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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
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Sele, Seil(l, Seal(l, Seel, n.² Also: sel, sell(e, seil(l)e, seyl(l)(e, sceil(l, siell, sealle, seaal(l, seelle, seele, sale, sail(l, sall, syll, scyll, schell. Pl. also selyis. [ME and e.m.E. seil (c1230), seel (1258), sel (a1272), sele (c1290), seal (14th c.), seall (1432), sayll (1480), selle (1536), orig. disyllabic, OF seel (1080 in Larousse), seaus, seau (c1196 and late 13th c. in Larousse), but cf. sceller v. (14th c. in Larousse), AF (Scot.) also seal, vulgar L. *sigellum, altered f. L. sigillum, dimin. of signum.]For many further examples see Caschet(t n., Coket n., Instance n. 1 c, Procur(e v. 5 b, Proper adj. 2 (2), Sikernes n. 3, and the Index to Acts XII.See also Privé Sele n., Quarter-sele n., Secrete Sele n.

1. An emblematic or heraldic device, impressed in wax, etc., also the (piece of) wax so impressed, adhering or attached to a document as an attestation of authenticity or as a guarantee of reliability, loyalty, etc.; also a seal viewed as the possession of an individual, comprising the matrix (see sense 2) and the wax impression made regarded as a single entity.This seems to be the usual way of understanding the word, the sense division 1, 2 being, therefore, blurred and in a real sense artificial. Instances exhibiting this dubiety have been placed in sense 1.See also note to sense 2. 1319 Liber Melros 387.]
[Solom le porport de lour chartre la qel il ount de nous enselé de notre seal(1) 1375 Barb. xx 140.
All the lordis swar And it with selys affermyt thar c1420 Wynt. viii 6918. 1432 Highland P. II 174.
The changing of my lands of Menstry to him and his lands of Glasry to me … wes contenyt be our lettres and selis thairupon made 1456 Hay I 29/1.
Thai have contrufit [ed. contrusit] sa mony lesingis, cautelis, and fals instrumentis with counterfetit selis 1466 (1471) Reg. Great S. 214/1.
David Erle of Crawfurde … was bundin … baith be lettir and sele for to renew and declare the auld merchis a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1105.
To sover [pr. soner] in thi gentrice but signete or sele And I before saw thé neuer 1480 Breadalbane Doc. No. 16.
In witnes of the quhilk thyng we have subscriwit thir lettrez wyth our awyn hand & vnder our sygnet berand the force of our sele 14.. Maner of Battale 229.
Schir, kenys thow this is thi sele … hale and undammyst? 1483 Acta Aud. 113/2.
It is alledgit that the said lettrez ar selit with antedatis and procurit selez. The lordis ordanis that the personis that aw the said selis … be summond to the said day 1483 Acta Aud. 132*/1.
The said letter was nane avale, becaus that his sele was cryit doun & that thai knew nocht his hand writ c1515 Asl. MS I 241/16.
The lordis … schewe all thair seles at the cors on ane letter with thair handis subscriuit a1570-86 Kennedy Maitl. F. 235/35.
Dissimulance hes borrowit conscience clays Writ walx and selis ar no wayis sett by 1513 Doug. viii Prol. 103.
Quhat mysery is now in land! … For nowther athis, nor band, Nor selis avalis 1515 Treas. Acc. V 50.
For wax quhit and reid he bocht to the selyis of certane lettrez of forfactour 1524 Dumbarton B. Rec. App. ii 4.
Ane letter wyth diverse selis 1552–3 Edinb. Old Acc. II 7.
Ressavit fra Alexander Hereot for the sele to his few of Ravilstoun xl s. 1552–3 Treas. Acc. X 152.
For quhite and reid walx to be selis to the Airres of Ardros retoures c1560 Old Ross-shire I 13.
The … heredebell possessors of Tayne, haiffin thar auld infeftments seilit tharwith … swey ar acknoleging the samyn to be the superior sele 1564–5 Rec. Earld. Orkney 275.(b) 1349 Reg. Cambuskenneth 260.
As he is oblist be his lettre and his seill to the said abbot 1375 Barb. i 610.
The king betaucht hym [sc. Bruce] in that steid The endentur, the seile to se, And askyt gyff it enselyt he 1375 Barb. i 613.
Seyle 1420 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV 182.
That our lord the governour sall giff his lettres, baunde and seille till his forsaid cusin the Earll of Mar of mantinance helpe and suppleie in [deu] forme … as quhilum our lord the governour hes fader did c1420 Wynt. vii 1724 (W).
Condicionis that wes Spokin to be haldin sekirly With aith and letter and seill a1500 Henr. Fab. 2395.
Se ȝe not the caboik weill ȝour sell, Quhyte as ane neip, and round als as ane seill [: leill, steill; Ch. schell]? c1475 Wall. vi 923.
Nocht for my self, that I bynd to your seill, I can nocht trow that euir ȝhe will be leill; Bot for pur folk … I will tak pees c1475 Wall. viii 724.
Wallace … Rapreiffyt Eduuard rycht gretlye off this thing; Bawchillyt his seyll, blew out on that fals king a1500 Colk. Sow ii 120.
The king … a cornar of a cuntre seuerall … Gaif him be seile heretable for ay 1494 Loutfut MS 114a.
Ane othir maner of appellacioun hapinnis quhilis quhar that a man appeillis ane othir for contterfetting of seilis … be the quhilk the awnar of the seill mycht be hurt in analeyng of landis or wedsetting [etc.] 1509 Rec. Earld. Orkney 82.
The ix penneland of Saba is sa fre gyffin … be the last Eryll of Orkna be his chartturis and his seillis meyd to the said Jhone Irwyngis fadyr and mother for ther landis of Paple [etc.] 1532–3 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 129.
I and my sister Jenot Leychman exorttis yow for God saik to tak our mony and by twa seillis vith and seill our chairtouris 1545 St. P. Henry VIII IV ii 550.
The hoil Lordis hes aggreit the mariage of the young quene to the governors sone with thair seilis and hand writtis 1549 Compl. 60/15.
The fyir slaucht … meltit the gold that vas in his bag, and it meltit nocht the vax of ane seyl that ves in that samyn bag 1562-3 Winȝet I 107/27.
To mak mony maist large promissis and oblissingis, knit with word, writt, walx and seil c1575 Balfour Pract. 654.
Giftis of eschete of gudis movabill, wardis and non-entressis [etc.] … for the seill and writing togidder, xiij s. iiij d. viz. for the seill x s. and for the writing iij s. iiij d. c1575 Balfour Pract. 275. c1575 Balfour Pract. 299. 1584 Sempill Sat. P. xlv 493. 1592 Acts III 586/1.
Ane article anent the fies of seillis ysharis and price of writting 1635 Blackhalls 150.
Ane decreit … anent the crownarschippe vith ane seill and nyne uther vestiges(c) 1398–9 Liber Melros II 490.
I hafe purchacide … the seales of … Patrik and Johen of Kelchow 1399 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 41.
The qwilkis ar selit wyth myne awyn propir seale fullily and pessably to be passit and fulfillit 1400 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 44. 1584 Shetland Deed MS (Shetland Archives).
And purchais seaallis signettis or merkis thairto as efferis 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 52.
Quhere can there be a smaller thing that concernis the majestie of a prince nor a seall, for the substance of it is but wax; yit, gif thou disdainfully use that seall, and contemne it, … thou art compted … guiltie 1621 Acts IV 616/2. c1630 Hope Minor Practicks (1734) 72.
The indirect manner of improbation is by conjectures, presumptions, probabilities, such as by comparison of handwrits, and by comparison of seals [etc.] 1611-57 Mure Hist. Rowallane 245.
At the which endentour … the severall seales of the persones entrusted ar to be seen 1681 Stair Inst. iv xlii § 5.
The ancient form of attesting writs was by seals, being the known seal of the party, which was ordinarily his coat of arms, or, if he had no arms, the initial letters of his name and surname(d) 1424 Grey Friars 167.
That the lettyre that thai of Kynggorn has that thai cal Kynge Williem charter, the seelle of it was fune in the toun of Orok but of ony wryt at it 1458 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 325.
The saide lorde and Jonet ar bundyn be lettir and seel, and be thar bodely athis sworne on the Haly Ewangelis for till vnderly the finale determinacioune of the saide assise a1500 Lanc. 1675.
O kingis word … Al out more precious & more sur was hold Than was the oth or seel of ony wight 1480 Acta Conc. I 52/1.
Thomas sone and are grantit that the seele that pendis at the said letter is his fader seele and armys(e) 1387 Edinb. Chart. 36.
Join Primros has procurit the selle of James of Fulforde, and Join of Scone … the selle of Join of Irwyne in failyhe thai hade nane of their awyne(f) 1525 Goudie Shetl. Antiq. 141.
Becaus I had no propir saill present I haiff procurit one and haiff gyffyne my full powir to Nicoll Hawcro … to procure the signet of ane worschipfull man Henry Sincleir(2) 1471 Maxwell Mem. I 185.
Has sellit this myn obligacioun vyth the sell off myn armez 1590 Crail B. Ct. MS 28 April.
Ane auld rentall off the few maillis and annuell rentis maid be vmquhile Jhon Myrtoun off Randastoun … seillit with his seill off armeis(3) 1622-6 Bisset I 89/17.
The commanded letteres of oure moist holie father … Paule, be the devyne providence paip, haifand the leidin bull or seill with silken threid … eftir the fassoun of the Romane courte appended thairto: the bull I say heill, nocht brokin, torne nor cancellate

