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

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Justice air(e, ayr(e, ar(e, n. Also: justis ayr(e; justice aier, aer, justis ayer; justis, justys ar(e; justice ear, heire, eire. [Justice n.; Air(e n.]

The circuit court of the sovereign's Justice (Justice n. 6–7) or of the Justice of a regality (Justice n. 8). Also justice air court.Some further examples are to be found s.v. Extrete n.(a) 1397 Acts I. 208/1.
The schiref … sal lat [malefactors] to borch til apper at the next iustice air as day peremptor 1440 Ib. II. 33/1.
At the Justice on the south side of the Scottis se & alsua on the north side … sett thare justice airis & hald thaim twis in the ȝere as aulde vse & custum is and richt sua lordis of regaliteis within thare regalis a1500 Henr. Fab. 1266.
Ane fals crownar, Quhilk … passis furth befoir the iustice air, All misdoaris to bring to iugement 1501 Treas. Acc. II. 90.
Payit to the Justice his expens in the Justice aire of Edinburgh, quhilk … held xxiij dayis 1509 Justiciary Rec. (Reg. H.) II. 143.
That na lugeing … be sett … of derrer price nai thai war sett at uther justice airis obefor, and quhasa dois it salbe dittay to justice air 1513 Reg. Privy S. I. 382/2.
He fyndand ane soytour for his landis, gif he aw ony, to do the King service in his justice-airis as efferis 1522 Fife Sheriff Ct. 244.
That ȝe tak ilkane of the saidis personis souerte for utheris … the thrid day of our nixt justice aire 1525 Acts II. 297/2.
The proces of justice airis is sa lang and prolixt that in mony ȝeris partyis that ar hurt … gettis na justice Ib.
The Justice generale … to sett justice courtis particulare … becaus at all tymes justice airis generale can nocht be redy a1568 Bann. MS. 145 a/8.
He that hes na will to wirk [etc.] … How sall he byd the iustice air 1568 Sat. P. xlviii. 98.
This far to releif me, that na man repreif me, In Jedburgh, at the justice air 1587 Acts III. 458/2.
The punisment of vther offensis left to the justice airis that verie senedill haldis and thairthrow ar becumin contemptable 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Iter.
The dittay is the principal … poynt of the justice aire a1639 Spotsw. Hist. 273.
The discontents of the country were so great by the justice aires (as they called them) that went through the country 1657 Rothesay B. Rec. 269.
He fand sufficient caution to answer to the justice air quhensoever he ware called for the … bluid committed 1683 Proclamation 13 April.
His Majesties gracious proclamation … for holding justiceairs 1683 Erskine Jrnl. 10.
On Saturday last, when the justiceaire ended, the absents were declared fugitivesattrib. 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 128.
James erle of Murray … come to the citie of Glasgow and thair held ane justice air court of the scherefdomes of Dunbartane and Renfrew and puneist certane greit thevis and malefactouris(b) 14.. Acts I. 343/2.
The maner of the justice ayr. Fyrst call the soytoure, syne rede the justice powere, syne fens the courtis 1425 Ib. II. 9/2.
That na man be admittit to be attournay in the justice ayre bot gif he be ane … sufficiande persone 1448 Reg. Episc. Brechin I. 113.
Nochtwithstandinge that the said reuerende fathir … aw na comperans in our justice ayris of the Meirnys for his landis of Kingorny 1503 Lanark B. Rec. 12.
For wax to the commission of the first justis ayr 1526 Liber Aberbr. 460.
Swa that tha ma nocht for schortnes of tyme hald thar iustice ayr [of the regality] … for ministracioun of iustice apon personis replegyt … furth of owr said iustice ayr(c) 1476 Acts II. 114/2.
The lordis … declaris that the dome gevin in the justis ayer of Edinburgh … wes evil gevin and wele again said 1480 Acta Conc. I. 55/1.
Within awcht dais next folouand the ische of the next justice aier of Pertht 1494 Treas. Acc. I. 255.
The expens of the justice and lordis passand to the justice aieris 1535 Glasgow Prot. IV. 70.
The ak of adjurnall recoverit be me … in our souerane lordis justice aer of Dwnbertane 1589 Antiq. Aberd. & Banff III. 189.
[The principal mairs of fee] haue bene in vse … in … summonding of all personis … to the haill schirefcourtis, justice aeris or iustice courtis be commissioun(d) 1457 Peebles B. Rec. 123.
The sayd balyhe laid don ij s. at the justys ar for the comysson 1466 (1471) Reg. Great S. 215/2.
Our soverain lord is cled with the superiorite of the said landis … baith in Parliament and in Justice-are 1471 Acta Aud. 12/2.
The complaint … anent a brief of mortancestry dependand in the justice are of Couper betwix the said Andro & the lard of Ardros 1474 Treas. Acc. I. 53.
Gevin to ane passand to the Lorde of Erskin, for the continuacione of the justice are of Striueline 1494 Acta Conc. I. 344/2.
That thair tennentis of thair landis suld nocht compere in the justice are of the regalite of Dunkelden 1503 Acts II. 241/2.
To command … the said erle [of Argyll] to cry his said justice aris be haldin in Pertht 1533 Boece ii. iv. 62 b.
[The justice's] ȝerlie correctioun is callit the justice are 1596 Dalr. II. 111/16.
The maist parte of this ȝeir, the King bestowit … in haldeing a justice are throu al Scotland, specialie the north(e) 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. (Table) ii. 83.
Justitiar generall hes for his fie, ilk day of the justice heire, fiue pounds 1600-1610 Melvill 28.
Mr Jhone Davidsone … maid a buik … for the quhilk he was summoned befor the justice-ear at Hadinton … and banisched the cowntrey 1683 Martine Reliq. Divi Andreae 65.
No baillies of regalitie nor stewart, may repledge from the King's justice eire