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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 deput(t, n. Also justis and depute. [Justice n. 6–8; Depute n.] A deputy Justice. a. A depute appointed by the Justice general to hold courts in his stead. b. An officer appointed by the Crown to serve as Justice in place of or along with the Justice general. c. A depute Justice of a lord of regality (cf. Justice n. 8). 1493 Dunferm. B. Rec. I. 368.
Wilyam Haccat justis deput to Patrik … Lord Halis and Justis of the regalite of Dunfermlyn 1537 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II. 366.
Maister Alexander Strathauchin … justice deput and livetennent to … Archibald Erle of Argill, … Greit Justice till our souerane lord 1554 Crim. Trials I. i. 368*.
In presence of the said justice-depute comperit Andro Layng [etc.] … quha … become in will to oure souerane lady and hir Justice in hir name 1560 Fam. Rose 233.
Be it kend … ws Archibald Erle of Argill, … Justice General off Scotland, till haiff maid … Hutcheoun Ros … our verray lauchfull and ondowttit justice deputt, giffand … to our said justice deputt ane justice court till fense and hold 1570 Canongate Ct. Bk. 250.
Cautionaris … befoir our soveranis justice depute that he sall compeir befoir my lord Justice principall or his deputtis 1587 Acts III. 458/1.]
[That our souerane lord sall caus his Justice generall mak aucht deputis or ellis his hienes sall mak sa mony be his awin commissionis … of sum of the senatouris of the college of iustice or certane weill experimentit aduocattis that ar maist able for travel, appointand tua our euerie quarter of the realme Ib. 459/1.
Vpoun the morne efter the cuming of the saidis iustice deputtis to euery heid burgh of the schire gif the day be lauchfull … thay sall begin and fens thair air 1610 Reg. Privy C. VIII. 614.
The Justice-depute and Justice-clerk principall sall weare blak gownis 1617 Crim. Trials III. 423.
The … pannell … in the quhilk the Justice depute was set, as being depute to the Erle of Ergyle 1626 Justiciary Cases I. 60.
Desyreing my Lord Justice depute … to … admit Jon Bannatyne as clerk depute to the said Sir George in the clerkschip of Justiciarie 1633 Ib. 226.
We … makis … the said Mr Alexander Coluile … during all the dayis of his lyftyme our generall Justice depute of this our said kingdome Ib. 227.
Understanding that Mr. James Robertoun aduocat hes continuallie … bene conioynet with Mr Alexander Coluile … Justice depute in the office of Justiciarie … be vertew of giftis and deputationes grantit to him of the samin be our Justice generall, and in regaird of the sufficiencie of the said Mr. James … being willing that [he] have … the said office of Justice depute immediatlie frome ourselff 1644 Acts VI. i. 103/2.
Maisteres Alex^r Colvill … and James Robertoun, his majesteis Justice deputts 1672 Ib. VIII. 87/2.]
[That the office of deputes in the Justice-court be suppressed 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. ii. i. 2. (1678) 352.
Albeit I have seen Justice deputs delegat others to represent them in the Justice Court, yet this practice seems to want both warrand and reason Ib. ii. xv. 3. (1678) 425.
The Justice deputs were not limitted to any definit number, but usually they were two, and have each a pension from his majesty, when they were constitute, by a gift from him, which passes the privy seal only, and these were still call'd his majesties Justice-deputs, and are not deputs to the Justice-general Ib. (1699) 213.
In Binnies case, the Lords having remitted him to be tryed by the Justice-General and his Deputs, the Justice Deputes declar'd that they accepted only of the remit as meaning they were His Majesty's Justice Deputs