b. attrib. (and possess.).With fé (also, feis seillis), silver, the fee payable to a department of state for affixing a seal to a charter, or the like, to authenticate it.possess. 1375 Barb. xx 26.
The landis off Northummyrland … In fe and heritage gave he, And thai payit for the selys feattrib. 1490 Acta Aud. 143/2.
[£4] payit be him for sele feis and vtheris expensis maid in the rasing of a remissioun to the said Johne 1552 Treas. Acc. X 144.
To the said Alexander to be gevyn for the seill feyis and wrytting of the King of Inglandis conduct to my lord of Kylwynnyng 1583 Reg. Soltre 238.
Quhaeuer of the prebenderis beis absent in the college … the absent nocht to be participant of the seill siluer or entres siluer that salhappin to be ressauit 1585 Acts III 376/1.
Ane act anent feis of the seillis and chalmer and subscriptioun of the officiaris. … For allegit extorsioun … in taking of greittar feis seillis be the yschearis of his chalmer … nor heirtofoir hes bene accustumat … thairfoir … gevis full powar … to his hienes thesaurair … to … inquire … quhat wes the … forme of payment for seill feis [etc.] 1596 Boyd Fam. P. 10 Dec.
Fiftie pounds … quhilk Alexander Kennedy my servand gave for passing of seals and seall fies

c. transf. ? A document bearing a seal, specif. a letter of safe-conduct or ? a further example of sense 1 above. 1622-6 Bisset II 233/14.
It is accorded … that brevis be gevin quhilk they call seillis … and sua war all the schippis haldin … to tak the saidis brevis [etc.] 1622-6 Bisset II 234/4, 14, 16, 20.
The ordinances quhairfoir the Vicount of Lyoun is accustumate to the sectis called seillis of conduct and nocht brevis wes because the vicount wes at the passage there as it behuved all vassallis to assembill laidned or emptie to find that nane suld misdo uthir … It wes aggreed that he suld keip vessellis to sauf and conduct theme [etc.] … It wes accorded thairfoir that he suld have ane certane summe for his seillis and … any schip … nocht … haifand the said seillis to be forfalted … and they to be haldin to schaw all the seillis of weyages that they have maid

d. transf. or fig. The trustworthiness or loyalty implied by a seal. Also in collocation with saw (Saw n.² 1 c).(1) c1475 Wall. x 606.
I am so boundyn with wytnes to be leill, For all Ingland I wald nocht fals my seill 1554 Duncan Laideus Test. 153.
First in my youthead I began to deale With small oppressionis and tendir lambis, Syne with Lawtie I brak baith band and seill, Cleikit couplit kiddis with thair damis, [etc.](2) a1500 Henr. Fab. 2282.
Ane lord, and he be leill, That … doutis to be repruuit, His sau is ay als sickker as his seill 1535 Stewart 21116.
Tha ar the leid culd neuir ȝit be leill For band or aith, for saw or ȝit for seill c1530-40 Stewart Maitl. F. 397/51.
Se that [thi] saw be sicker as thi sele a1568 Bann. MS 256a/27.
Thocht my sawis haif no seillis [: mailis, caillis] I sall leir hir to fan 1597 Sc. N. & Q. 2 Ser. III 78/2.
Ane just man trevj [sic] and leill, His saw suld be his seill

2. An engraved metal stamp or matrix used to make an impression in wax, etc., in order to make a seal in sense 1 above.Freq. incorporating the owner's arms, if arms were borne, specif. in the const. the sele of one's armis, one's sele of armis (also in sense 1 above, and see senses 3 and 4).Also kepar of our (the kingis, etc.) selis, see also Kepar(e n. d (1).(1) 1375 Barb. i 616.
My seyle is nocht all tyme with me; Ik have ane other it to ber c1450-2 Howlat 132 (A).
The Pape commandit … to wryte in all landis Be the said secretar, that the sele ȝemyt c1450-2 Howlat 126 (A). 1456 Hay I 279/13.
For be all gude custumes of nobless, lordis and gentilis makis thair selis efter thair armes, and gif ane suld bere ane otheris armes in his sele, men suld nocht wit quhais it war a1500 Henr. Fab. 1707.
Syne cummis ver quhen winter is away The secretar of somer with his sell [Bann., Ch., H. seill; rh. fell, mell] 1478 Acta Conc. I 6/2.
Sir Johne Maxwel of Calderwod and Gawane his sonne … to comper in Edinburgh and bring thar selis with thaim c1475 Wall. viii 1506.
Than chesyt thai thre lordis for this thing. … Quhat thir thre wrocht the layff suld stand thar till The kingis seyll was gyffyn thaim at thair will 1493 Lindores A. 181.
The … commoun charteris, sele and bukis, moneth [etc.] … beand in the said kyst be brocht hale lokkyt as it was of befor 1498–9 Acta Conc. II 329.
For the wrangus … awaytaking of thre boxis … and in ane of thame … the saidis lordis seile, his wiffis seile, and the sade Maister David seile c1500 Coll. St. Salvator 161.
Ane beddell wand siluer and our gilt with ane chenye and ane sell of the sam 1500 Acta Conc. II 429.
[That the pursuer] gat the silver sele agane fre but ony expense 1507–8 Reg. Privy S. I 238/1.
Efter his departing fra the raid of Lawder … his box and in it his sele of silver … wes thiftuisly stollin fra him … and tharefter he criit doun his said sele 1514 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 27.
Thai wald all selis on athir syd new maid war cryit doun 1540 Acts II 377/1.
It is statute and ordanit that becaus mennys selis may of aventur be tint … and … fenȝeit or putt to writtingis eftir thair deceis … that therefor na faith be gevin in tyme cuming to ony obligatioun band or vther writting vnder ane sele without subscriptioun of him that aw the samin and witnessis 1541–2 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 514.
[A burgess of Inverkeithing was charged at the instance of the bailies to deliver the seal and rental-book of the burgh] howbeit he hes bot that ane half of the said seil … and nevir had the hail sele 1543 Treas. Acc. VIII 184.
To Patrik Lindsay goldsmytht for making of the quenis grace seles and graving thairof 1549 Compl. 148/3.
The armys that ȝe bair in ȝour scheildis and in ȝour seylis in ȝour signetis and alse is payntit on ȝour vallis [etc.] 1565 Treas. Acc. XI 392. 1567 Reg. Privy C. I 550.
It is convenient that all the seillis and signettis be maid in his majesties name and the auld seillis callit in, brokin and distroyit 1570 Leslie 269.
Tak the armes of Inglande, and jone with the armes of Scotland and France, and make all thair seales conforme thairto c1575 Balfour Pract. 15.
The Chancellar sall be ludgit neir unto the kingis grace for keiping of his bodie and the seill 1603 Philotus 489.
Quhen the stamping seale is set In wax … The prent thairof remayning may ȝe get 1625 Cochran-Patrick Coinage II 70.
His … travell in renewing of his majesties seallis, cashett and irnis of the cunyehouse 1630 Acts V 233/1.
Humbelie to intreate his majestie … that all infeftments [etc.] … passing … vnder his majesties name be conceaved vnder the name … of Scotland, England, France and Ireland … and that the style of Great Britane be forborne and that his majesteis seales where the name of Scotland is left out of the circumscriptioun be renewed vnder thir termes Carolus Dei gratia Scotiæ Angliæ Franciæ et Hiberniæ rex 1664 Misc. Maitl. C. II 508.
For cutting my lordis [sc. Archbishop Sharp's] litell seall [£12] 1674 Cunningham Diary 44.
To Robert Cuningham for the seall he caused make to me 1676 Thanes of Cawdor 327.
A sillwer seill with a bon heid(2) 1430 Acts II 19/2.
It is statute … that all frehaldaris … comper at the hede courtis in thar propir personis with thar selis bot gif it happyn thaim to be absent apon resonable caus … that he send … his attornay with the sele of his armys(3) 1584 Acts III 310/1.
Dischargeing the keipparis of our seallis to pas the saidis giftis 1596 Dalr. II 354/26.
Lord Rubie Frencheman Keiper of the Kingis seil

