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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.

Letter, -ir, n. Also: leter, -ir, let(t)yr, let(t)re, later, lit(t)er. [ME. (a 1225) and e.m.E. let(t)re, let(t)ere, letter, F. lettre, (L. littera a letter of the alphabet, pl. litteræ an epistle, written documents, letters).]The forms lettre, lettres, -ez are chiefly (but not invariably: see e.g. 1412 Facs. Nat. MSS. II. lxii.) editorial expansions of the scribal abbreviations l, l^re, l etc.: cf. also Reg. Privy S. III. xxvi.

1. A letter of the alphabet, an alphabetical character. a1400 Leg. S. xliii. 111.
A buke … Vith goldine lettris wrytine brad c1420 Wynt. ii. 156.
To wryt lettyrys off Hebrewe Ib. iv. 2343.
C, that lettyre capytalle c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 425.
My bright buke … With mony lusty letter ellummynit with gold Id. lxxxvi. 6.
Mary … Of ladyis chois as is of letteris A 1513 Doug. xi. xi. 24.
This … infant … eftir … Casmylla [he] Camylla hes clepit, a lettir tane awa 1531 Bell. Boece I. 48.
Na inventioun of letteris was in thay dayis 1585 James VI Ess. 63.
Be literall I meane, that the maist pairt of ȝour lyne sall rynne vpon a letter 1591 Aberd. B. Rec. I. ix.
Euil to be red, be resoun of the antiquite of the wreit, and forme of the letter or charecter 1596 Dalr. I. 132/10.
In hieroglyphical or mistical lettiris c1616 Hume Orthog. 7; etc.
The written letter, quhilk representes to the eie the sound that the mouth sould utter 1622-6 Bisset I. 71. m.
Schir John Faustus of Guttemburg … maid the first carrectaris of letteris on leid and trie 1628 Misc. Maitl. C. III. 372.
The letteris and crownallis of the palleice to be new giltit

2. concr. a. An instrument for engraving the lettered dies used in coining. b. plur. Printers’ types. c. sing. A particular fount of type.a. 1451 Acts II. 40/2.
That … traist sworne men pas furth & resaif al the yrnis of the Kingis strikaris bath of gold & siluer to gidder with the letteris of graving fra the grauouris and befor the King … thai be distroyitb. 1563 Edinb. B. Rec. III. 170.
That … Jhonn Scott, prenter, … had na vtheris guddis saifing his prenting irnis and letteris 1642 Misc. Bann. C. II. 261.
The defunctis twa printing presses, caisses, and letteris, estimat all to vj^c l.c. 1576 Dickson & Edmond Ann. Sc. Printing 283.
That nane … cause [the Bible] be imprentit in ony carecture or lettir translatioun or volume quhatsumevir 1606 Misc. Bann. C. II. 224.
Fyve hundreth lvij doubill catechismes, greit lettir Ib.
Picall letter, … Romane letter

3. a. The wording of a statement etc. In letter, in spelling. a1500 Colk. Sow Proh. 52.
Sen the sentence to feill is fantastike, Let the lettir and langage be such like a1568 Bann. MS. 83 a/3.
Say weill frome do weill defferis in lettir, Say weill is gud bot do weill is bettir

b. The literal or merely superficial signification (of Scripture). 1456 Hay I. 12/35.
The haly scripture has four maneris of understanding. The first is efter the letter, and the tothir is entermellit, [etc.] c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 4/6.
Some personis appruf nocht the translacoun of haly writ in Ynglis toung … ffor the werray letter beand translatit without the … hevinlie mynd that it contenis … quhilis soundis evill c1520-c1535 Nisbet Rom. ii. 29. m.
Quhat sa euir God wirkis in man … is callit spreit; and quhat sa euir man dois of is awin nature without the spreit of Gode, it is callit letter, Roma vii Id. 2 Cor. iii. 6. m.
To preache the letter is to teache the baire law and the werkis tharoff, without the knawlege of the grace of God

