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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Protestatio(u)n(e, Protestacio(u)n(e, n. Also: protextac- and -yown(e; -on; protist-, prodestation. [ME and e.m.E. protestacion (Rolle), -acioun (c 1386), -acyon, -ation, F. protestation (13th c. in Littré), late L. prōtestātiōn-, n. of action f. prōtestārī Protest v.]

1. Only Sc.: A stipulation, demand or assertion made to a court by or on behalf of a party to a law-suit in order to safeguard his interests in face of the decisions or decrees of the court; a reservation entered by a party to a law-suit to protect any of his rights or interests that may be threatened in the course of the proceedings.Cf. later Sc., in Sc. law ‘the procedure by which a defender in the Court of Session compels the pursuer either to proceed with his action or end it’ (A. D. Gibb in SND, s.v. Protest v. 1).See also Protest v. 1.(1) 1398 Acts I 212/1.
As it may cum to thair parte with protestacions vnderwrytin [etc.] Ib.
With ther protestacions at the lach be haldyn thaim as is beforsaid 1497–8 Acta Conc. II 101.
Quhare the parti folowar happinnis til be absent the lordis wil ressave protestacions of the parti defendoure comperand efter the forme and use of the lawis of his realme 1499–1500 Ib. 349.
[Mr. James Henresone … protested] that he suld nocht enter in pley agane Alexander Setoun … and annerdand to that protestatioun he wald ansuer to the summondis Ib. 378.
[He] has promyctit til abyd al this day til ansuere nochtwithstanding this protestacione 1564 Crim. Trials I i 449.
That they suld be hard to gif in, the morne, thair protestatiounis in writt 1565 Edinb. Univ. MS La. iii 388a 5a.
That thre of the lordis ordinaris … admit protestationis, pronunce and decyde thairvpone as thai sall think expedient 1638 Rothes Affairs Kirk 146.
That protestationes had never bein ill taken in the highest courts of Parliament thogh made by one of the meanest … A protestatione was the lowest and humblest way, and neirest to prayers. The Commissioner still insisted that it did not help them in law 1659 Melrose Reg. Rec. I 253.
Which protestatioun the said baillie deput refuist to admitt in respect of the irrelivancie therof 1692 Cramond Kirk S. III 23 Aug.
It was with a protestation, that when ever there should be liberty granted in the Church of Scotland, that he should be noe longer bound to serve Ireland(2) 1398 Acts I 212/1.
The saidis burges makand protestacion that thai be kepit in thair fredomes 1469 Newburgh B. Ct. 37 a.
Thomas off Rosy made protestation that the prenspall sulde be desydit owr the pendekyll 1478 Peebles B. Rec. I 183.
The said master Wylyam … maid protestation and raquerit the balyeis … for a lessens … that he mycht leif a chaplan in his sted 1495 Acta Conc. I 423/2.
And [= if] thai compere nocht the first dayis of thar summondis the lordis will procede and tak protestacioun aganis the partij absent 1565 Edinb. Univ. MS La. iii 388a 149.
The persewar obtenis the libell … , the quhilk being let or protestatioun maid in the contrair [etc.] c1575 Balfour Pract. 358 marg.
Of protestatioun grantit to ane partie be ressoun of diligence not done be the uther 1577 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. I 40.
In probatioun of the quhilk exceptioun the said defender faillit and the terme wes haldyn circumducit and protestatioun admittit c1630 Hope Minor Pract. (1726) 5. Id. Major Pract. II 66.
The lords … gave protestatione to the toun of Haddingtoune upon ane coppie of transferring 1681 Stair Inst. iv xxxviii §2.
Defenders … may produce the copy of the summons which they received … and thereon crave protestation 1685 Stranraer B. Ct. 15 Sept.
Quharwpon the said Robert tooke protestatione 1687 Mackenzie Observ. 159.
When anything is to be proven by writ, if the writ be not produc'd, this Act appoints that protestation shall be given against the probation of that part of the exception(3) c1420 Wynt. vii 1338.
The Archebyschape … Mad this protestatyowne Off cownte and charge he suld be That secularys oysyd all tyme fre 1428 Liber Melros II 521.
Ay makand thair protestation yf ony evidentis come efter at mycht mak thaim mar knawleg at thai walde referr thaim therto 1492 Highland P. II 193.
The said James … in the said mater protestacionis till mak 1499 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 101.
Tomas Bowchane … maid his protextacione ande said that [etc.] 1558 Admir. Ct. Bk. (St. S.) 83.
Quhairfor the protestatioun last maid be his pairty adverser foir the circumductioun is nul and na ferthir proces can be had … quhill the caus be walknit a1578 Pitsc. I 261/5.
No … man … eskaipit … bot that on man allone quhilk maid his protestatioun and appeillit fre the saidis sowmondis a1651 Calderwood VI 669.
Protestatiouns were made in the contrare in respect no processe of depositioun had beene intended(4) 1661 Wodrow Hist. (1828) I 185.
Such a protestation for remeed, against … a particular grievance … is [etc.]

