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

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Signato(u)r, -tur(e, n. Also: -toure, signettour, signitour, signetor, singnato(u)r, singnitour, sinatour. [Med. L. signatura mark, stamp (1417), signature, sign manual (a1452) (Latham), F. signature the action of signing, a signature (1430 in Larousse), f. L. signātōr-, ppl. stem of signāre, Sign(e v. Cf. e.m.E. signature (1580) a signature or mark.] An authorisation or warrant signed by the king.‘A writing indorsed by a clerk or writer to the signet and presented to the king or the barons of Exchequer as the king’s commissioners importing a grant of some subject, office or right to him by whom or in whose name it is presented' Erskine Inst. ii v § 82. 'The warrant of a conveyance under one or other of the seals’ Bell Dict. Law Scotl.After 1603 the Barons of Exchequer acted as the king's commissioners and a cachet was used for the king's signature.(1) 1473–4 Treas. Acc. I 2.
For a remissione … to certane personis … grantit be a signatour subscriuit with the Kingis hand 1473–4 Treas. Acc. I 65.
To Carrik pursewant, be a signatour subscriuit with the Kingis hand, to by him his cot of armis 1510 Exch. R. XIII 649.
That all the tennentis and forestaris … that has tane thair stedingis that thai cum and raise thair signatouris and pay thair grassoumez within xx dais 1516 Reg. Privy S. I 425/1.
Ane respitt made … to Walter Ogilvy and Johne Sym … for all … crimez … done be the saidis Walter … to the day of the date of this signatour 1532 Treas. Acc. VI 59.
Signitouris 1542 Acts II 424*/2.
Signettouris c1575 Balfour Pract. 650.
The other sort of commissiounis passis upon signatouris, subscryvit be the prince and sic are commounlie grantit for justiciarie and punishment of transgressouris 1582 Edinb. Univ. Chart. 87.
For obtening the signatouris past concerning the fundation of ane colledge 1588 Aberd. Council Lett. I 39.
Thai haif causit proclame letters direct fra his maiestie passit his hienes signatouris and the chancellars 1593 Irvine Mun. II 31.
The men quha ar readeris of the signatouris and ressavearis of the offir fra the partie to be reportit to the chaker lordis componaris of the signatour 1595 Edinb. B. Rec. V 147.
The contract betuix the burrowes and the toun of Campheir concerning the staipill with the copy of ane signatour of the Conservatour 1610 Edinb. B. Rec. VI 66.
Mussilburgh hes obtenit ane signatour past for erecting thame in ane frie burgh 1614 Edinb. Biblio. Soc. Publ. I (1892-3) 4.
Ane signatour … purchest be the said Andro under his majesteis hand gevand power to him to imprent … certane volumes 1622 Cochran-Patrick Coinage I 240. 1665 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. II 102 (see Caschet v.).(b) 1489 Acts II 220/2.
Signaturis infeftmentis donacions [etc.] … & vtheris sic lettrez hurtand … the king in his casuelte or propirte 1488–9 Acta Conc. I 109/2.
Anent the complant maid … apon the secretare becaus he wald nocht … gif him preceptis apon a signature of the landis of Thanistoun Balmikedill [etc.] … that nouther secretare priue sele nor grete sele ansuere to na sic signaturis [etc.] 1574 Reg. Privy C. II 383.
Ane signature anent the confirmatioun of ane charter grantit to hir c1575 Balfour Pract. 652.
All confirmatiounis upon charteris ar first writtin in form of signaturis, subscrivit be the Prince [etc.] 1614 Breadalbane Lett. 7 Dec.
I desyre that the signature may be luikit on to sie quhither thair be power in it to heid and hang or no ?1617 Aberd. Council Lett. I 152.
Mak mentioun in the narrative of ȝour signature and gift how the said trone belangit of auld to umquhill Andro Wod c1630 Hope Minor Practicks (1726) 84.
A signature is … a letter of gift donation or disposition, which passeth under the king's hand [etc.] 1644 Acts VI (1819) 159/1.
Ane signatur superscryveit be his maiestie and dockit be the erll of Lanerk 1672 Acts VIII 88/2.
For registration of signatures fourtie shilling Scots for the first sheit and tuentie shilling Scots for each other sheit 1681 Stair Inst. ii iii § 36.
Before they [sc. feus] pass the seals, they must be presented to the treasurer and comptroller, and registrate in his register, and the signature subscribed by him otherwise they are null 1682 Edinb. B. Rec. XI 51.
Ane signatur … to be past in favor of William Hamiltoun … for establishing of hackney and stage coatches(c) 1624 Aberd. Council Lett. I 224.
I think … to get your signators componit for fourtie punds … And the passing of the same throw the registeris and seills will coist ane hundrethe merks a1633 Hope Major Pract. I 68.
Of auld the secreit councell wer in place of the chequer and all signators wer past be their advyce be acts of parliament 1633 Dumbarton B. Rec. 43.
That the laird of Grinok is passing ae signator for erecting Grinok in ae burgh of baronie with ae mercat daye … twa faires … ae frie port [etc.] 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. ii xi § 1 (1678) 402.
The habilis modus of granting which rights is by signator 1687 Lauder Notices Affairs II 812.
Thomas Weir … has … by obreption obtained a gift and signator from his majesty 1687 Haigs of Bemersyde 331.
Signetor(d) 1531 Edinb. Hammermen 133.
Deliuerit for the kingis singnatoris apone the raising of the vpset v s. 1536 Treas. Acc. VI 309.
Singintour 1595 Melville Chart. 142.
Singnatours(2) 1498 Acta Conc. II 207.
The quhilkis gudis … war spulȝeit … as thai grantit the sammyn befor our soverane lordis justice … and tuk thame to the signature of remissione tharefore 1526 Reg. Privy S. I 525/2.
Ane respet to … ix personis, contenit and drawin of Cuthbert Erle of Glencarnis signatour of respet 1565 Reg. Privy S. V i 656 n.
Ye sall pas lettiris under oure said prive seile upoun the signatoure of the gift and dispositioun of the abbacie of Cowpar 1565–6 Treas. Acc. XI 459.
Ane signatour of fewferme maid to Alexander Hume of certane landis 1578 Acts III 97/2.
The signatouris of legitimationis [etc.] 1606 Reg. Privy C. VII 167.
Ane signator of escheat and lyferent xx s. 1621 Acts IV 617/1.
Ane signatour of wairde nonentres releif and mariage tuentye schillingis 1624 Argyll Rentals I.
For wreating and formeing of the signator precept and instrument of resignatioune and passing of the infeftment throwe the seallis 1636 Glasgow B. Rec. II 41.
To the kingis advocat … quhen he docket the tounes signatour of patronage to pas the kingis hand 1664 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. I 583.
To affix and append the cashett to ane signatour of confirmation(b) 1588 Waus Corr. 418.
And the sinatour of my asschet gotten and componit fortransf. or ellipt. 1624 Argyll Rentals I.
Paued in compositioune for passeing of my lordis signator of Ardnamurchan 1630 Stirling's Royal Lett. II 413.
Wee have been pleased to signe ane signatour of the upsettis of tradis of the small impost of wynes