4. Anything written: a writing, document or literary composition. Also plur. in sing. sense (cf. L. litteræ).sing. 1375 Barb. x. 353.
The gud erll Thomas Assegit, as the lettir sais, Edinburgh 1456 Hay I. 244/20.
The quhilk puttis lyf land and honour in were for a lettre of paper with a lytill wax 1513 Doug. vi. Prol. 107.
Al thocht he was neuer catholyk wight, He hes writtin ful mony attentik lettir c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1280.
Gaudefer, as sayis the letter, At Gadderis Ferrie faucht no better 1567 (16..) Bk. Univ. Kirk I. 101.
Not willing to impeasche ȝou with farder lettre a1585 Polwart Flyt. 784 (H).
Sone bleitand, & greetand, fast eitand thy laidlie letter c1590 Fowler II. 13/12.
We haue in his calumnious letter sum things, as being maist false, suppressit c1616 Hume Orthog. i.
If a man wald indyte one letter to tuentie of our best wryteres, nae tuae … wald agreeplur. 1375 Barb. xx. 44 (E).
Monymentis and lettrys ser … In-till that tretys wp thai gaff a1400 Leg. S. xviii. 1033.
Scho alleygit haly wryt & psalmis, ore lettres wthyre c1420 Wynt. v. 3836.
For lauch I will now thow ger dyte And wyth hast in lettrys wryte The sentens [etc.] a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 28.
My laureat lettres at thé and I lowis 1571 Bann. Trans. 216.
Mattheu erle of Lennox … hes laitlie caused publis sindrie letteris at dyvers borrowis … full of calumneis … against me 1579 Moysie 24.
Thair wes ten or tuelff inuectiue and dispytfull letters fund in proes a1599 Rollock Wks. I. 405.
For the letters (sayis he) ar sair and strong, bot his bodilie presence is waik, and his speich is of na value

5. A written communication sent from one person to another; a missive or epistle.Also missive letter, letter missive, q.v. under the adj.sing., quasi-plur. in sing. sense and also pair of lettres, and plur.sing. 1375 Barb. viii. 491.
Thai fand in-till his awmener A letter that him send ane lady a1400 Leg. S. xi. 17.
King Agabarus Send a letyre … Til Criste 1400 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 44.
I schew it to yhour lordschip be this my lettre that [etc.] 1456 Hay I. 63/30.
And ȝit with that, come a secrete letter till him 1501 Treas. Acc. II. 124.
To ane man to pas to Strivelin with ane lettir of the Kingis to Andro Aytoun a1578 Pitsc. I. 90/24.
The King … wreit ane sueit lettir of suplicatioun to the Erle of Douglas 1587 Conv. Burghs I. 272.
Ane lettre of recommendatioun … to be maid and sent with Henrie Nesbet ? 1596 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 13.
That thair is som lettir interseptit, wrettin be Scotts Jessowitts 1603 Ib. 56.
I am past all dew bounds in langsumness off my lettir 1615 Highland P. III. 239.
That the contentis of the letter was a letter of courtesie and thankis for his good intertenyment 1652 Wemyss Corr. 114.
That ther may be no visit nor leter till the end of the nixt munth 1678 Sc. Ant. IX. 107.
For a leter which cam from Glascowe 1375 Barb. xvii. 31.
quasi-plur. (1) Letteris till him he send in hy Ib. 39.
Quhen the marschall the letteris saw He vmbethoucht him 1405 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 59.
I with al gudly hast sende yhour lettres til him of the quhilkis at the makynge of thir letteris I hade nane answer a1500 Seven S. 145.
He … gart direct his letteris sone To the sagis c1510 James IV Facs. Nat. MSS. III. ix.
We haue ressauit your lovyng lettiris wirtyn with yowr hand 1568 Argyll Fam. Lett. 7.
I ressauit my soueranis letteris … commandand me nocht till invaid nane of hir aduersar partie a1578 Pitsc. I. 257/1.
Be thir lettaris [supra ane lufe letter] to the Kingis maiestie, he knew weill [etc.] a1597-1617 Hist Jas. VI 274.
Becaus, by the lettres, he was not intitulat King, the counsall … wald nather suffer the lettres to be openit, nor the giftis to be ressauit 1651 Carnegie Lett. & Chart. 445.
There was ane petticione drawne up … to the comishoners for letters of recommendation for your inlardgment c1650 Spalding I. 244.
The Kingis letteris brokin wp, declairing he wes now content to heir thair supplicationis(2) 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 57.
I resauit twa pair of lettres of you sens my latter wryting to youplur. c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1851.
Agamenone gart purwey Two fals lettres c1420 Wynt. v. 642.
Seneca … That till Saynt Paule wrat letteris sere a1500 Bk. Chess 2000.
Currouris that beris letteris to & fro 1519 Reg. Episc. Aberd. II. 176.
Ane litil aikkin kist for letteris 1572 Buch. Detect (1727) 115.
The wrytingis and letteris found in the said casket 1596 Highland P. I. 172.
The deponer … greapit the said letters in his boasome and fand ane great letter amang the rest 1666 Misc. Maitl. C. II. 540.
For a packet of lettres to Scotland 18s.