3. To set (affix, append, appense, hang, pend, put) (to) one's sele (to a document). Also fig. b. With reference to the falsification of a document.Also const. the sele of one's armis, one's sele of armis, see note at sense 2.(1) c1379 MacRae Early Sc. Texts No. 1.
In the wytnes of the qvylk thyng to this presens I haf set my seyll 1388 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 295.
In witnes of thir thingis to the part of this endenture remaynand to the forsaid Alexander, the seele of the forsaid John is to put 1391 MacRae Early Sc. Texts No. 3.
We the forsaid Wauter and Howisun has put our seall to this endentour 1392 Lennox Mun. 48.
To thir endentoirys enterchangeably thair selys, to gyddre with the selys of a nobil lorde … are to set 1393 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 29.
In the wytnes of the qwylk thyng I haf set my sel to thire present lettris and for the mare wytnes to be had I haf procvrt the sel of Sir John Stewart 1395 MacRae Early Sc. Texts No. 4.
Seellis 1398 Dumfr. & Galloway Soc. 3 Ser. XIV 81.
Scyll 1416 Maxwell Mem. I 150.
In the witnes of the qwhilk thing the sel of athir party forsaid to thir indenturis enterchangeabilly ar hyngyt c1420 Wynt. viii 2717.
Selle 1425 Liber Melros II 545.
In wytnes of the qwylke thing we hafe gert hyng to oure selle the forsayd day & place togyddyr with the sellys of worthy personis of thaim that passyt on the sayd assyse 1432 Highland P. II 173.
I hafe affixt to my seile at Perth the x day of June 1434–5 Chart. Coupar A. II 34.
To the partis of thir indenturis baith the abbotis enterchangeably has gart set the selis of thair offices togedder witht the selis of Schir Walter of Ogilby [etc.] 1440 Cop. St. A. 209.
Seelle 1446 Rec. Earld. Orkney 51 (see sense 7 below). 1450 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II 344 (see (2) below). 1450 Peebles B. Rec. 16 (see sense 7 below). 1454 Southesk MSS 720.
In fath and wytnes hereof the seile of the office of the schirefdume of Forfare togidder with the seillis of sum of thaime that war apoun this inquisicione … ar appendit 1455 Misc. Bann. C. III 192.
Siell 1456–7 Reg. Dunferm. 341.
My selle togidder with the subscripcion of the said Huchoun Ker notar to ther presentis ar affixit and to put 1474 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 528.
In witnes of the quhilk thing my sell is to appensit 1478 Melville Chart. 246.
For the mayr sykkirnes, I haff procurit … the seile of ane honorable man … to thir my presentis lettres to be affixit 1481–2 Misc. Spald. C. II 325.
And tyll the mayr abondans the Wardan of Hadynton Drumfres Lanak Kyrcubryk and Enderketynge has appensyt thar sellys 1493 Acta Aud. 181/1.
And the said William Coluile … to defend and werrand his sele purchest and set to the lettre of set and tak maid to the said Marioun 1495 Contract (Mey P.) MS 14 June.
The seill of … Arthure of Forbes to be pendand hireto c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 195/60.
With expeditioun And full conditioun, Thair seilis ar to pendit 1514 Facs. Nat. MSS III xi.
In wittnes of the quhilk thing I the forsaid lawman has hungin my seil to this present dome 1521 Maxwell Mem. I 246.
We haff subscrivit this wret … and set to our seyl to the sammyne 1529 Rec. Earld. Orkney 210.
Sceil 1557–8 Treas. Acc. X 331.
For iii½ lb. wecht of quhite walx to affix certane seillis to the commissionis send in France pretermittit in the last cheker 1559 Lamont P. 72.
Sceill 1561 St. A. Kirk S. 104.
To thir our present letteres … the sailis of superintendent and ministerie foyrsayd ar affixed a1568 Bann. MS 144a/16.
Thair is no mater to end compleit Quhill he [sc. Sir Penny] sett to his seill & hand c1575 Balfour Pract. 382.
Gif ony persoun … persewis ane uther for improbatioun of ony evident, be ressoun that the seill appendit thairto is false and feinȝeit, because the samin is dividit and brokin, the ane part fra the uther, for altering the tag quhairby the samin is hungin [etc.] 1672 Acts VIII 69/2.
To such [charters] as shall be written on a skin of parchment in the ordinary way, that the sealls be appended as formerlie, and to these which shall be written in the booke way that the sealls be appended vpon a tye or band, which is to goe thorow all the leaves in the marginefig. c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus Prol. 135.
Vespasiane gude painteris lufit weill. Titus his sone on menstrallis set his seill(2) 1450 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II 344.
Witnes myne eldest brotheris sele quhilk is the sele of myne armes hereto set in absence of myne awn sele 1452 Maxwell Mem. I 171.
Ande for the maire haboundance of lawte … to thir endenturis, [they] has set to the seellis of thare armys 1474 Reg. Morton II 221.
In witnes of this to thir my present lettres of manrent I hafe affixit to my propir seel of myn armys 1499 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 625.
To this present tak & sett my seyll of my armys is appensit ande hung at the maner place of the hillis 1506 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 693.
The said Huchone has affixit to his seill of armys 1509 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II 266.
We the said Alexander Erle of Huntlie has appendit to our propir seile of armis to this present writt 1552 Glasg. Univ. Mun. I 57.
With the appensioun of the said rectouris seil of armes 1589 Burntisland B. Ct. 4 July.
To thir present lettres off reuersione subscriwit with my hand my proper seall of airmis as do be hung [sic]fig. 1685-8 Renwick Serm. 19.
All that is true, we can set to our seals to it … we know he is willing, and we set to our seals to his willingnessb. 1561 Wigtownshire Chart. 54.
Anent the seiling the laird had ane xix ȝeir tak of James Kennedeis … fra the quhilk the laird tuik the seill and held the faice of the sele to ane wet claith and pat the bak of it to the fyir and I tuik it fra the tak and put it to the greit charter

