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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.

Commissioun, n. Also: commyssyown(e, -issyown, -iscioun; commission(e, comysson, -ition, -istione. [ME. commyssioun (a 1400), -yssion, etc., (OF. commission, L. commissio.]

1. Delegated authority. 1402 Dundee Chart. No. 22.
The procuratours of the burowys forsaidez hauand full & plenere commissions vndir the commone selys of the burowys c1420 Wynt. v. 282.
Quhen hys procuratowrys ordanyd he … Seldyn revocatyowne He mayd off that commyssyowne Ib. vii. 2249.
Hawand full commissyown For till mak fre electyown 1456 Hay I. 252/6.
Thare suld na womman be juge … but ordinaunce or speciale commissioun of the prince Ib. II. 150/5.
How princis and kingis sulde … geve never all thair full power na commissioun till a man anerly a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 82.
In smaller actionis giffand commissioun Till men of faith c1515 Asl. MS. I. 264/25.
This Eduard had a commissioun be the pap to be iuge in that mater 1542 Acts II. 412/2.
The narrest lauchtfull of hir blude … salbe maid gouernour of the realme … be large and ample commission, of the quhilk the forme is to be deuisit 1555 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 208.
To caus mak twa saittis … for serving of the schereff courte and vther courttis of commissioun 1556 Peebles B. Rec. 229.
The saidis baillies … ansuerit that the said commissioun is generale direct and nocht in speciale 1569 Ib. 307.
The bailye … confessit he had nane commiscioun prorogat 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 151.
My freindis … had commissione to agrie vpoun the ground to be the barrese bewast the Wast port a1578 Pitsc. I. 179/13.
The Duik of Albanie … said he had no commissieoun of that matter 1622 Grant Chart. 336.
This oure commissioun vntill the feast of Alhallowmes 1656 Annandale Corr. 39.
We ar informed he is puting in for ane comistione to hold malt courts

b. A charge or direction to perform some act; the task so assigned to one. 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 44.
Sending him to France for certane bissines … quhair he did his commissioun sa weill [etc.] a1578 Pitsc. I. 91/17.
The erle of Douglas … tuik ane suspitioun … quhat Schir Patrick Grayis commissioun was 1622-6 Bisset II. 390/7.
He … left the charge of governament to Gulliame quho did all his commissioun with guid advise & providence 1696 Wemyss of Bogie MS.
Goieng through the kuntray inqweiring for mor victuall conforme to comition

2. A document or warrant conveying such authority. 1457 Peebles B. Rec. 123.
The sayd balyhe laid don ij s at the Iustys Ar for the comysson 1488 Lanark B. Rec. 2.
For a commissioun at the ayr, ij s. 1488 Treas. Acc. I. 93.
To Mussche to pass in Argyle to the Chanslare to get a commissioun seylit to the Bordouris 1492 Ib. 200.
For a bulget to Dave Ogilbe, to twrs the commissionis and oderis letteris of the ayris 1522 Acta Conc. MS. XXXIII. 3.
It is grantit be the common law … to the appeler to rais and bryng hame his commission 1540 Acts II. 357/1.
The appelland nocht bringand hame his commissioun within ȝeire and day 1552 Reg. Privy C. I. 125.
The indent maid betwix the commissioneris … togidder with the commissioun vnder the greit seill of Ingland 1599 Montgomery Mem. 243.
Archibald Barklay … producit his commissioun, and behaifit himself verie honestlie, … for the discharge of sic thingis … committit to him 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii. 168.
For ilk actorney and commission, twa shillings

3. A body of commissioners. 1474 Treas. Acc. I. 50.
Gevin to Lyone heralde, passande in Inglande in the commissione with the ambaxiatouris

4. The act of committing (a sin). 1456 Hay I. 183/30.
Sen the lyf may nocht be sauf but commissioun of dedely syn, than suld he erar antre the lyf na brek his ath