b. Generall letter, one addressed to several persons collectively or to people at large (e.g. a papal encyclical). Cf. 7 d. c1420 Wynt. v. 1496.
Ignius … in a generalle lettyre he Off God and mannys unyown, … , He wrate to be haldyn ay 1580 Moysie 27.
Mr Bowis wes sent ambassadour from Ingland, with ane general letter to the King and counsell, and with credit to him selff

c. Buriall letters, funeral notices. 1699 Misc. Maitl. C. II. 233.
Act in favors of James Donaldson, gazetteer. to print buriall letters Ib. 234 etc.

d. See also Newis-letter n.

6. Applied to those missives from the sovereign by which he intervened by prerogative in the processes of the courts or crown offices or issued peremptory commands to his officers. c1460 Regim. Princ. 271.
Within schort tym thou changis thine entent, Sendand a contrar lettir in continent 1473 Acta Aud. 26/2.
The inquisicioune that was ordanit … was stoppit … be the Kingis lettres & the lordis knawis nocht the caus therof 1489 Acta Conc. I. 123/2.
With certficacione to the said James that and he do in the contrare oure souerne lord will writt his effectuise lettrez to oure haly faider the Paipe thar vopone 1493 Acta Aud. 180/1.
The lordis, … cosalis the Kingis hienes to writte his effectuis lettrez to the juge ordiner 1498 Reg. Priv S. I. 26/1.
Licence … to endur for the Kingis will and quhill he … revok the sammyn … be his awn mowth or be his autentik lettrez 1531–2 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 53.
Our soveran lordis lettres … chargand the baillies … to ces proces 1580 Reg. Privy C. III. 284.
Sumtymes the signaturis past [= pass] the sealis at the desire of his majesteis letters privilie purchest 1592 Acts III. 562/2.
His Maiestie ordanis his effectuus lettrez to be writtin 1607 Fact. Nat MSS. III. lxxx vii.
M^r Gilbert Prymrois, Minister at Burdeauxe authorizit with your Maiesties particular lettre to him