4. Under the, a or one's sele, attested, authenticated or secured by a seal.Also const. the sele of one's armis, one's sele of armis (see the note at 2 above).(1) c1380 Charter (Reg. H.).
Qvat tyme at he will aske me … I sall gif hym my chartyr vndir my seyll 1385 Red Bk. Grandtully I 140*.
The ta parte of this endentur … dwelland with the forsayde Syr Robert … as ful endyt dome vndyr my sele c1405 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 59.
It hade bene fayrar for him to haffe sende me that querell in to wryt vndir his selle & till haff tane answere greable as afferit to him vnder my seelle agayne 1428 Liber Melros II 519 (see sense 6 c below). 1464 Swintons App. xlvii.
James be the grace of God King of Scottis til oure louet Simon Salman, oure Stewart of March … that ane inquisition suld be takin … ande quhat ȝe fynd be the said inquisicioun ȝe retour againe to ws close vnder ȝoure sele and the selis of thaime passing apoun the said inquisicioun 1476 Acta Aud. 43/1.
The said Johne Pook produciand a letter selit vnder bath thar selis c1475 Wall. iii 303.
Thou schirreff art of Ayr … Vndyr my seylle I sall be bound to thé c1475 Wall. vii 49.
This band thai clois wndre thair seillis fast 1483 Acta Aud. 132*/1.
The said Johnne … producit a lettre of tak vnder the sele and subscripcione manuale of the said Alexander 1483 Acta Conc. II cxxix (see sense 6 b below). 1486 Stirlings of Keir 255.
I or thai sall … infeyft … wnder my sall or tharis … the said Wylȝhame [etc.] 1487 Aberd. B. Rec. I 43.
That ye send your mynde til ws, close vnder your selis or vnder autentywe instrumentis tharapoune 1488 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 5.
That the procuratour wes o wail be caus it wes writ and wax ondir ane altentik seel 1507–8 Reg. Privy S. I 238/1.
He dredis that the stelaris [of his seal] … has … maid fals lettrez and endentouris on his behalff under his said sele 1515 Fife Sheriff Ct. 20 (see sense 6 below). 1532 E. Loth. Antiq. Soc. II 99 (see sense 6 below). 1532–3 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 87 (see sense 7 below). 1535 Stewart 58043.
Brekand promit to him befoir he maid In writ and walx, wnder thair seillis braid 1537 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 144.
The quhilk inquest … decernit hym to be retornat heyraf vnder thair salis 1540 Acts II 377/1 (see sense 2 above). 1542 Boyd Fam. P. (30 June) (see sense 6 b below). 1546–7 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 563.
The copy of ane salf conduct undir ane sele of grene walx of the Quene of Scotland 1560 Rolland Seven S. 239.
Ane message sone was sent, Vnder his seill, and als his awin hand writ 1561 St. A. Kirk S. 78.
Gevyn under the saill quhilk in sic caussis we use, wyth the subscripsion of our scrib, is affixit at Sanctandrois 1561 St. A. Kirk S. 101.
Ane edict of the Superintendent and ministerie present, under thar sail, deule executit and indorsat 1566 Treas. Acc. XII 14.
To David Fowlar, messinger, passand to Edinburgh with letters to charge the tennentis of Prestoun vnder the sell 1597 Misc. Spald. C. II 140/41 (see sense 6 below). 1622-6 Bisset I 41/5 (see sense 6 c below). 1622-6 Bisset I 90/34.
Under the said Clementis letteris gevin under the leidin bull and seill 1638 Elphinstone Mun. 26 (see sense 6 below).(2) 1496 Acta Conc. II 23.
Letters of tak … made to thame under the sele of his armes thairapoun 1497–8 Acta Conc. II 147.
Be his letters obligatouris under his sele of armes and subscripcione mannuale 1498 Acta Conc. II 161.
Ane acquittance and discharge … made be the sade Margret til him under hir sele of hir armes 1517–18 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 120.
Giffis my lord of Arane charge to gif his band and securite to the saidis personis undir his sele of armis

5. transf. or fig. a. (An aspect of) one or other of the sacraments of the church, a guarantee of the spiritual benefit, etc. bestowed by the sacrament. b. A woman viewed, in a sexual context, as the ‘wax’ ‘imprinted’ or stamped by the male. c. ? A depiction of a seal on a playing card. See Selch n. 2.a. 1490 Irland Mir. III 81/9.
In the sacrament of ordour thar is a thing spirituall and permanent … causit in the saule and that is nocht anerly grace … tharfor it is a seill spiritual causit in the saule that is callit carectar and thir persounis quhen thai resaue ordouris thai resaue nocht anerly grace bot als this spirituale figur and takin that is callit carectar 1576 Bk. Univ. Kirk I 362.
The parishoners … dar not resort to their parish kirks … to receive the sacrament and seals of their salvation 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 52.
Gif thou come as ane sow or as ane dog to handle the seals of the body and blood of Christ, meikle mair may thou be compted to be guiltie of his body and of his blood 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 70 (see 7 (1) below). 1597 James VI Dæmonol. 25/19.
Except they be marked with his seale, the sacrament of baptisme 1598 Melvill Propine 87.
The sacraments, the halie seales, whilk vsed well and right, Makes Christ and al his benefites, be spiritual force & might a1651 Calderwood I 95.
Sacraments be seales ascertaining us of God's willb. c1590 J. Stewart 24/337.
I vill not tarie sutting hir consent Nor langer frustrat sall I not remaine … My stamp sall first vpon the seale imprent, Hir close conclawe I sall at plesour vse

6. Sele of office, the seal of a corporate body, as a court or an incorporation of craftsmen. Also seillis of justiciarie. Cf. common sele in sense 7 below. b. The seal of a particular officer. c. The kingis, royal, etc. seal.(1) 1454 Southesk MSS 9.
The seile of the office of the Schirefdume of Forfare [etc.] 1464–5 Charter (Reg. H.) C.O. No. 60.
A rolment of courte of the justice ayre … vndir the sele of office of justiciarie 1487–8 Liber Melros 618.
Becaus I had na propir seil of my awyne present I have procuryt … the seil of the office of the denry of Theuidale … to be hungyne to thir present letres 1515 Fife Sheriff Ct. 20.
The quhilk chartir James Logane askyt & requirit at the schiref foirsaid of his office to mak be registerit in the court buke of the said schirefdome and that he mycht have the copy of the said chartir actentikly wnder the sele of office 1526 Acts II 301/1.
The kingis graice … ordanis that all his selis of the saidis officis be deliuerit to his graice to morn 1532 E. Loth. Antiq. Soc. II 99.
A actentic testimoniall onder the seill of office of the hamyrmen of Edinburgh 1555 Grey Friars 83.
He presentit in court … thre erdis and stanis clossit in sekkis under the seill of office 1565 Edinb. Univ. MS La.iii.388a fol. 28b.
The transumpting of evidentis or uther writtingis in parchement vnder the seill of office 1571 Melville Chart. 120.
In witnes heirof the sele of office of the said Comissarie is affixt a1575 Hamilton & Campsie Test. I 27b.
In witnes heirof the seill of office of the said commissariate is affixt 1597 Misc. Spald. C. II 140, 141.
To be seruit in the said mansioune, croft and yaird … and retourit vnder your seillis and seill of office, conforme to the vse 1627 Melville Chart. 162.
Mr. James Wemys, commissar of St. Androis deput to the confirmatioun of testamentis … ratefeis … this present inventare and testament [etc.] … tharfor I be the presentis comitis ful power to the saidis executouris [etc.] … In witnes herof to the presentis … my saill of office is affixt … the twentie day of Apryll 1638 Elphinstone Mun. 26.
Of all vther thingis … for sequestrating and putting of thame in ane lokfast chalmer and lokfast lomes thairintill, to remane thairin vnder thair seale of office and handwrete(2) 1567 Reg. Privy C. I 551.
Sir Johnne Bellenden … [to bring in] the seillis of justiciarie on the south and north sydes of the wattir of Forthb. 1466 Newburgh B. Ct. 7b.
He askyt the bailȝeis sel to be set tharto & the commone sele if it nedyt 1483 Acta Conc. II cxxix.
A transsumpt actentik under the Chancellaris sele of the charter of wedeset of viij merkis worth of land of Tibbris 1542 Boyd Fam. P. 30 June.
The forsaid inqueist … ordanis the samyne to be retovrit to our souerane lords chaple vnder the maist part of thair selis that past vpoun the said inqueist vnder the inclusioune of ane of the ballie deputs selis abone vrittin ?c1578 Murray Early B. Organ. I 152.
Whasa sal wish to proceed in burgh for recoverie of land … aucht to … tak erde and stane of that tenement and present to the balyes … and thai stanes and erde aw to be placit in a pock saled with the balyes salec. 1428 Liber Melros II 519.
I syttand as iuge … with powar giffyn and chargyt vnder the kyngis seale 1549 Lamb Resonyng 131/9.
Instrumentis … selit with the selis of the Scottis kyngis 1622-6 Bisset I 41/5.
Thir presentis … maid under oure royall seill

