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 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Law-sovertie, n. Also: -ty, -sovirtie. [Law n.¹; Soverté n. Cf. Law-suertiesn. pl.] Surety that a person shall not injure another. = Law-borch n. 1, Law-borowis n. 1510 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. I. 72.
The said day Johnne Forbes … come law souerte be his hand landis and gudis that Androu Smythe … suld be harmeles and skathles of Alexander Cowtis … ande al that he may let … bot as the cours of commone law 1569 Lanark B. Rec. 47.
Jhone Weir suoir hie dred James Fary bodely harme, and thairefter James Fary fand Thome Forest, letster, law souerty for him 1571–72 Canongate Ct. Bk. 349.
The quhilk day Issobell Hurry be ane solempnit aith maid faith that sche dred bodilie harme to be done to Johne Thomsoun hir barne be Archibald Wilsoun (marg. lawsouirtie Hurry Wilsoun) 1573–4 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 2. 1587 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 35.
Albeit we and the rest of the burgesses … haif fund sufficient law souertie to the saids persons … nochtheles … [they have] procurat letters … chairging us to compeir 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Schireff.
Quhen ony man hes doubt of his life … & verifies the samin be his aith … and … askis law-sovertie to be given to him be the schireffe that [etc.] 1612 Fraserburgh Kirk S. 12 Nov.
Giff he feiris bodellie harrme in deid … he may get him compellit be law to find souertie … and seing lawsouertie aparteinis nocht to the kirk bot to it awin judicator [etc.] 1642 Banff Ann. I. 88.
Compeirit … Patrik Shand … and … obleisit him … as law souirtie and lawborrowes for the said George Mar that the said George Desone salbe harmeles [etc.] … wnder the paine of fourtie pundis mone c1650 Spalding I. 83.
The laird of Frendracht … causit charge the Marques of Huntly for to set law souertie