7. A legal or official writing styled as a letter; a writ in missive form.Applied both to non-notarial deeds and contracts of various kinds and to a great variety of royal or authoritative gifts, mandates, warrants, etc., addressed (see also Direct p.p. 2) normally either to ‘all and sundry’ or to the appropriate executive officer or officers.To impetrat, purches or rais, and to execute, indors letteris, a letter, see the verbs or p.p.s.sing., quasi-plur. (in singular sense), and plur.(1) sing. (a) 1379 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 2.
In case gif I … in the contrare of this lettre … before ony juge sall attempt [etc.] 1389 Liber Melros 449.
To yow ioyntly & seuerailly be the tenour of this lettre fermely we bid [etc.] 1424 Grey Friars II. 167.
The lettyre … that thai cal Kynge Williem charter 1425 Acts II. 11/1.
Bot gif that man hafe a letter or certanetie of the lorde of that lande quhare he schippit c1475 Wall. viii. 891.
Lettir nor band, ye se, may nocht awaill Ws c1515 Asl. MS. I. 242/5.
Thar was put … on the parliament hous dure ane letter wnder Sir James of Douglas sele … declynand fra the King 1493 Reg. Privy S. I. 4; etc.
A letter maid to Alexander Lord Hume … of the gift of all malis [etc.] 1508 Treas. Acc. IV. 123.
To ane man to pas to the lard of Balgony with ane lettir to tak ane man callit Mure 1550 Reg. Cupar A. II. 103.
That this last claus hawe strynth … as it war incert in the body of the letter c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i. 809.
Scho in hand ane letter had quhairon Hir charge scho red 1554–5 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 297.
For wrytting of ane bill and ane lettre upon it 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 205.
Alexander M^cCullo pursevant past to the mercat croce … to haue proclamit ane letter 1585 Acts III. 377/2.
That euerie writtair subscriue … on the bak of the signatour or lettre 1623 Elgin Rec. II. 179.
That ane letter be directed to Findrisie to repair the northe yll a1633 Hope Major Pract. II. 119.
The meithes … of the landis quhilk should be perambulat aucht to be named in the letter 1689 Soc. Ant. XXX. 62.
Their majesties ordain a letter to be passed under their great seal … giving … to the said Sir Archibald Murray the foresaid office of sole master of work 1379 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 2.
quasi-plur. Till all that thir lettres herys or seis … gretyng in God euer lestand 1394 Argyll Cart. MS.
I haf set my sel to thir present letteris 1415 Reg. Episc. Brechin I. 36.
Nocht agan standand ony letteris send to ȝou be ws 1420 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 182.
The governour sall giff his lettres, bande, and seille till his cusin 1471 Acta Aud. 18/1.
The lordis … ordanis that lettres be writin to distreinȝe him his lands and gudis herefore 1507 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 706.
Be it kend tyle ale men be thir present litteres 1540 Ex. Processes (Reg. H.) Earl of Mortoun v. Douglas.
Quhilkis lettres ar wranguislie purchest and inordorlie proceidit 1626 Justiciary Cases I. 55.
The crymes contenit in the lettres 1668 Rothesay B. Rec. 158.
And that all letters neidfull pas heirupon as effeirs 1696 Cunningham Diary xxxvii.
In this expectation I resolve to let my letters ly till the first of Decemberplur. 1478 Acta Conc. I. 10/2.
To be at the samyn day with ther lettres of ther feis 1489 Treas. Acc. I. 127.
To pas with letteris … to al the schirreffis … for the alde taxt and new 1499 Glasgow Dioc. Reg. II. 18.
That the saidis euidentis, instrumentis and letres be nowder of strength, fors nor effect in tyme to come 1507–8 Reg. Privy S. I. 238/1.
He dredis that the stelaris [of his seal] … hes … maid fals lettrez and endentouris on his behalff 1517 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 89.
[The men of the Isles] settis bot lytyll by thar lettirris and thar aythtis 1535 Stewart 18439.
Thus wer thai bund with letteris seillit braid c1575 Balfour Pract. 651.
Of all thir letteris na register is maid, bot the warrandis are kept 1580 Reg. Privy C. III. 284.
That nane … present unto his majestie ony maner of signaturis, letters, or missives, to be subscrivit a1578 Pitsc. I. 177/1.
All letteris and commandementis and procliematiounis was gevin … in his name 1621 Acts IV. 616/2.
The lordis … haue sett doun the pryces off all lettres actis infeftmentis and wreatis proper vnto quhatsoeuir clerkschip within this realme 1672 Ib. VIII. 87/1.
All letters that pas the signet(2) sing. c1420 Wynt. vii. 2056.
Of all thir poyntis … Rychard undyr hys gret sele As a qwyt-cleme fre and pure Be lettyre he gave in fayre tenwre Ib. 1724 (W).
Condicionis that wes Spokin to be haldin … With aith and letter and seill 1456 Hay I. 219/32.
Kingis … gevand power be lettre to tak mark 1466 (1471) Reg. Great S. 214/1.
David Erle of Crawfurde … was bundin baith for him and airis baith be lettir and sele for to renew … the auld merchis c1575 Balfour Pract. 275.
Ane suitar … sould be … maid suitar be him for quhom he compeiris, and be his letter and seillplur. 1400 Maxwell Mem. I. 138.
At the forsayd Schyr Jon the sone sal gyf vp, quyte cleme and be thir present letteris quyteclemys and gyffys vp [etc.] 1456 Hay I. 223/15.
Suppos the King had … nocht maid speciale inhibicioun be lettres or cry publyk that [etc.] 1471 Acta Aud. 16/1.
[The action not to be effective] on to the tyme that the matter cum to the King be lettres lachfully be lettres of capcion 1525 E. Loth. Antiq. Soc.V. 30.
Herfor I command and charge ȝow generalie and ilkane of ȝow be ȝourselff anys twyis thryis peremptorly be the vertew of thir letteris and onder the pane of gret cursyn and tynsal of ȝour awin saull [etc.] 1551 Reg. Cupar A. II. 68.
Be the tenour of thir our present letres [we] settis [etc.] c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus I. 878.
This Nemesis schiref … chargit … This Desperance to compeir … Be the tennour of letteris present thair c1575 Balfour Pract. 408.
Gif ony inferiour judge be chargit be letteris direct be deliverance of the Lordis … to procede na farder in the cause 1622-6 Bisset I. 298/22.(3) 1501 Treas. Acc. II. 115.
To David Tempilman, messingeir, passand with ane lettir on Lord Erskin, schiref principale of Selkyrk, for his rest in the roll 1559–60 Soc. Ant. XI. 520.
Your lordships will direct lettres simpliciter on hir to that effect or at the lest lettres to poind hir landis and gudis 1598–9 Misc. Spald. C. V. 70.
For rasing of lettres on the barronis to set cautioun [etc.](4) 1587 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 32.
Rais the saids letters aganes the persones committaris of the saids attempis 1588 Ib. 46.
I haif taken tent to the day of his letters aganes Balquhane 1611 Montgomery Mem. 255.
To rais letteris and sute execution aganis him … at my instance

