A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
S(c)epter, -re, n. Also: -yr(e, -or(e, -ur(e, -our(e, -ar; -eour; seipter; s(c)hepter, -o(u)r; schapter; (secepter); Ceptre. [ME and e.m.E. sceptire (Rolle), septre (Wyclif), -ur (c1400), sceptre (Lydgate), OF sceptre (1080 in Larousse), L. scēptrum, scæptrum, f. the Gk.] A sceptre, the ornamental rod held or carried by a monarch to symbolise his or her authority.To geve (bere, have) the sceptour (of a land, etc.), to give (hold) authority (as symbolised by the sceptre).In mention of the honours, or regalia, of Scotland, frequently coupled with crown and sword (of honour).The ceremony of touching an act of parliament with the sceptre, orig. by the king himself, symbolised royal approval or ratification of the act (cf. quot. 1689 from London Gazette in OED, s.v. Sceptre).(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii 167.
Ȝet brocht he furth his dochtir … With crowne one hed & septre in hande c1420 Wynt. vi 115.
Quhare-wyth kyngis and empryowris Are oyhntyd, takand thare honowris, Thaire ryng, thaire sceptyre and thare crownys, With haly prayere Ib. 1530.
Sceptyr a1500 Lanc. 665.
No langer that I ȝeme My crowne, my septure, nor my dyademe 1539 Soc. Ant. XXIV 49.
Ane septour with ane grete bereall and ane perle in the heid of it 1540 Treas. Acc. VII 304.
Ane cais to the quenis septur 1542 Acts II 419/1.
My said lord governour deliuerit to thaim [sc. the Douglases] the sceptour & batoun in parliament in signe & takin of thar restorance 1554 Duncan Laideus Test. 159.
Death … Hes … him bereft his septoure and his croun 1558-66 Knox II 127.
To the sweard and sceptour [sc. the fact that they were not carried into parliament] … we ansuere nothing; for oure adversaries know weall yneuche that [it] … is rather a pompe and gloriouse vane ceremonye, than a … point of necessitie c1580 Sc. Ant. XIII 3.
In administration of justice be the wand of equitie (quhilk is callit the scepture) … he [sc. the king] may euir appeir to all men ane just … judge c1590 Fowler I 81/104.
Triumphant kingis and empreouris … Whair ar thair gems and pretious stones and sceptaris of estait? a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 8.
And Bothuell was promovit to beir the sceptor from the queynis palice to the parliament-hous 1603 Moysie 35.
Septeour(b) 1612 Aberd. Council Lett. I 117.
Scheptour(c) 1665–7 Lauder Jrnl. 1.
We came nixt and saw the honors, wheir we saw the sword and seipter of honor [sc. in the Tower of London](d) 1681 Red Bk. Menteith II 196.
The last tyme when I reid the parliment, I cearied the seceptertransf. c1590 Fowler I 191/11.
Muse, yow fair dame … : Your browe, your hair … Tua starns, a mouthe with perle and rubyeis dekt Whyte hands which suld weire sceptars of estate(2) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 2636.
That Pirrus oure all the laif, Of Thesalie suld sceptour haif 1513 Doug. i ii 44 (Ruddim.).
For thou the sceptoure geuis me in hand Of all this realme Ib. iii v 25 (Sm.).
Helenus … Rang king our mony cities in Greke land, Berand thairof the septour and the wand c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus iii 374.
Abone all kingis that euer buir sceptour(3) c1420 Wynt. viii 1959.
Bathe scepter, swerd, crowne and ryng Fra this Jhon [Ballioll] … he tuk thare, And made hym off the kynryk bare a1500 Henr. Fab. 879.
In that throne thair sat ane wild lyoun In rob royall with sceptour, swerd and croun 1533 Boece 60.
Ferichare … ressauit princelie ornamentis quhilkis war ane nakit swerde, … ane evin wand (now callit ane scepture), with ane crowne of gold 1545 Treas. Acc. VIII 409.
