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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.

Lawman, n.¹ Also: lauman. [ON. lǫg-maðr (14–16th c. Norw. lag(h)mann, laugman, etc.).]

In Orkney and Shetland, respectively: The high legal official who acted as president (or, latterly, co-president, along with the ‘justice’ in Orkney or foud in Shetland) and legal assessor of the lawting and certain other courts, and pronounced the dooms decided upon. Also lawman-generale.‘In addition, the lawman acted independently or along with a jury or assize, and he issued testimonials or certificates as official records of transactions or proceedings’ (W. J. Dobie in Sources and Lit. Sc. Law (Stair Soc. I.) 455). The lawman of Orkney (and probably the lawman of Shetland also) had charge of the law-book and the common seal (see Law-buke n. b (1), quot. 1424). Both in Orkney and Shetland the office was allowed to lapse in the 16th c., in Orkney appar. before c 1540, and in Shetland perh. with the death of Nicol Reid, who was elected in 1532. The usual Latin rendering is legifer.(1) 1424 Diplom. Norveg. II. ii. (1852) 514.]
[Item for^de Dauid thok landzsins insighle fra lagmannen oc hafde thet hwar han wilde moot landzsins oc laghmansins welia 1438–9 Rec. Earld. Orkney 71.
Quhen that Thomas Sinclere … callit … Johne of Kirknes, than lawman off Orknay, … and saide [etc.] 14.. (1446) Ib. 51.
The seill … of all the pepill … of the cuntre of Orchadie quhilk is callit the commune seill, the seill of myne Henrie Randale, lawman, of Nicholaie Tullach myne [etc.] … lawrikmen 1455 Ib. 190.
I haf procurit … the sele of a worthy man … Johne of Cragy, lawman of Orknay 1476 Exch. R. VIII. 364.
Per solucionem factam legifero domini regis infra dominium de Orknay vulgariter nuncupato lawman, pro feodo sibi concesso per literas domini regis … de anno compoti et de tribus annis precedentibus hoc compotum xlviij li., et mandatur compotanti quatenus amplius non solvat absque speciali mandato domini regis 1496 Rec. Earld. Orkney 74.
On Tyisday in the Lawting … a dome dempt at Kirkwall be Jhone of Cragy, lawman of Orknay, and ane certain worthy personis with hym, betuix [etc.] Ib. 75.
In witenes of the quhilk thing I the said lawman hais subscriwit my awne hand 1504 Ib. 76.
We, David Synclare [and three others] … we war dempt be the lawman to cum to Corgill … to mak new arschip to Will of Corgill Ib. 78.
Me Johne of Crage lawman of Orknay grantis that I have sene ane lettir [etc.] 1507–8 Ib. 79.
[Decree of arbitration according] till ane nobil … man, Schir Wilȝame Sinclare … , a worthi and discret man Jhone Cragy, lawman of Orknay, as owirmen, and till [12 others] 1519 Ib. 92.
On the xxiiij of October … ane ogang and doome dempt be me Schir William Sinclair, knicht, justice for the tyme, and with me Nicoll Haw, lawman of Ȝetland and Orkney for the present, and with ws xxiiij of the wairdrest and best of landit men, roathmen: we the said judge and lawman [etc.] … compeirit [etc.] Ib. 94.
And we the lawman and xxiiij with me hes in absens of our seillis hes requyrit the said judg to append his seill for him and ws to this our doome 1522 Ib. 95.
And quhilk of thir twa parteis that thinkis this dome hevy, tyll seik tyll ane lawman withtin yeir and day 1530 Ib. 211.
Me James Craigie, sone and ane lawfull air to Johne Cragie lawman of Orknay, quhome God assoilȝe 1583–4 Ib. 158.
Wther lawmens dooms was produced befor us given befor Sir William Sinclair … , justice for the tyme, and John of Cragie lawman 1587 Orkney Oppress. 95.
Be our louittis Magnus Irwing and Gilbert Irwing, lauchful sones … of umquhile James Irwing of Saba, … that quhar thar said umquhile father, lawman of Orknay for the tyme, … hes bruikit [etc.](2) 1307 Shetl. Doc. in Diplom. Norveg. I. No. 109.
[Huart hon villde hallda til loghmannz ok logþingis æða sættazt 1485 Orkney & Shetl. Rec. 54.]
Sebiørn Guttormsson Gulatings och Berwen lagman, Niels Willemsson, lagman i Hieltland 1510 Rec. Earld. Orkney 86.
I, the said lawman, and Thorald Hendirsone of Burg, heidfold of Schetland for the tyme, Jhone of Quendal, lawrychtman of Dunrossnes, [etc.] … vytht vtheris gud vordy men, giffis for dome [etc.] Ib.
In vitnes of the quhilk thing I, the said lawman, and forsaid personis hes set to our selis to this present vrit at Tinguell, the xxiij day of Julij c 1529 Ib. 59.
In July next thairefter the said James past to Ȝetland and thair hedit your lawman thairof 1538 Orkn. & Shetl. Rec. 70.]
[Confirmation of a doom of the lawman of Shetland (Niels Thomessøn, laugman offuer Hieltland) by the King's Court in Bergen 1546 Goudie Shetl. Antiq. 144.
The tent day of December … ane scuin haldin that daye at Howes be … Olave Sinclayr … heyd fold of Ȝetland and thare syttand with hyme in jugyment ane wurschypefull man Nycoll Rayd Lauman of Ȝetland in that time 1575 Orkney Oppress. 3.
Ane Lawrence Carnes [sent] to be lawman, according to the said King's [sc. of Denmark] direction 1576–7 Ib. 37.
Ane letter under the commown seale of Ȝetland of the electioun of Nichole Ayth … to the office of lawman generale of all Ȝetland, quhilk is of the dait, In the Ting holm of Tingwale, [27 July, 1532] togidder with ane bismeyre quhilk the said lawman keipit [etc.] Ib.
[The bismer regarded as just] and for verificatioune thairoff, the Fowdis merk and Lawmannis merk war ingravit in the same Ib. 84.
Becaus the hail comownis … of Ȝetland hes beine … grevuslye … oppressit … pairtlie be wanting of lauful lawrichtmen and lawmen, quhilk the said cuntrie was wount to haiff