b. Specifically, of the crown or other high authority: as our soverane lordis or ladyis, the Kingis, his majesteis, our, his etc. letter or letteris.(1) sing. c 1400 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 51.
This is the answar that we … makis tyll our soverayne lorde the Kyngis letter the quhylke chargyt us to compeyr [etc.] 14.. Acts I. 108/2.
Nane … sal be essonȝeit … bot allanerly he be in the Kyngis service & thar apon he sal present the Kyngis lettyr for his warand 1496 Acta Conc. II. 20.
It was allegyit … that the sade gudis war be the Kingis letter takin and that thai war bot witnes to the schiref in the executione of the lettersplur. 14.. Acts I. 113/2.
[No one] to send gudis … utouth the kynrik wythoutin special lef of the Kyng and that be the Kyngis lettyris 1454 Rep. Southesk MSS. 8.
This is the copy of the Kyngis lettrez, worde and word transsumit be me 1456 Acts II. 45/2.
That all … be redy horsit … at the commandment of the Kingis lettres be balys or ovt hornys 1482–3 Acta Conc. II. ci.
Be reson of tak of our soverane lord be his letters under his prive sele 1485 Misc. Spald. C. V. 29.
Efter the presentatioun, perlectioun, and insinuatioun of our soueran lordis lettres, under the signet of the lyon, direct to thame for xiii lastis of salmond 1498 Acta Conc. II. 260.
The lordis … decretis … that our soverane lordis letters impetrat be the sade schir Jhone … for ocht thai haf yit sene ar contrar justice, and … to be of nane availe 1501 Treas. Acc. II. 118.
To Alexander Focart, maser, to pas with the Kingis lettrez on the lard of Bernbowgale 1518 Glenartney Doc. MS.
That quhare he has the forestary … by our lettres in authentik forme 1535 Selkirk B. Ct. 20 July.
That thai ar artles and partles of the vay putting of our soueran lordis the Kyngis lettres anent the fredome of our burgh 1553–4 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 282.
Payit for the signet of the Queenis lettres, … discharging paking of hirring in the Brinteland 1565 Facs. Nat. MSS. III. xlviii.
That all oure letres to be direct efter oure said mareage … be in the names of … our future husband and ws 1587 Aberdeen Council Lett. I. 10.
We charge you straitlie … that incontinent thir our letters sene ye pas [etc.] 1588 Ib. 25.
Be vertew of our saidis utheris letteris purchest and to be purchest upone thair saids feibill … complaintis(2) 1499 Dunferm. B. Rec. 101.
Tomas Bowchane … preusende ane later of the arsbescepis of Sanct Androus and made his protextacione ande said that the actione dubeitabil … auct not tobe desidit into the temporal cowrt 1525 St. A. Formulare I. 268.
Gude folkis heir ar my lorde archibischop of Glasgews letteris gevin undere his rounde sele direkit to me or ony uther chaplane, makand mentioun [etc.] 1535–6 Selkirk B. Ct. 19 Jan.
Ve ordand batht the partes to be varnit be terror of the kyrkis lettres