b. The instrument or written record in which such ‘protestation’ was set forth. Also attrib., ? applied to the fee paid for having the instrument recorded. 1532 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 61.
Master Abraam protestit at the notis, instrumenttis and protestationes tayne be the saidis Robert [etc.] … becaus thair is nocht sic lyk tayne in the scribis handis c1575 Balfour Pract. 358.
Gif ane partie dois na diligence for satisfying of the term of probatioun, the samin term beand bypast his partie adversare sould have and obtene ane protestatioun aganis him 1579–80 Rec. Earld. Orkney 150, 151.
David … producit tua protestationis maid in jugement at the Harmansteine last ves … and the assyse … findis the saidis Davides protestationes relevant and admittis the samn 1582 Reg. Privy C. III 512.
Quhilk protestatioun the Lyoun admittit as the act of court subscrivit on the bak thairof … lykewyse beris 1611 Scrymgeour Invent. (S.R.S.) 3.
Ane protestatioun be way of instrument … in the quhilk James Scrymgeour … protestit that [etc.] 1663 Decis. Lords G. 58.
And instruments & protestations were taken for him 1670 Cullen Kirk S. 14 Nov. 1672 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 151 (23 Aug.).
Ressaved be me the within designed Gilbert McCartney furth of the proces the horning and protestatioune within mentionatattrib. 1650 Acts Sederunt ii 67.
For the former protestatioun silver of six pounds 1661 Ib. 78.
Money, consigned as protestation-money upon the impetration of suspensions at the instance of several persons

c. Under (be) … protestatioun, with assertion of a reservation or stipulation; on condition (that; also const. infin.).Also late ME (once, 1425).(1) c1420 Wynt. vii 734.
Wndyr protestatyowne, That na kyn scayth, na prejwdice Suld to the Kyrk off Scotland rys Ib. viii 2335. 1501–2 Acta Conc. III 145.
The Lord Ross askit ane instrument that he was undir his protestacione, and that the landis of the Ynch war nocht in speciale contenit in the annexacione 1533–4 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 108. 1549 Compl. 35/15.
Admittand, vndir p[r]otestatione, that Socrates opinione var of verite 1559 Admir. Ct. Bk. (St. S.) 104.
Comperit … and producit thair saidis answeris in writ under protestatioun to eik pair and reforme ante interlocutoriam 1575 Reg. Privy C. II 471.
Scho hes convoyit heir the saidis Margaret and Issobell … under protestatioun that thay be restorit to hir agane 1576 Ib. 577. 1586 Jurid. Rev. IV 296.
Under protestation that it sall not be prejudiciall to their privileges(b) 1562–3 Linlithgow Sheriff Ct. (20 Feb.).
Vnder protistation that he may eik pair & reforme ante interlocutor(2) 1540 Lynd. Sat. 665.
Maisters I speik be protestatioun In dreid ȝe tak me wrang

2. A solemn affirmation of a fact, belief or resolution; a formal public assertion.In some instances made in response to a contrary statement or circumstance, cf. Protest v. 2. c1500 Barounis Lawis fol. 6.
Than he sall assigne ane resoune makand protestacioune to geif wp the remanent of his resonis within xl days 1513 Doug. i Prol. 104.
This buke … Writtin in the langage of Scottis natioun, And thus I mak my protestatioun Ib. 137. 1528 Edinb. Hammermen 120 b.
Item for the protestacionis maid Sanct Antoniis Ile afor the tovne summa viij d. 1562-3 Winȝet II 11/4.
Layng may thai [Protestants] heir protest, or ony man … moueit for sik a protestatioun 1563 Rec. Earld. Orkney 118.
James Irving comperit in jugement and maid protestatioun that he hes ane peise of land lyand in Tankernes a1578 Pitsc. II 128/18, 20. 1584 Misc. Bann. C. I 113.
Nochtwithstanding … the seuerall aithis and protestatiounis maid to my selff [etc.] 1584 Gowrie P. 25.
With protestacons that they … tendreth … the wellfarre of his person c 1588 Cath. Tr. 255/23.
The bearing of the Agnus Dei serued us first for ane protestation that we ar redeimed be the … merites of [Christ] 1638 Nat. Covenant in Facs. Nat. MSS III xcvii.
The manifold jnnovations … particularlie mentioned in our late supplications, complaints and protestations

b. spec. A formal declaration of dissent or objection. A written statement of dissent. 1638 Baillie I 50.
Hoome and Lindesay stood in the crosse with the Lyon herauld, and made a protestation — a1651 Calderwood VII 252, etc.
Which when the brethren … understood, howbeit otherways men not verie forward, yit were so meased that some of them resolved to make a protestation 1659 Glasgow B. Rec. 416.
William Boyd … producit ane protestatioune againes the said lytt 1665 Rothesay B. Rec. 106.
And that all thesse gatherings convocationes petitiones prodestationes … wer unlauful and seditious c1680 W. Row Blair 288.
In the Synod of Glasgow … the protestation against the Assembly was approven by the plurality 16.. Ouchterlony Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II i 25.
The then Provost of Forfar did enter his protestatione publictly against the same [handing over Charles I to the English]