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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.

Lawting, n. Also: lawtyng, lating. [ON. lǫgþing ‘law-assembly’ or general assembly of the community, also, in Norway and Sweden in the later Middle Ages, a law court of a district, presided over by the lawman.] In Orkney and Shetland, respectively: The principal summer court of the whole country. Also comb. with -court.In Orkney, ‘a court whose members were all “landed men”, presided over by the Lawman, and which sat evidently for a week at Kirkwall in summer [appar. in June]’ (Clouston). See espec. J. S. Clouston The Lawthing and Early Officials of Orkney in Sc. Hist. Rev. XXI. 101–114.In Shetland, the central court formerly held by the chief foud and the lawman at Tingwall in July (see also Lawman n.¹ (2) quots. 1510 and 1576–7), but subsequently held at Scalloway. In 1602–4 the central sheriff-court, lasting up to a fortnight, held by Earl Patrick or his depute as sheriff at Scalloway in July or August, following the circuit of June and July.(1) 1496 Rec. Earld. Orkney 74.
On Tyisday in the Lawting … a dome dempt at Kirkwall be Jhone of Cragy lawman of Orknay and ane certain worthy personis with hym 1510 Ib. 85.
Me Nychol Hawe lawman of Schetland that thair comperit befor me and the vordeast in Orkna one Fursday in the lawting, in Kyrvall, Schir Wilȝem Sinclar … sitant for justice, [etc.] 1514 Ib. 87.
At Kirkwall on Tyisday in the Lawting in the moneth of Junii 1516 Ib. 90.
One Weddinnisday in the lawting … ane dwyme dempt at Kirkwall befor ane nobill … man Schir Wilȝem Sinclere … , knycht and justice of Orkna for the tyme, be ane serten of worthy personis 1566 Reg. Privy S. V. ii. 186/1.
Et propterea vicecomitatus curias seu lawtyngis 1567 Rec. Earld. Orkney 124.
The said Johne Atkin to compeir befoir ws and our deputis the third day of this instant lawting 1578–9 Ib. 144.
The juge be interloquitour of assyse ordenis the saidis … to mak thair ansueris … agane the lawting nixt heirefter and als ordenis baytht the perteis to compeir the said steine [etc.](2) 1299 Orkney & Sh. Rec. 38.
[Allir logðingis menn af Hiatlandi Ib.]
Þui at uer hofðum eigi logþinngis insigli 1576 Orkney Oppress. 44.
At the last Lawting haldin in Scalloway, quhilk is the heid court of the cuntrie, thai affirme that thair was scarslie the ane halff of the assyis cuntriemen Ib. 58.
This Lawting is the principall court haldin in the cuntrie in the haill ȝeir, to the quhilk all men aucht to cum … that hes land and heritage or grit takkis of the King 1587 Reg. Great S. 449/1.
Eximendo dictos Patricium &c., eorum ballivos, tenentes et inhabitatores dictarum terrarum [in Shetland] ab omnibus lie fleting, furinge et lawting quod Scotie dicitur to be fred and fre ab omni alia jurisdictione 1602 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 12.
The quhilk day [10 July] Osie Scott becumis actit cautioun for the entrie of Magnus in Houll befoir my lord and his deputis at Skalloway bankis the secund or thrid dayis of the lating court nixtocum Ib. 14 etc. 1604 Ib. 144.
The lating court of the contrie of Yeitland, callit the principall and heid court thairof, haldin be ane nobill … lord [etc.] … at the castell of Skalloway bankis the twentie day of August Ib. 154.
Assingis the said Jhone to preife as is abonewretin at the nixt lating 1633 (1711) Sibbald's Orkn. & Shetl. 81.
Once in the year the Great Foude did conveen all the udalers and heritors anent the affairs of the countrie, the place of their meeting being the Holm beneath the Manse of Tingwall, which retaineth still the name of Tinga Holm or the Court Holm, where they sate in the open fields in the Lawting

b. Lawting oxin and scheip, an annual tribute of one ox and twelve sheep exacted, originally by Bruce of Cultemalindie, from each parish of Shetland, ostensibly to meet the expenses of holding the lawting. 1576 Orkney Oppress. 54.
[That quhair the Laird of Cultemalindie … hes rasit ane new exactioun upon the cuntrie … of certane oxin and scheip ȝeirlie furth of ilk parochin at the tyme of the haldin of the lawting Ib.]
The parochinaris of Quhytnes and Weisdale testifiis that the Laird compellit the men of this parochin to pay ilk ȝeir of twa ȝeiris to him, quhen he com to Tingwall or Scalloway, ane ox and twelff scheip, and the uther twa last ȝeiris thai payit bot sax scheip 1615 Misc. Maitl. C. II. 172.
That all sick landis as hes bein in use … of payment yeirlie of the lating oxin and scheip at ony tyme sen the first impositioun sall pro rata pay the samen [etc.] 1628 Goudie Shetl. Antiq. 179.
The Rentall of the Lawting oxen and sheep of Yetland … 1615