c. With defining adjectives and phrases.As: (1) letters citatory, compulsatour, compulsorial, executoriall, inhibitory, obligatory, obligatour, patent, repressall, supplicatour, testificatory, testimonial, and criminall, missive, ordinare letters: see also these adjectives.and (2) a letter or letteris of acquittance, adjudication, appoyntment, apprising, approbatioun, arrestment, assedatioun, assignation, assigné, assythment, asseurance, attournay, bailȝery (bailliery), band, captioun, chalmerlanery, change, charge, collatioun, command, commandement, commissioun, conduct, confirmatioun, connand, consail, conspiratioun, continuatioun, contramarq, contumax, cossing, credit, curatory, cursing, custumary, dekinheid, discharge, dispensatioun, dispositioun, divisioun, ejectioun, enteres, eschete, exemptioun, factorie, fire and sword, forgeving, gift, gildry, grace, horning, iconomie, indenture, indulgence, inhibitioun, instance, intercom(m)o(u)ning, interdictioun, justiciary, law-borowis, legitimatioun, leve (= permission), licence, mariage, mark, mercy, new infeftment, office, open doors, pa(i)n(i)s, pardoune, partitioun, pasport, (the Kingis) pece, permit, poynding, portioun, possessioun, power, premunitioun, presentatioun, previlegis, proclamatioun, procuratorie, promit, protectioun, publicatioun, purprusioun, quittance, ratificatioun, reaggravation, recept, reception, reconciliatioun, recognitioun, regres, rehabilitatioun, relaxation, remissioun, remit, renunciatioun, repossessioun, repreysales, resignatioun, respite, ressate (recept), retenew, reversioun, safe-, sauf-conduct, saising (sesing), saufgard, sett, slainis, summondis, supersedere, supplement, suspensioun, tak, testimonial, title, tollerance, treason, tutorie, ward, warding, warning, and others, see also these words.(1) 1465 Coldingham Priory 203.
I Willyam Barton messynger … of our said haly fadre by th'auctority of the forsaid lettrez citatory and inhibitory sufficiently deputed — 1498 Reg. Privy S. I. 26/1.
With lettrez clos and patent 1536–7 Bk. Carlaverock II. 23.
Pasport … to pas throuch ȝour realme with … lettres clois and patent and all uthiris gudis lefull a1538 Abell 74 a.
He send him to the imprice with closit letteris of his awne deid — c1575 Balfour Pract. 367.
He may rais letteris compulsatour aganis him for productioun and delivering of the said writ Ib. 652.
Letter compulsorial — 1579 Acts (1597) ii. 37.
Persones that … be the Kingis aduocates vpoun their information raisis criminall letteris 1606 Reg. Privy C. VII. 171.
For letters of lawborrows and criminall letters 1626 Justiciary Cases I. 42.
Quhairas criminall lettres ar direct at the instance of the kin and freindis [etc.] 1670 Irvine Mun. II. 100.
Whither Robertlan maye rease criminall letters to compeir befor the justis generall or no(2) 1611 Scrymgeour Invent. (S.R.S.) 1.
Ane letter of appoyntment … anent the richt of the landis of Benvie — 1498 Reg. Privy S. I. 23/1.
Ane letter of ratificatioun approbatioun and confirmatioun — 1586–7 Waus Corr. 382.
Ane vther lettre of arrestment to stay the schips 1606 Reg. Privy C. VII. 171.
Letters of inhibition and arrestment — 1402 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 55.
A lettre of assigne & attournay til thaim — 1456 Hay I. 244/18.
All the lettres of asseurance and sauf conditis of the warld is nathing [etc.] — 1559 Rec. Kinloss Mon. 150.