7. Common sele, the seal (in senses 1 and 2 above) of a community, originally religious, later burghal, for use in community affairs or by an individual lacking a personal seal, also as a symbol of the authority of the community. Also communite sele, chaptour sele, sele of the toune (burgh), kirk sele. Cf. also (common) sele of cause, s.v. Sele of Caus(e n. 1. b. A seal used by a trade guild or trading company. c. Applied to the seal of the Court of Sederunt. d. Applied to the mark on a measure confirming its conformity with the standard, see sense 11 d below.Also in 1289 and 1298, AF le seel commun, L. sigellum commune, appar. refer to the common seal of the kingdom of Scotland or that of the ‘commune de reaume’ or ‘communitas regni’. 1289 Acts I 86/1.
Nous gardeyns du reaume … en nom de vous et de tote la commune le seel comun que nus usom en Escoce en nom de nostre Dame avauntdyte auuom fet mettre a ceste lettre 1289 Acts I 86/2.
Le seal commun 1298 Acts I 98*/1.
In cuius rei testimonium sigillum commune praedicti regni Scocie praesenti scripto est appositum(1) 1394 Liber Aberbr. II 43.
The tothir part anens Wilyam of Tweddal plummer the comoun sele of the chapyter of Abirbrothoc remanys selyt 1400 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 49.
Be cause that I had na seal redy of my awyn I procurit the seil of an honorabile lady Dam Alice the Lyndesay pryorese of the nunnys of Hadyngton and the comone seile of the pryorese … to be set to this presand lettir in the absent of my seile 1402 MacRae Early Sc. Texts No. 9.
In the witnes of the quhilk thing to the part of this indentour with the saide Katerine remanande the comovne seel of the chapter of the abbay … is to put. To the part forsoith remanand with the saide religeouse men the seel of the saide Katerine is to put 1425 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 97.
In vitnes of the qwhilke thyng for I hade na sele of myne awyn the comvne sele of the saide burch I hafe procurit to be to put 1434–5 Reg. St. A. 424. 1446 Rec. Earld. Orkney 51.
Our sailis, that is to mene the seill of Bischop Thomas, and of the chanonis of the chapture forsaidis and of all the pepill and communitie of the cuntre of Orchadie quhilk is callit the commune seill … with certane seillis of otheris … personis … till thir presentis ar to hang it 1450 Peebles Chart. 16.
The comon sele of Peblis, and the sele of the forsaid Sir Wilyam Adeson, til thir indenturis interchangeabily ar to hwngyn 1471 Ayr Friars Pr. Chart. 54. 1488 Reg. Paisley 407.
The common seyle of the chaiptour … and … the said burgh of Renfrew … ar copijt 1514–15 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 30.
The … balyeis … hes ordanit Stewyne of Lawder to kep the commoun seil and nocht to seill with it without it be in presens of [blank] 1517 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 41.
Our common seill to be kepit be Robene Ker, George Scot, Stewyne of Lawder and David Broun in a kest with iiij lokkis 1521 Aberd. B. Rec. I xxxvi.
Baith the said procuratory and statutis to be sellit with thair commond seill [sc. of the burgh of Aberdeen], quhilk thai haue chargit the keiparis of the samen do 1532–3 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 87.
Ane charter of umquhill Henre, abbat, vnder the common saill, of the landis vnder writyne 1544 Aberd. B. Rec. I 200.
[He] ordanit the keiparis of thair commend seill to seill him ane assedatioun thairupoun 1544 Reg. Cupar A. II 32.
In witnes of the quhilk the said abbot and conuent has subscriuit this present admissioun with thair awin handis … befor thir witnes, Patrik Hering, Thomas Kennady [etc.] … and maister Williame Somerwele, notar publict, with vtheris diuers: quhilk salbe fund vpoun the bak of the commoun sele 1550 Haddington B. Rec. (Robb) 3 Dec. (quoted in minute of 7 Jan. 1620).
[Charter of the Baxters.] Our comoun seill is destroyit be our auld enemies of Ingland 1556 Edinb. B. Rec. II 245.
In presence of the baillies [etc.] … James Barroun input the box with the commoun seill in the charter hous 1556 Edinb. B. Rec. II 256.
Ane instrument or transsumpt vnder the signe and subscription of vmquhile Thomas Brovne notar publict, and the commoun seill of this burgh hungin thairto, and becaus the samyn seill was auld and abill to dekay haistely, sua that the samyn culd nocht be knawin, desyrit tham to hing thair commoun seill of new thairto agane a1567 Old Ross-shire I 13.
As to the seill acclemyt the samyn is the proper common seill of the kyrk of Tayne and I and my predecessors, provests forsaid cheplanes and kyrk of Tayne hes bein, lyk as I ame, ȝeit in continewell use and possessione of the samyn be seling of the haill infeftments of the lands haldin of the provest and kyrk of Tayne 1573 Reg. Soltre 227.
That thair commoun sele of the said college be … consent of thair chaptoure be changit 1574 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II 434.
The said libellit precept wes admittit … wndir the comound seill of Deir 1582 Misc. Stair Soc. I 110 (see (3) below). 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 70.
I call this sacrament of the supper ane halie seal, annexed to the covenant of grace … a seal to be ministred publikly … I call this sacrament a seal, be reason that this sacrament serves to the same use to our saulls that a common seale serves to a common evident: as the seal quhilk is annexed to the evident confirmes and seals up the truth conteined in the evident sa this sacrament … confirmes and seals up the truth … conteined in the covenant of mercie and grace 1598–9 Edinb. B. Rec. V 244.
The deyne of gild resavet the boxe with the commoun seill of this burgh and chaptour seill of the college kirk of S. Jeill 1606 Acts IV 325/1.
That the commoun seall of the said chaptour to be maid of new be thair awin advyse sall serve for thair consentis without thair subscriptionis 1683 Martine Reliq. Divi Andreae 184.
The chapter … had the icon of these three [sc. steeple and two chapels] all joined in one body upon their common seall(2) 1387 Edinb. Chart. 36.
Endentur … betwene … Adam Forstar lorde of Nethir Lebertoun, Androw Yutsoun prowest of … Edynburgh and the communite of that ylke on the ta half, and Jonne Prymros, Jonne of Scone and Jonne Skuyer masounys on the tothir half … Wretyn vndir the seillis of the forsaides Adam, prouest and the comunite selle anentis the forsaides masounys to be remaynande. And Join Primros has procurit the selle of James of Fulforde [etc.](3) 1558 Rentale Dunkeld. 362.
For the cheptouris syll to Sir James Hamyltonis letter of tak of Abercorne and beddall sylver 43 s. 4 d. 1582 Misc. Stair Soc. I 105.
The first heid contenis the narratione of the case … The 9. accuses the seillis of the chairtour and namelie the cheptour seill quhair your lordschips may sie ane manifest falset the face thairof being new and the bak auld 1582 Misc. Stair Soc. I 110.
Anent the chaptour seill, how evir Mr. Robert Winrahame hes delt quhen he had the commoune seill in keiping … lat him anser thairfoir, for that appertenis nocht to the defendaris seing the charter producit be thame is trewlie sealit be the said chaptour seill 1599 Edinb. B. Rec. V 244 (see (1) above).(4) 1448–9 Aberd. MS Gild Rec. p. 735 in Aberd. B. Rec. (SHS) cxi n. 2.
Thar salbe twa of the worthiaste merchandis that sailis chosin be the commoune counsaile of this burgh quhilkis sal haue powar under the seel of the toune to mak the said statute be execute 1595–6 Edinb. B. Rec. V 151.
Nocht onelie his majesteis seilles bot the seilles of this burgh wes thair counterfute and abuset(5) 1634 S. Leith Rec. 24/1.
Saxteine writtis quhilk Patrick Glassfurd had with the kirk seallb. 1519 Edinb. Hammermen 99b.
Gevin to Adam Lys for to mak ane common seill to the craft for seling of thair reuersiouns richt honestlie done with the figour of Sanct Loy in it x s. 1695 Acts IX 378/2.
The Company of Scotland tradeing to Affrica and the Indies … with power to the said Company to have a common seal and to alter and renew the same at their pleasure with advice alwise of the Lyon King at armsc. 1663 Acts Sederunt ii 90.
The Seale of Court: Mr. Alexander Gibson produced in presence of the lords their common seall, wherewith commissions and other papers, which went out of the country, used to be sealled