To Malcom Gourlay quha past to Edinburght with the sweird of honour, croun and septour to the parliament 1567 Sat. P. iii 6.
Ane king at euin, with sceptur, sword & crown, At morne bot ane deformit lumpe of clay 1570 Cal. Sc. P. III 713.
[The parliament holden by the regent] without crowne, septer and sworde [wherein he was confirmed regent] c1575 Balfour Pract. 265.
In time of parliament the … regent sall wear … ane crowne of ane duke; the sceptour, in signe of regiment and governament of the realme; and the sword of honour, in signe of justice a1578 Pitsc. II 127/20.
The imperiall crowne of Scotland togidder with the septure sword and rob royall Ib. 129/28.
[That] the croune, septar and suord sould pase to France that the Dollphin sould be crounitt thairwitht and proclammitt King of Scottland 1600 Aberd. Council Lett. I 88.
Manifald atestatiounis in parliament secreitlie taine and solemnilie sworne and establissit with sword septer and diadame 1661 Laing MSS 285.
That your petitioner … did … secure your majesties crowne, sword and scepter, being the honours of that auncient kingdom(b) 1571 Misc. Bann. C. III 131.
A parlement halden in Edinburgh … be the Duke of Shatillo, Huntly and utheris, with croun, sheptour and swourd 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 118.
Scheptour(4) 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 186.
The king in proper persone come to the tolbuith and be the twiching of the sceptore did ratifie all thingis done befoir 1690 Acts IX 222/1.
Seing the necessar solemnities requisite to doomes of forfaultures before the parliament, such as voteing approveing toucheing with the royall sceptre, intimateing by sound of trumpet and teareing of armes were not adhibite(b) 1689 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIII 412.
The act being drawen, read and touched with the shepter
b. A representation or replica of a sceptre, or something carried to represent a sceptre.a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 619.
Behald how thi king furth is led, … Septour in hand, with croun of thorn on heid 1522 Perth Hammermen 18.
For ane new septour, … for the mending of the dewillis cot and play claythis 1542 Treas. Acc. VIII 142.
For the collouring … of the effesay croun and septur 1579 Acts III 150/1.
The Scottis croune havand on the ane syde the croune sceptour & sword makand in the middis the forme of Sanctandrois croce 1591 Ib. 526/1.
Ilk pece … havand … on the vther syde ane lyoun crownit sitting in ane chyre halding ane scepture 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 183/652.
Couuetusness … doth sceptres als in painterie carie ay 1616 Treas. Acc. in Mylne Master Masons 106.
[Statue of James VI at the Netherbow Port:] To Henrye Mylne goldsmyth for making the sceptre [etc.] 1630 Glasgow B. Rec. I 374.
For gilting … the thrissell, crowne and scheptour [Misc. Maitl. C. III 370 n. -or] abone the kingis armes
c. In fig. or allusive use: An instrument of power or authority; the power or authority of the monarch symbolised by the sceptre.1584 Melvill 176.
They haiff … thrawin the sword of the word of God and schepter of ecclesiasticall government … from the hands of Chryst Jesus 1600-1610 Melvill 284.
Haiff we the authoritie and powar of his [sc. Christ's] schapter? c1616 Hume Orthog. 3.
[Your majesty] commanding at your first entrie to your roial scepter to reform the grammar 1610 Reg. Privy C. IX 8.
Albeit … Scotland and England be now most happelie united undir the royall sceptour of oure most gratious soverane 1639 Fugitive Poetry II xv 2/4.
He sall with scepter hard You smyt 1649 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 546.
That … line which hath sweyed the scepter of this kingdom for many hundreds of yeers past
d. attrib. With wand.1456 Hay I 189/29.
That the septer wand suld nocht be away tane fra the princis of Jowry quhill the saynde of God 1513 Doug. ix v 103 (Ruddim.).
To conquest Italie … Tharin to bruke the croun and sceptre wand