To thir our literis [sic] of bailȝiaries … our signet is affixed — 1498–9 Reg. Privy S. I. 42/2.
A letter mad of band be John Erle of Craufurd — 1508 Treas. Acc. IV. 27.
For carying of the lettrez of change for the said ducatis — 1498 Reg. Privy S. I. 27/1.
A letter of charge and command 1610 Yester Writs 296.
Act of curatory … giving to John Lord Hay … following upon letters of charge raised by him against John Hay of Smithfeild 1489 Acta Conc. I. 122/1.
The vicare generalis lettrez of his presentacion & collacion gevin therapoun 1672 Sc. N & Q. 3 Ser. XII. 135.
He had given institution to Mr. Patrick Copland to be minister of Cushnie conforme to his letter of collatione to the said kirk 1673 Aberd. Council Lett. V. 292.
[To] present Master Patrick Sibbald … to be parsone of St. Nicolas kirk … and … to grant him … our letter of collation 1685 Dunkeld Presb. I. 228.
Mr. Alexander Mackenzie … received letters of collation from my Lord St. Andrews his Grace — 1501–2 Reg. Privy S. I. 116/2.
A letter of commissioune — 1505 Ib. 163/1.
A lettre of conduct — a1538 Abell 98 a.
Robert gat thare letteris of conspiratioun quietlie and callit a parliament & conwikkit thame — 1522 Fife Sheriff Ct. 269.
[He] producit ane lettre of continuacione 1498 Acta Conc. II. 179.
The contractis and letters of cossing with ane decret … arbitrale … betuex the sadis partiis — 1650 Acts VI. ii. 560/1.
Ane lettir of credit givin to the commissiouneris — 1498 Reg. Privy S. I. 29/2.
A letter of custumary of the burgh of Dunde … to James Rollok 1574 Reg. Privy C. II. 374.
Bringand with him the saidis letters of custumary purchest be him — 1688 Craven Ch. in Orkney 129.
His majesty having, by his letters of license and dispensation … given power … to present … a person greatly learned — 1613 Edinb. B. Rec. VI. 98.
Conforme to ane lettre of ratificatioun and dispositioun — 1533–4 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 107.
Lettres of premunitione and eiectione tuecheing the saidis landis c 1639 Scots Lore I. 162.
Raiseing of lettres of ejectioun contra Mathie Watsone — 1500 Acta Conc. II. 454.
With his letter of enteres of the said Archibald — 1520–1 Reg. Privy S. I. 484/1.
Ane lettre of eschete — 1515 Fife Sheriff Ct. 9.
Ane lettir of exempcioune … was … fundin of nane awaile … because it wes impetrat … for inamite — 1681 Stair Inst. iv. xlvii. 41.
Charges … to enter their persons in such prisons … should be first used, before letters of fire and sword, which are the last legal executions, warranting all manner of force of arms that is competent in war — 1493 Reg. Privy S. I. 4/2; etc.
A letter of gift of the ward and mariage of … Wilȝam Trumbull 1536 Prot. Bk. T. Johnsoun 20.
Ane letter of gyft of the said half landis of Nethir Twede — 1490 Irland Mir. I. 123/34.
This charter and lettir of grace and of mercy sal be subscriuit be the consent of the haly spreit 1622-6 Bisset II. 37/5.
Be his maiesties letteres of grace, gevin under the testymoniall of his greit seill — 1563–4 Reg. Privy S. V. i. 420/2.
Thir present lettiris of yconomie factourie and chalmerlanrie — 1501 Ib. I. 99/1.
A letter of indenture maid betuix our soverane lord the King … and … Henry lord Sinclare — 1482–3 Acta Conc. II. cxix.
Our said soverane lordis letters of interdictioun made apone the said … Lord Fleming