8. The grete sele: The seal (in senses 1 and 2 above) of the monarch (of Scotland, also of England) as head of state, used to authenticate royal charters and other documents of the greatest importance.See also Quarter-sele n. and testimonial of the grete sele, Testimonial n.(1) 1389 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 15.
Be the forsaid chartir confermyt be … the kyng of Scotland Robert … with his grete sele 1517 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 92.
xii skynnis of quhit parchment to be selit with the grete sele sa that he mycht use the samin for the honour and profite of the realme now in his being in Fraunce, the quhilk desir the lordis thocht resonable and ordanit him to have the samin and to register the saidis xii selis in the register 1518 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 132.
At the samyn [sc. prorogation] be maid of dait at the king of Ingland has gevin his greit sele tharupon nochtwithstanding that the day tharof be bypast 1549 Lamb Resonyng 7/23.
The quhilk causis maid ws to obtene the Greit Seill of Scotland upone ȝour quene heretrice mariage with our nobill kyng Edwart, the quhilk oblising ȝow haue brokin 1552 Treas. Acc. X 124.
For ane greite cord of gold and silk to hing the greite seill of the confirmatioune upoun the treatty maid upoun the divisioun of the Debatable land 1568 Anderson Collect. Mary IV ii 105.
A Commission sealled with the Greite Seale of Scotland a1578 Pitsc. I 92/34.
[The king] desyred him … to come to the counsall makand him suire with all promeissis that he sould be saiflie pardonit and sum sayis he gat the gret seall thairvnto or he wald grant to cum to the king a1578 Pitsc. I 254/2.
I [sc. King Henry VIII] … hes maid the othe of fiedilietie into him [sc. King James IV] as he hes done wnto me be hallie vangell tuichit and our great seallis and hand writ interchangit thair wpon 1594 Macritchie Gypsies 70.
Capitane Baillie [was hanged] for counterfetting the Great Seall agains the merchants 1686 Mackenzie Observ. (1687) 441.
It is fit to know that there are three seals in Scotland, the Great-Seal, Privy-Seal, and Quarter-Seal; the Great-Seal is properly design'd to be appended to heretable rights, and the Privy-Seal for moveables, and the Quarter-Seal is but the testimonial of the Great-Seal, and generally it is appended to papers that are subservient to heretable rights, such as precepts of seasin, presentations to forefaultries, etc.(2) 1415 Reg. Episc. Brechin. I 37.
In the witnes of the quhilk thing … we haf gart put the grit seil of our office, at Perth, the tyme of our chekar haldin 1526 Lennox Mun. 227.
We haue to hwngyn owr gret seyll … togydder with our manuell subscryptioun a1578 Pitsc. I 384/4.
[He] had affixit and interchangit his great seall witht Ingland for amittie of baitht the saidis realmes 1600 Conv. Burghs II 84.
The … erectioun [sc. of the town] vnder his maiesteis Grit Seill, daitit at Falkland [etc.](3) 1389 Liber Melros II 449.
With his chartir vndre his grete sele 1398 Acts I 211/1.
And that the schanceller sall ansuer til al his lettres as to the kyngis lettres wnder his priue seel … and thar apon to gif lettres wnder the kyngis grete seel owtakand remission 1425 Acts II 9/1.
Lettres of newe infeftment confirmacion or proteccion speciale vndir his hail grete sele 1515 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 40.
That ane lettir of testimoniale be maid undir the grete sele direct to our halifadir the pape and to his college of cardinalis 1526 Acts II 313/1. c1575 Balfour Pract. 651.
Thair passis a letter of captioun under the testimonial of the greit seill, for apprehending of persounis denuncit rebellis, direct to the ordinar judges c1575 Balfour Pract. 654.
To pass under the greit seill 1611 Reg. Panmure I xxix.
In his licence, obtenit for passine furthe of the cowntray wnder the gryt seale 1671 Justiciary Ct. Rec. II 30.
A commission under his majesties great seal … to John Earl of Athol, … Sir John Home of Renton [etc.] … to be his majesties justices in all criminal causes

b. The matrix of the Great Seal. Also the kepar of the grete sele.(1) c1475 Wall. vi 909.
To procur pees I am send fra our king, With the great seill 1503 Treas. Acc. II 372.
To fech the grete sele to sele the trewis and conjunct infeftment 1503 Treas. Acc. II 373.
To ane man to pas to Abirdene and brocht the keyis of the grete sele fra the Beschop of Abirdene 1514 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 19.
That the gret seile be deliverit in keping to the archidene of Sanctandrois 1515 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 51.
My lord of Glesgw askit instrument of the delivering of the greit sele be my lord governour to him in plane parliament in presens of the thre estatis 1649 Acts VI ii 162/1.
The estats of parlement ordaines the signet, cashet and privie seall whereof use was made in our late soveraigns tyme to be made use of lykwise in this kings tyme and ordaines the present Great seall and quarter seall to be changed 1657 Balfour Ann. II 94.
At the deliuerey vpe to him of hes maiesties casshett and grate seall(2) c1420 Wynt. vii 1324.
Saynt Thomas wes hys chawnselare, And hys gret sele wyth hym bare 1538–9 Misc. Spald. C. II 194.
To oure chancellare president and lordis of oure counsale keparis of oure priue grete and quarter selis and all and sindry our officiariis … greting 1580 Reg. Privy C. III 284.
Our soverane lord … inhibitis the keiparis of his hienes caschett, his signet, privie and gret selis, to answer the same to ony sic letters

