils … brewes 1566 Inverness B. Rec. I. 136.
Ane brewe of our Souerane Lord and Ladeis Chappell(c) 1556 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 101.
The seruing of ane breiv of inquest of oure chapell impetrate be Robert Gordoun 1577 Stewart Mem. 99.
The saide briewis verefeit be William Suordmair executer thairof 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v.
In the auld lawes … , sindrie brieues hes bene vsed and wounte 1609 Crim. Trials II. 592.
The parcell he read, was the fault found with Pope Clement's breave 1663 Decis. Lords G. 50.
A sworn inquest upon a brieve out of the Chancery