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

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Charter, Chartir, n. Also: chartter, charteir, -yr, chartre, -chartar(e; chairter, -ar; scharter, -ir. [ME. charter, -tir, chartre (13th c.), OF. chartre, L. cartula. See also Chartour.]

1. A charter.Also with defining terms, as charter of alienation, confirmation, few, fewferme: see these words.(a) a 1350 Facs. Nat. MSS. ii. 14.
Scripti in modum cyrographi [glossed hand chartir] facti c 1380 MS. Charter (Reg. H.).
Qvat tyme at he will aske me … I sall gif hym my chartyr vndir my sevll 1385 3rd Rep. Hist. MSS. 410/1.
To schaw … throw qwat chartir or ewydens thai halde or clemys to hald the landys 1402 Reg. Panmure II. 184.
The said Alexander … sale … deliver … the chartir and the confirmacion of Grenefurde c1420 Wynt. iii. 1064.
In it syne that stane gert he Be set, and haldyn for jowale And chartyr off that kynryke hale Ib. iv. 6.
That in to Grece than was thar date In all the chartrys that thai wrate 1456 Hay I. 21/25.
Thai said that sanct Petir maid his sege thare and his charter 1474 Acta Aud. 33/1.
The distruction & away puttin of certane charteris, lettres, & evidentis … of the landis 1489 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 546.
To resigne … al and syndry forsaidis landis … with charteir, sesyng, and euidencis maid to me 1502 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 659.
Land … liand in the toun and sulȝe of the Turnhouth … lik as at maire lenth is contenit in his chartir 1530 Rec. Earld. Orkney 210.
The sceil … to be hungin to this present charter 1541 Reg. Privy S. II. 636/2.
Eftir the forme of the tua charteris of tallie maid be … oure maist noble foirgrandschir 1554 Prot. Bk. J. Harlaw 43 b.
Ane charter … quhilk the said Iames promittit that he suld cancellat and distroy 1584 Acts III. 357/1.
The … first chairter and infeftment of fewferme 1587 Ib. 500/1.
The charter … off all and sindrie … canis, seruices, almesis, dailsiluer, obitis [etc.] 1654 Mun. Univ. Glasg. I. 317.
Wee … denuid ourselffes of the said richt … be chairteris of confirmatione(b) 1432 Highland P. II. 178.
Gif ony of thir partyis hafe ony clause in thair chartar unclere or questionabill 1593 Grant Chart. 294.
The said Iohn Grant is bound … to infeft hearetabllie be his plane chartare of alienatione 1629 Black Bk. Taymouth 69.
Be virtew of ane auld chartar 1641 Mun. Univ. Glasg. I. 288.
The chartar and infeftment grantit to them … confirmeing diverse and sindrie chartaris … generallie exprest in the foirsaid chairtar(c) 1509 Douglas Chart. 193.
All schartiris and ewidentis that I haff off the said landis Ib.
I grant that my scharteris and euidens be off na fors nor effek

b. Coupled with possessioun or sesing. 1397 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 166.
With all hast he sall giff chartyr and possessyovn erytabill to the sayd Gorge 1415 Reg. Great S. 39/2.
Villiam sal gif chartyr and possessioun to the forsayd Huchon and Jonet 1444 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 194.
The forsaid Robert … sale … gyff hyme charter and possession als son as it likes the saide schir Alexander 1481 Instr. H. Scheves (MS.).
Quhilkes landes the said Iames Barcla … analiit to the said Ihone of Lumisden be charter and sesing 1501 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 638.
Iohnn Menȝeis … to me has sauld … be charteir and sesing … five markis worth of his landis 1506 Lennox Mun. 179.
The sade Erll of Muntrois sall infeft the sade Erll of Levenax in certane landis be chartyr and sesyng 1509 Douglas Chart. 192.
Be heritabill schartir and sesinge

2. Attrib. with buik, land, tailȝe. 1599 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 246.
[The council] ordanis the new gift of the impost and schoir sylver … to be insert in the charter buik 1531 Reg. Privy S. II. 111/2.
Super totis … terris de le West End de Forgovne nuncupatis Charterlandis 1553 Treas. Acc. X. 161.
The laird of Ardros, … haifand ane chartar tailȝe of the landes of Ardros