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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Vouch, Vowch, Wouch(er, Woch(e, v. [ME and e.m.E. voch(e (a1325), vouche (Gower), AF and OF vo(u)cher.] tr. To affirm or assert possession of (lands) in a court of law or before legal authorities, to claim possession in this fashion, lacking documentary evidence. = Avouch v. which is erroneous in referring to proof by way of evidence. — 1488–9 Acta Conc. I 108/1.
Becaus the said Thomas clamit the said landis to pertene to Alane Kynnard … and the said … William to pertene to him as tennent and wassale to the said Alane and that he wald woche thaim with the perell the lordis therfore ordanis the said … William to woch samekle of the said landis as he plesis in the said Alanis court … and that the said … William sall remane with the possessioun of the said landis in the meyntyme 1491–2 Acta Conc. I 216/2.
The said Johne allegiit that all the saidis landis wer his fee & heretage & wochit the sammyn with the perell of law in presens of the lordis 1498 Acta Conc. II 230.
The sade Ysabell sal deliver before the sade officiale … the instrument that scho has that James of Kynnynmont … vowchit the landis of Petkenny … and thareefter the sade Ysabell sal renunce al uther richt [etc.] 1499–1500 Acta Conc. II 377.
That the lordis decernit the sade James til haf enteres til accuse the proces of the inqueist past apone Glasnok and admittit Jhone of Dunbar, forspekare til the sammyn, because he producit our soverane lordis letters under his signe and subscripcione mannuale quhare the sade Schir James vouchit the sammyn — c1500 Harl. MS 4700 281a.
Gif he concelis his chartir … and is conuikit be ane assis that he hes ane chartir purportis rychtsua he sall tyne that land be the opinioun of sum men bot forsuthe the tennend suld in that cace tyne the priuilege of that deniyit chartir and he aw to wouch as in the nixt following cace gif the tennend sais that he saw ane chartir of that land the quhilk chartir he has nocht than he aw to wouch [Skene Reg. Maj. ii 59, Gif the tenant alledge that he saw or had ane chartour of that land, ȝit he hes it not presentlie he sall woucher, that is, affirme, that he halds that land] how he suld hald that land eftir the tenour of that tynt chartir