c. The office or department of the Great Seal; the seal itself viewed as part of the process of authentication, freq. const. pas v. (See also Pas v. 2.) Also the fe(is of the grete sele. Also, once, the broad seal.(1) 1528–9 Reg. Privy S. I 593/1.
Ane lettre maid to Robert Bertoun … thesaurar and comptrollar, chargeing that na lettres of gift of our soverane lordis casualite nor propirte be ansuerit at the signete, prive sele nor gret sele without the subscriptioun of the said Robert 1533–4 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 414.
That nane of our seles, gret, prive nor signet, ansuer na sic respitt or remissioun geif ony hapnis to be solistit of us, without the said slauchteris and mutilatiouns be exceptit thairintill 1545 Treas. Acc. VIII 365.
The xij day of Appryle, for making of the writtingis to the signet, prevye sele and gret seill, of ane remissioun purchest to the capitane of Dumbertane, his kyn and frendis 1621 Acts IV 620/2.
Pryces sett doun to the gryit seall to be takin heirefter for all sick infeftmentis and wreatis as passis that seale: that the keipare of the gryite seale exceide not the quadrupill off the previe seale bot conforme thame selff thairvnto in all poyntes c1630 Hope Minor Practicks (1726) 79, 80.
But where infeftment followed, the same passeth either by way of signature through the whole seals, till it come to the Greet Seal, or by way of presentation vnder the Quarter Seal, otherwise called the Testimonial of the Great Seal 1664 Argyll-Lauderdale Lett. 7.
The shooner that commission passe the better; for if it could be heere about the 12 … of Agust I would strive to have it passe the seall … As to which of the two I would have passe his maiesties hand, it were not amisse that both did, for only one can be made use of heere. Sir Johne Nisbite says ether is legall. He seemd first to incline to the quarter seall, and afterwards to the greate seall, so if only one can be signed, let it be the greate seall … yet the councell doth weekly give order to apend sealls(2) 1595–6 Cal. Sc. P. XII 116.
Again Blantyre, Lord Privy Seal, thinks he should supply the vacance of the Broad Seal. But his majesty will easily compone this(3) 14.. Acts I 345/2.
The barouns … ordanit to the kingis chancellare the fee of the grete sele that is to say for ilk charter of ane hundreth pundis worth of land and attour for the fee x li. 1532 Hannay College of Justice 60.
Our … soverane lord … ordanis … all feis and proffeitis that sall happin to cum of his seilis, that is to say of his grete seil his privie seil and his litel signet to be … distribuit amangis [etc.] 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. (Latin) i 2b.
Stipendium, salarium, vulgo, the fee of the great seale(4) c1575 Balfour Pract. 652, 653.
Of writtis passand the greit seill … All confirmatiounis upon charteris ar first writtin in form of signaturis subscrivit be the prince [etc.] … and being registrat in the thesaurar's bukis … ane precept in Latin is written to the signet … direct to the keipar of the privie seill requiring him to pas the like precept to the Chancellour for passing of the confirmatioun under the greit seill and as the signature … is warrand to the signet, swa the precept is warrand to the privie seill and the privie seill to the greit seill: And quhen the said last precept under the privie seill cumis to the greit seill beirand the confirmatioun to be past … Then the haill charter at lenth is contenit thairin 1621 Acts IV 620/2 (see (1) above). c1630 Hope Minor Practicks 85.
All signatures of prelacies, and great benefices; and also all signatures of the officers of state, pass under the Great Seal only, without any other seal; and sicklike, all signatures, which pass only the Signet and Privy-Seal, pass also the Great Seal 1690 Acts IX 200/1.
And where the vassalls of kirklands their valuations is only ten punds Scotts or under that their charters shall pass the great seall per saltum without passing any other seall and that gratis

9. Half-sele, ? an earlier name for the Quarter Seal (Quarter-sele n.).‘The Quarter Seal is not known to have been used in any other country but Scotland. But in England they had a seal called the half-seal, which was applied to certain Commissions and … I think it may turn out that the half-seal is the original of our Quarter Seal.' J. M. Thomson The Public Records of Scotland (1922) 75, 76. 1480 Acta Conc. I 79/2.
The charter vnder the grete sele & a precept of sesing vnder the half sele of the landis of Calend 1514 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 27.
Thai wald the selis war deliverit as efferis, that is to say gret seile, half seile and signet to be usit as of befor

10. Round sele, the designation of one of the seals of a bishop, in contradistinction to the more usual pointed oval. b. The matrix of such a seal. 1433 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 286.
We hafe gert set oure rounde sele to thir present lettris … the vij day of Nouembre … a thowsand foure hundreth thretty and thre ȝeiris 1476 Acta Aud. 43/2.
Patrik has producit … a letter of tak of the said bischop vnder his round sele of the said landis 1492 Acta Conc. I 252/2.
As wes previt be the said arsbischopis lettrez and indenturis vnder his rond sele and subscriptioune manuale 1500 Acta Conc. II 409. 1500 Hist. Carnegies 523.
We haue gart append our rond seyll 1517–18 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 114.
As at mair lentht is contenit in the sammyn selit with his [sc. the Bishop of Galloway's] round sele and undir the signe and subscripcioun of schir George Coupar, notar public 1522 Acta Conc. MS XXXIII 71.
Thair precept of sesing vnder the said maist reuerend faderis round sele 1525 St. A. Formulare I 268.
Gude folkis heir ar my lorde archibischop of Glasgews letteris gevin undere his rounde sele 1564–5 Reg. Privy S. V i 565/2.
Be thair lettiris under thair subscriptionis manuale, his rounde seil and commoun seile of the said cheptour 1578 Reg. Privy S. VII 253/1.
Gevin undir the subscriptionis manuall of the saidis abbot and convent, round seill of the said umquhile bischope and commoun seill of the said abbay 1582 Misc. Stair Soc. I 105.
Siclyk the signet upone the bak of the round seill is adulterat as may be considderit be fyve or sax of the round seillis producit quhilk suld be tryit be the compas 1582 Misc. Stair Soc. I 110.
As to the pretendit allegeances foundit upoun the round seill the samen ar nocht of trewtht bot the contrare evidentlie be tryell and conference of the seillis will appeir 1585 Acts III 420/1.b. 1497 Halyb. 215.
In September gyf for makyn of my Lordis [sc. The Archbishop of St. Andrews'] rond sell [£2 10 s.]

11. Coket sele (sele of coket), custom sele, the seals of the custom house. See also Coket n. 1 and 3, for further examples. 1501–2 Reg. Privy S. I 116/2.
A letter maid to Alexander Tyri … and James Tyri his soun of the office of clerk of cokit of Perth, the keping of the sele of the sammyn and seare of the skynnis and al uther gudis awing custume 1567 Reg. Privy C. I 547.
The custum hous to be deliverit to the said James, with the custum and cokquet stampis and seillis, and the circumscriptioun of that ane syde to be alterit, and in steid of ‘Maria Dei gratia Regina Scotorum’ to be placed ‘Jacobus Dei gratia Rex Scotorum’, alwayis kepand all the uther substantiallis of the formar seill 1584 Conv. Burghs I 194.
Because Helene Makgill kepar of the custome seill of befoir refuisit to delyuer the same, [the commissioners] … ordanis William Macartney thair agentt to sie ane half seill new maid of perfyte tyn … according to the quantitie of the coquett seil … and with impressioun of the kingis maiesties armes and superscriptioun vsitt in sic seillis, and being maid, the custome seill to be gevin to the said customer and the coquett seill to the said Nicoll

b. A seal affixed by customs officers to goods (here, cloth) on which duty has been paid. 1598 Acts IV 185/1.
The custome of the saidis guidis [sc. foreign cloth] ar very far owirsene … in respect thair is na seill appointit to be hungin to the saidis guidis … quhairby the guidis custumat could nawayes be knawin be the vncustumat guidis 1598 Acts IV 185/1, 2.
His hienes … ordanis … the haill custumaris within this realme to caus mak and prent ane seill and stamp of seill contening tua halffis for euerie burcht and sey port within this realme quhair thay ar establist custumaris, the ane half thairof contening Jacobus Rex with his hienes armes and crowne and the vther half the name of the burcht quhar the same sall remane, quhilk seill and stamp salbe applyit to leid being sua strukin and prentit with the said stamp salbe hungin to euerie wobe peice and steik of claith, silk and stuff … that heirefter salbe brocht within this realme … befoir the same be presentit to oppin mercat … and the ane half of the said seill to be keipit be the custumar and the vther half be the clerk of cocquet

c. A stamp or seal attached to cloth as an indicator of quality and origin, orig. with reference to imported cloth, chiefly as (cloth) of the seill; also, once, of the gret seill. Also attrib. with maister (Maister n. 12 d).(1) 1542–3 Treas. Acc. VIII 172.
½ elne ½ quarter Frenche broune of the seill, price of the elne xxxviij s. 1551 Treas. Acc. X 30.
Five elnis fyne blak of the seile of Rowane … price of the elne iij li. v s. 1567 Treas. Acc. XII 70.
iiij elnis of fyne blak of the seill 1575 Edinb. Test. III 360b.
Thrie elnis … of blak clayth of the seill price of the eln iiij li. 1600 Treas. Acc. MS 59b.
Colourit claith of the seill to be him ane vther cloik 1602 Tailor's Acc. Bk. A 30.
Furneist to ȝour blak claithis of claith of the seill ten quarteris of stenting and … plading 1619 Edinb. B. Rec. VI 200.
Thai sall mak thair haill stuffis sufficient breid, lenth and gudenes … quhilkis stuffis thai sall uphald to be als sufficient … as any stuffis of the lyk seill or value of Holland — 1501–2 Halyb. xxi.
Sall ȝe resaue furth of the sammyne schipe … a roundale in the first ij steikis of Rissillis claith, ane brovne and ane blak, of the gret seill cost xvij li.(2) 1688 Haddington B. Rec. (Robb) 13 Sept.
All persons making Scots cloath above the pryce of three punds Scots, shall have the seal of the adjacent toune appended thairto 1707 Conv. Burghs IV 431.
That all linnen for bleitching be woven yeard and tuo inches broad … and that befor exposing it to sale the ouner shall procure to each piece, half piece or quarter piece a seall bearing the impressione of a thistle and the name of the toun wher it was sealled, and after it receives the seall that the same be bought upon the faith thereof(3) attrib. 1553 Dundee B. Ct. II fol. 254b (9 Oct.).
The provest baillies & counsale hes chosine Andro Annand dane of gild seilmaister of all stikis of cullorit clayth conforme to the kyngis actis 1707 Conv. Burghs IV 431.
That the sealmaster be lyable in case any … linnen shall be sealled not of equall sufficiency … conforme to the Scots Acts of Parliament

