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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

JETHART, prop.n. Also Jeddart. [′dʒɛðərt, †′dʒɛd-] Pop. variant form of the name of the town of Jedburgh in Roxburghshire, still freq. except in formal speech (Rxb. 1959), used attrib. in the following combs. in which the reg. spelling is also found: 1. Jethart axe = 9. (1) (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). Scott also used the form Jedwood axe; 2 Jeddart Callant, also Jethart Callant. One of the main male participants in the Jedburgh Callants Festival. 3. Jeddart cast = 5. (1); 4. Jeddart jug, a brass vessel holding one wine gallon, now in Jedburgh Museum, used as a standard for dry or liquid measure from 1563–1826 (Rxb. 1825 Jam., 1923 Watson W.-B.); 5. Jeddart justice, Jedburgh justice, — jury, (1) a travesty of justice in which the accused is condemned and punished first and tried afterwards, traditionally associated with Jedburgh and one or other of the acts of summary pacification of the Borders carried out under James VI. See 1826 and 1829 quots. Later historians favour the episode of the Commission under Sir William Cranstoun (1605–6). Yet another explanation is contained in a letter in the Atholl MSS. (8 July 1715): “The vote should be staited (as some 40 years agoe att a Justice Court at Jedbrugh) ‘Hang all, or save all,' and it caried ‘Hang'.” See (2). Gen.Sc., hist. Cf. Cupar justice s.v. Cupar; (2) wholesale condemnation or acquittal (Rxb. 1825 Jam.); 6. Jeddart law, = 5. (1); 7 Jeddart play, at whist, a straightforward method of playing, leading all winning cards in succession, with no pleas (Sc. 1896 A. Cheviot Proverbs 274). See Crail Play, Paisley Play (  Paisley 1. (5)), id. 8. Jethart snails, a kind of toffee sold in Jedburgh (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; s.Sc. 1959); 9. Jeddart staff, (1) a weapon of the lance order but with a bladed head, similar to a bill, in use until the middle of the 17th c., for which Jedburgh artificers were celebrated (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). It is represented on the coat-of-arms of the town. Now only hist.; (2) used fig. in phr. to rain Jeddart staves, to rain “cats and dogs”.1. Sc. 1805 Scott Last Minstrel App. Note C:
The Jedwood-axe was a sort of partisan, used by horsemen, as appears from the arms of Jedburgh which bear a Cavalier mounted and armed with this weapon. It is also called a Jedwood or Jeddart staff.2.Rxb. 1982 Iain Lawson Drives in the Scottish Borders 43:
In July the Jeddart Callants have their annual festival. They ride out to Ferniehurst and to Lintalee where English invaders were routed by the Jeddart men.Rxb. 1995 Scotsman 29 Jun 15:
On Monday, Prince Charles visits the Borders and will, among other light duties, shake hands with the Jeddart Callant, main figure in the Jedburgh Festival. This will be a great honour for him - Prince Charles, that is, as the local billboards proclaim: "Prince Charles to meet Callant." Quite right, too. No-one is more important than the principal of a Border common riding.Rxb. 2000 Sunday Express 17 Dec 25:
Now the Jethart Callants Club, which once boasted more than 1,000 men as members, is on the verge of extinction and there are fears the 70-year-old organisation will become the Lost Boys.Rxb. 2002 Scotsman 24 Jan 14:
Earlier in the same year, he was elected Herald of Jethart Callants Festival.Rxb. 2004 Southern Reporter 15 Jul :
Watched by Lord and Lady Lothian, Callant Scott thanked Mr Cameron, adding: "This has been the best day of my life. I will never forget my visit here as the 2004 Jethart Callant."3. Sc. 1818 Scott Rob Roy xxxvi.:
I'm e'en wae for you, Dougal, for it canna be but that in the life ye lead you suld get a Jeddart cast ae day, suner or later.5. (1) Sc. 1706 D. Crawfurd Memoirs 310:
Jedburgh Justice became a common Phrase to express hard Measure, or illegal and arbitrary Proceedings.Lnk. c.1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) II. 216:
So John appeals to a Jedburgh jury, if it be not easier to deal wi' fools, than headstrong fashous fouks.Slk. 1807 Hogg Mountain Bard 34 Note:
An old and very common proverb, “That such a one will get Jeddart Justice.”Rxb. 1826 R. Chambers Pop. Rhymes 135:
Jethart Justice, — first hang a man and syne judge him. According to Crawford, in his “Memoirs”, the phrase Jedburgh Justice took its rise in 1574, on the occasion of the Regent Morton there and then trying and condemning, with cruel precipitation, a vast number of people, who had offended against the laws, or against the supreme cause of his lordship's faction.Sc. 1829 Scott Tales Grandfather (Ser. 2) I. iv.:
Finally, an unusually severe and keen prosecution . . . was set on foot by George Home, Earl of Dunbar, James's able but not very scrupulous minister, and prosecuted so severely as to give rise to the proverb of Jeddart (or Jedburgh) justice, by which it is said a criminal was hanged first and tried afterwards.Sc. 1890 Scots Mag. (June) 21:
“Jethart Justice” is all the consideration they will give to an institution so time-honoured as the Church of Scotland.Sc. 1950 Scotsman (18 May):
There is not only delegated legislation but also administrative justice which does not necessarily follow the same rules as apply in the law courts. Some of it is a kind of departmental Jeddart justice.Rxb. 1982 Iain Lawson Drives in the Scottish Borders 43:
At Prior's Haugh is the revered Capon Tree, the sole survivor of the ancient Jed Forest. Some have it as a 'hanging tree' and certainly 'Jedburgh justice' was deemed unique in that the miscreant was hanged first and then tried.(2) Rxb. 1825 Jam.:
I have heard a different account given of Jeddart Justice. It is said to signify either a general condemnation, or a general acquittal. Twenty or thirty persons, as tradition gives it, having been brought to trial here at once, it was previously resolved that they should have a common fate. One of the assize, to whose lot it fell to give the casting voice, having fallen asleep, as he was rather in a bad humour at being disturbed, on the question being put to him, is said to have replied to the Judge, Hang them a'.6. Sc. 1706 in A. Shields Church-Communion Enquired into Pref.:
To say they did condemn it, tho they never heard it, would be an Injurious Reflection on that Assembly, and make them Guilty of Couper Justice, and Jedburgh Law, as the Proverb is.Kcb. 1891 R. Kerr Maggie o' the Moss 51:
Ye shall never dee, auld lad, By “Jeddart law”.Wgt. 1912 A.O.W.B. Fables 28:
The Wulf at ance was chirtit by the Bear — A kin' o' Jethart law.8. Rxb. 1958 Scotsman (19 April):
There you will find Jeddart Snails. They taste of the sweetness of brown sugar blended with the richness of real butter and flavoured with mild peppermint. The toffees are dark brown and rounded into a curve, with one end formed into a blob for the head and the other end flattened for the tail. The shaping of these sweetie snails is a secret, as is also the recipe, and was originally given to a Jedburgh baker who took into his employment a French prisoner of war.9. (1) Rxb. 1825 Jam.:
It is commonly called Jeddart staff; and understood to denote the same kind of weapons which are still carried before the Magistrates of that burgh, or in other processions. Some of these resemble the halbert on one side, having a short kind of bill or sharp hook on the other. There are others which exhibit the hatchet-form on both sides. They are in length from seven to eight feet.(2) Slk. 1818 Hogg Wool-Gatherer (1874) 66:
He wadna gang into Robin's, though it war raining auld wives and Jeddart staves.Sc. 1822 Scott F. Nigel xxxiii.:
If men are to break the peace under pretence of beating them, why, it will rain Jeddart staves in our very anti-chamber.