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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.

Conscience, n. Also: -scyence, -sience, -siance, -schience, -schiance, -scince, -scenc; conscyens, -(s)ciens, quonciens. [ME. conscience, -sience, etc. (a 1225), OF. conscience, L. conscientia.] Conscience; scruple(s) as to right and wrong. c1420 Wynt. vi. 2428.
All tyme conscience had he For till hald the reawte Ib. viii. 1709.
He had gret conscyens Off the wykkyd wrang sentens 1456 Hay II. 87/14.
Justice engenderis conscience, … conscience engenderis larges a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1121.
Clenge the corrupcioun of vncleir consciens c1500-c1512 Dunb. xii. 35.
With cuvatyce is consciens slane c1568 Lauder Minor P. i. 168.
This man can neuer haue peace in conscience 1625 Rec. Invercauld 230.
So that of all equitie and conscince … amitie sould be keipit … amangis them

b. With the epithet gude. c1420 Wynt. vi. 1504.
Off gud conscyens All that wes done, that he gert do Ib. vii. 2169.
That I befor wrate off Glasgwe … I dyd apon gud consciens 1456 Hay I. 187/18.
The quhilk war aganis God and gude conscience c1420 Ratis R. 1641.
This eild … suld be wys … And tender of gud consciens (1534) Bamff Chart. 62.
Against God and guid conscience, sons of iniquity … not havand God nor guid conscience befoir thair eine, hes theftuouslie stown … certain evidents 1562-3 Winȝet II. 29/3.
Repelland fra thame guid conscience, as concerning fayth thai ar schipbrokin

c. With possessive pronoun (or noun). c1420 Wynt. iv. 873.
Set yhe wyll wyth yhoure conscience Ay for yhoure statis ma defence Ib. viii. 2384.
To declere hys consciens 1456 Hay I. 132/6.
Myn ignoraunce sall save my conscience Ib. 244/22.
Suld I say the contrair, I said agayne my conscience a 1470 Acts XII. 27/1.
His consciens arguit hym the contrare, because it vas nocht his land 1491 Acta Conc. 198/2.
Vmfra … put the said mater to the conscience of the said Alexander, quhilk declarit in his conscience that [etc.] 1524 Stirling B. Rec. I. 19.
The saidis provest [etc.] … sall … eke hus pencioun efter thair consiance & discression a 1550 Breadalbane P. (Reg. H.).
The foirsaidis personis … to … delyuer in the forsaid causis be thair lawte, connyng and conschiance c1540 Lynd. Kitteis Conf. 13.
Be my conscience thay sall it heir 1562 Carte Northberwic 86.
The said Jhone … tuik vpone his consciens that he had na mair ayrschip geir 1572 Lanark B. Rec. 68.
The cunsall rafarrit to David Bentoun quonciens quhat hie had last deburset 1592 Prestwick B. Rec. 82.
The inqueist … , being examinat vpoun thair consienceis, hes deponit [etc.] 1596 Dalr. II. 462/9.
Now thair conschiences ar compellit [etc.]