d. A branding-iron or other means of marking (wooden) containers or measures as of the correct standard; the mark so made. Also const. common sele, publict sale, seele of the burgh, the townis seall, burning sale. 14.. Burgh Laws c. 60 (B).
Ilk burges may haf in his hows mesuris [etc.] … and al the mesuris and stanys aw to be selyt wyth the comon seel [A. the standart of the burgh, Acts I 30/2 the seele of the burgh] 1516 Wigtown B. Ct. 57a.
Allane McClouche vas varnit to cum & deliuer the common sele of the peckis to the alderman & balȝeis 1517 Wigtown B. Ct. 70b.
The comunte hais ordanit to deliuer to Thom McCullach and Andro Mwre the seillis of the pekkis & stopis 1618 Acts IV 588/1.
That all firlots to be vsed in markets … be brunt and sealed … with the marks and sealls of Linlithgow 1633 Cullen B. Rec. 22 Feb.
To mak thair said heip firlettis sufficient to the effect forsaid conforme to the instrument, and to be seallit be the townis seall 1692 Conv. Burghs IV 153.
Each royall burrow that makes casks for export they are to keep ane burning sale, … the maker … to put his oune mark vpon them, and therefter … the visitor appoynted by the said toune … to try the samen, and it sufficient to put the publict sale vpon them 1694 Edinb. B. Rec. XII 147.
The magistrats and dean of gild of each respective royall burgh are appoynted to provyde a burneing seall for markeing of all caskes imployed in exporting of herring and salmond and to appoynt ane honest couper … to mark all the casks who are sufficiently cured and pakt

12. The process of authentication, by affixing one or more of the Scottish seals, specif., the signet (Signet n.¹), privé sele (Privé Sele n.), quarter sele (Quarter-sele n.) and grete sele (sense 8 above), undergone by a document for payment of a fee; the government department concerned with this.There is some overlap with sense 1 above. 1510 Crim. Trials I i 65.
And certifieng all personis that na alde Signitouris of Remissiounis wantande the Gret Sele, or Remissiounis nocht ordourlie procedit be the Selis, that is to say first be the Signet, syne be the Privé Sele and the Gret Sele, salbe admittit 1532 Treas. Acc. VI 105.
Ane boy to ryne furth of Striveling to Edinburgh with ane lettre to stop the selis unpassit upone Focartis remissioune 1585 Acts III 376/1 (see 1 b attrib. above).
Ane act anent feis of the seillis 1587 Aberd. Council Lett. I 31.
The said erle to releif the expenssis of the seallis of the infeftment that sall pas upoun the saids lands 1621 Acts IV 616/2.
The lordis of secreit counsell … haue sett doun the pryces off all lettres [etc.] … togidder with the pryces of the signet previe and gryte seallis quhairby the subiectis of the cuntrey may knaw … quhat pryces they ought to giff for everie letter wreat extract and seill heirefter and be nowaye subiect to [the] vndiscretioun of the wreateris and keiparis of the seallis 1621 Acts IV 621/1.
That the keipare of the signet and previe seale in nowayes staye nor hinder anye letter or wreate at thair seallis for alledgit not payment of the chamber fee c1650 Spalding I 168.
To quyte his livetennandrie, and to send the samen bak agane to the king, schowing it wes stoppit at the seallis

b. To pas (throw, under) the selis (see also Pas v. 20), to get (expede) (something) throw the selis, to undergo or achieve authentication by this means, hence, to come or be put into effect. Also fig. Also, once, of the seals of the Lords of Regality.(1) 1515 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 54.
All summondis of tresone and uthir materis that passis undir the quhyte wax and all uthir selis to pas undir the kingis sele is [sic] and in my lord governouris name and auctorite and to have strentht and effect siklyk as thai war direct in the kingis name 1542 Acts II 424*/2.
That all the new infeftmentis and signaturis forsaidis sall pas ordourlie throw all our said vmquhile souirane lordis selis c1575 Balfour Pract. 651.
Letteris of tutorie dative upon the signatour subscryvit be the king passis the samin seill 1583 Cal. Sc. P. VI 645.
And to pas the same orderlie throw our seillis betuix the dait heirof and the first day of December nixt a1633 Hope Major Pract. I 72. a1676 Guthry Mem. (1747) 110.
It had been but in policy to get the king's gift through the seals c1650 Spalding I 168.
The marques wnderstanding his livetennandrie wes not, nor could not be gottin throw the seallis 1661 Acts Sederunt ii 73.
That all charters [etc.] … as well such as pass the seals, as otherways, which were in use to be formed and written in Latin, be continued in the same language as formerly before the year 1652 1663 Wodrow Hist. I (1828) 377.
That they [sc. parliament] had received the Earl of Rothes's commission, that it might pass the seals 1677 Edinb. B. Rec. X 300.
Ane half yeares stipend … in favoures of Doctor Pearsone in respect he served the cuir that tyme albeit his presentatione from the king wes not past the seallsfig. a1605 Montg. Flyt. 102 (T).
Ane doggis deid thow will die … Na man may save thé for thow art past the seillis [H., Now quha shuld trow ȝow that is past both the seales?](2) 1449 Acts II 37/2.
The summondis of the lordis of the regaliteis to be maid & pas vnder thar selis or thar signetis

13. A ‘sealing’ device, a piece of wax or metal affixed to a document, or to its container or receptacle, in such a way that access can only be obtained by breaking the seal.In further not easily distinguishable instances in senses above the seal used as well as authenticating the document, etc. may have also closed it. See for instance 1555 Grey Friars 83 at sense 6 above, and c1578 Murray Early B. Organ. I 152 at sense 6 b above. a1400 Leg. S. xxiii 411.
The wryt closit in led thai fand, With twa selis selyt rycht wele Of siluir fine ilke dele 14.. Quon. Attach. c. 41.
In the first sic a bref salbe present to the balȝeis in playn court & thai letteres seyn withoutyn delay the balȝeis sal opin the bref sa sum part of the sell … anherd to the tail of the breff 1669 Aberd. Council Lett. IV 388.
The agent to report his dilligence in concurring with the burgh of Forfar in passeing [? erron. for fastening] of shore sealls to ther gifts granted by the king's majestie for keeping of publict mercats

b. In fig. (biblical) context, said of the ‘seven seals’ affixed to the book of prophecy in Rev. v and vi. 1562-3 Winȝet II 23/6.
Lat ws nocht violat the hæritable selis [marg. The hæritable selis of the Catholic doctrin is the trew vnderstanding of the Scriptuir] be temeritie of a brutal fuilhardines. For that selit prophetical buik nocht the eldaris, nocht the potestatis, nocht the angelis [etc.] … durst oppin: to Christe allane wes reseruit that prærogatiue to explane it. Quhilk of ws dar oppin the preistlie buik selit be the confessouris?

c. fig. The ‘seal’ of confession, the religious ordinance which ‘seals’ a priest's lips, or binds him to observe silence, regarding matters revealed during the sacrament of confession. a1500 Henr. Fab. 696.
Quhen I this saw, I drew a lytill by, For it effeiris nouther to heir nor spy Nor to reueill thing said vnder that seill