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

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Richtwisnes, Rychtwisnes, n. Also: -wise-, -wys(e)-, -uis-, -ous-, -eous-, -us-, -ows-, -uous-; rychttus-, -uous-; righte(o)us-, ryghteuos-; richwys-, -ys- and -nese, -ness, -nace, -nas. [ME and e.m.E. rihtwisenesse (c1200), rightwisnes (Cursor M.), rightwesnes (1482), etc., e.m.E. also righteousnes, rightuousness (both Coverdale), OE reht-, riht-, ryhtwísnisse.]There is possible ambiguity between senses a and c.

1. a. Virtue; uprightness; conformity with accepted standards of integrity, morality or holiness of life. Also, once, pl. b. Freedom from the consequences of sin granted through grace to the elect of God; justification. c. Just exercise of power by a ruler or judge; equity; conformity with law.a. 1375 Barb. x 294.
He heyit honour ay & larges & ay mantemyt rychtwysnes c1420 Ratis Raving 86.
Thaim … That settis maist part thar lewyng In rychtwysnes and gudly thinge c1420 Wynt. ii 182.
The gast he yhalde … In gud eylde and in rychtwysnes 1456 Hay II 45/2.
A spere quhilk is evin, and betakenis rychtwisenes and veritee a1500 Lancelot of the Laik 1359.
For thyne estat is gewyne to redres Thar ned, and kep them torychtwysnes c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace xi 1126.
I … besek God … Thé to restor in haist to rychtwysnace c1515 Asloan MS I 262/22.
Willam … was callit the lyoun of richtuisnes c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. v 6, etc.(b) a1400 Legends of the Saints i 266.
Pece is ay quhare na syne is … And to wirk it is richysnese a1500 Tale of the Colkelbie Sow ii 199.
Richtowsnace 1533 Gau 12/24.
Thay quhilk ar pridful … of thair richtusnes or guid lif 1533 Ib. 29/3.
Rychttusnes 1568–92 Analecta Scotica I 271.
Your ry[ch]tusnes sall be foryett 1586 Misc. Bann. C. II 214.
Treatie of Christiane rychtousnes, … Psalmes, in prois(c) c1520-c1535 Nisbet I 3.
A[n]e euirlasting kingdome … of lyf, of blis and of rychtuousnes 1562-3 Winȝet II 66/12.
The ministeris of rychtuousnes a1570-86 Maitland Maitland Folio MS 323/2.
Reule thé with rychttuousnes(d) 1551 Hamilton Catechism 48.
Thai ar nocht subdewit to the rychteousnes that is of valour afore God 1562-3 Winȝet I 61/30.
Righteusnes 1563-72 Ferg. Answer in Tracts 28.
Ryghteuosnes 1567 Gude and Godlie Ballatis 5.
Nocht for the warkis of rychteousnes quhilk we haue wrocht … God hes sauit vs 1567 Ib. 12.
Behauld nocht my vnworthynes Bot luke till Christis rychteousnes 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 27/3. 1640 Dundonald Par. Rec. 462.
That religioun and richteousnes micht floorish in the land to the glorie of Godpl. c1520-c1535 Nisbet Rom. ii 26.
Gif prepucie kepe the richtuisnessis of the law [etc.]b. c1520-c1535 Nisbet III 327/23.
Rychtwisnes … is Godis gyft, ande it alteris anne man, ande chenggis him in to anne new spirituall nature 1558-66 Knox I 24.
Christ is our rychteousnes … our satisfactioun … our goodness 1645 Rutherford Tryal Faith 141.
Christ's merits … must be the cause of our law-right to righteousness & gloryc. a1400 Legends of the Saints xxxvi 1003.
& that wes Godis richtwisnes Of hyme that mad sa fele bernles 1385 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 7.
I made bodely fayth it ryhtwysly to deme and I … avysyt and vmbethoht hafand ee to mesur and rychtwysenes c1420 Ratis Raving 95.
And sa His rychtwysnes wyll se That thai with deuillis punyst bee c1420 Wynt. i 628.
We mon declyne hys rychtwysnes, And on his mekyll mercy call a1500 Henr. Fab. 972.
Befoir ane roy renȝeit with richteousnes a1500 Lancelot of the Laik 1405.
Richwysnes c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace x 765.
My mynd was set … to bryng this realme to rychtwysnas 1596 Dalr. I 256/22.
He procuiret the fame of all æquitie and richteousnes amang the people

2. Rightness, correctness (as opposed to error).c1460 Wisdom of Solomon (S.T.S.) 372.
I considirit the gret defferens, betuex wisdome and foly, eroure and rychtwisnes