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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 general(l, -ale, n. Also: justis. [Justice n. 6–7; General a.]

The principal Justice. = Justice n. 6, Justiciar n. 1. b. transf. 1487 Acts II. 176/1.
That ane or twa justicez generale be … made on the south side the watter of Forth and ane or twa on the northside 1503 Acts II. 273/2.]
[Andrea domino lie Gray Justiciario generali tocius regni Scocie 1508 Reg. Privy S. I. 257/1.
Exemand hir … fra the jurisdictioun … of ony temporall jugis … excepand the Kingis hienes, his Lordis of Counsale, his Justice generale on the north partis the watter of Forth 1514 Acta Conc. Public Aff. 16.
That in that cais the Justice generale of the realme have power apon thar persouns and nocht the scherefis [etc.] 1523–4 Ib. 191.
That the Justice generale sit in this toun of Edinburgh continualy for ministratioun of justice tharintill 1549 Breadalbane Doc. No. 69.
Archbald Erle of Argill … Justice generall of Scotland c1575 Balfour Pract. 434.
The breve of perambulatioun sould be direct furth of our soverane lord's chancellarie to the Justice-general and his deputis 1582 Reg. Privy C. III. 500.
His hienes hes ordanit … Colene, Erll of Ergile, … his Justice-generall, … to … direct speciall commissionis under the seill of the office of justiciarie 1587 Acts III. 459/1.
That our souerane lord sall caus his Justice generall mak aucht deputis 1588 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 26.
And the uther point of the said bill … is criminall and man be decydit befoir our Justice generall and his deputtis 1610 Reg. Privy C. VIII. 614.
The Justice generall, when he sittis in his criminall courte and seate of judgement, sall weare a reid scarlatt gowne 1630 Justiciary Cases I. 122.
My lord Justice general compeirand personallie in judgement producet ane new gift of justiciarie under his majesteis grit seall … quhairby his majestie hes constitute the said noble erle Justice generall of this realme for the space of ane ȝeir 1649 Acts VI. ii. 495/2.
In all causis criminall and civill belonging to the jurisdictioun of his majesties Justice generall be the lawis and practique of the Kingdome 1670 Irvine Mun. II. 100.
Whither Robertlan maye rease criminall letters to compeir befor the Justis generall or no 1672 Acts VIII. 87/2.
That five of the Lords of Session be joyned to the Justice-Generall and Justice-Clerk, and all of them invested with … equall … jurisdiction in all criminall causes Ib. 88/1.
The Justice-Generall being allwayes super-numerary in anie of these circuit courts 1683 Erskine Jrnl. .
This day they were almost wholly taken up in examining witnesses privately in the Justice General's lodgings Ib.
Perth, the Justice General, and Lord Maitland, the Justice Clerk, sat hereb. 1526 Acts II. 315/2.
That the Erle of Murray be Justice generale in all the boundis of his louetenentry 1681 Ib. VIII. 351/1.
The said High Admiral as he is his majesties Leivetenent and Justice General upon the seas