d. Generall letters, against several persons collectively. Cf. 5 b. 1681 Stair Inst. iv. iii. 25.
These hornings are called general letters because the particular persons which may be charged are not particularly expressed nominatim but under a general designation 1595 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 63.
The saids provest and baillies ar chargatt be vertew of utheris generall letters decreit furth att the instance of Androw Moresone, chalmerlane to his maiestie a1633 Hope Major Pract. vi. xxxiv. § 1.
Albeit denunciations upon generall letters ar prohibit, yet any beneficed persone may seek generall letters conforme to his provisione 1696 Cunningham Diary xxxvi.
I need not spare to tell you that I have raised my letters of horning, not bare generall letters but containing the speciall compt heir inclosed

e. Letters conformand, conformit, conform(e, ‘letters issued by the supreme court in aid of the decrees of inferior judicatures, and authorizing execution in terms of those decrees’ (Bell). Also const. to (the original decree). 1494 Acta Conc. I. 337/2.
And attour that lettrez be writtin conformand to the ordinaris to charge the said lord Forbes … to decist … fra all vexacion … of the said maister Dauid 1497 Ib. II. 83.
And als the … procuratour … protestit that he micht haf letters of our soverane lordis conformyt to the decretis gevin for the sade master James Forstare in this mater of before 1498 Ib. 260.
And the sade maister James chapellane til haf our soverane lordis letters … conformand to the ordenare letters past in this mater of before 1508 Reg. Privy S. I. 268/1.
A lettre in Inglis conforme to the said speciale command insert in the signet, direct to al the schireffis within the realme c1575 Balfour Pract. 272.
All commoun privilegit actiounis, sic as … warningis, letteris conform to rolmentis, … takkis a1633 Hope Major Pract. vi. xxxiv. § 3.
Nota the difference betuix lettres conforme and letters of horneing upon decreits

f. Letters in the first, secund, thrid, ferd form, in the four formes, of four formes, warrants issued by the Council for giving up to four successive charges to the party decreed against to obey the Council's decree on eventual pain of rebellion. 1622-6 Bisset I. 240/15 f.
Or last of all, letteres of foure formes, of foure sindrie and diverse chargis ordinerlie used aganist the pairtie contrare quhome the decreit is gevin, and execute aganist him foure sindrie tymes upoun the warning of twentie foure houris or of fourtie aucht houris or thrie dayis. Off the quhilkis charges, the first wes used to be execute under all hieast pane and charge etc. The secund under the pane of warding of the pairties person etc. The thrid Or ellis to entir his person in waird within sum certan castell or waird designed be the letteres etc. The fourtt charge, Gif he entir nocht to denunce him rebell and put him to oure soverane lordis horne and escheit and inbring all his movabill gudis to his maiesties use for his contemptioun etc. And gif he dissobeyis all the charges and is lauchfullie denunced and registrate at the horne … than letteres of caption ar direct [etc.] … Thir letteres of foure formes … ar … discharged … be the formare statute abonewrittin, 23 Novembris 1613(1) 1496 Acta Conc. II. 12.
The unordourely passing of our soverane lordis letters in the first secund and thrid forme 1498 Ib. 181.
Anent the accione … persewit be Thomas Tulloch quhilk optenit our soverane lordis letteris be the deliverance of the lordis of Consale … in the first, secund, thrid, and ferd forme chargeing Maister David Gardin to have deliverit Jonet Tulloch … and al thare last under the pane of rebellion and als til heire himself be oure letters … til be put til our soverane lordis horne or ellis [etc.] 1501 Ib. III. 41.]
[Letters to the Stewart of Annanderdaile … to distrain Symon of Caruthris … , which were directed to the said Stewart in the first second and third form 1501 Treas. Acc. II. 126.
To Ormund pursewant to pas to summond the lard of Fivee and his folkis with lettrez in the secund forme 1517 Fife Sheriff Ct. 67.
[The] schiref … grantit in jugement that he had resauit the Kingis lettres in the secund forme chargeing hyme to put the first lettres direct to hyme … to dew execucioune 1520 Ib. 198.
[They] producit our souerane lordis lettres in the fyrst and secund formes … to tak cougnicione [etc.] 1525 Acts II. 297/1.
Geif the saidis persouns lyis vnder cursing … for nocht doing … of ony act … ther creditouris sall haif lettrez in the first secund thrid & ferd formes according to the ordinaris lettrez of cursing 1529 Bk. Carlaverock II. 2.
Scho hes optenit our lettres on ȝou in the ferd forme 1533–4 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 411.
That ye in continent thareftir direct our uthiris lettres in the first, secund, thrid and ferd formes all togidder, chargeing the said personis … to desist and ces fra sick trubling and to restore the spulȝe, and ilk forme to be execute eftir uthir within thre dais(2) 1542 Reg. Privy S. II. 753/2.
The saidis personis denuncit oure soverane lordis rebelles and at his horne, put thairto be his uthir lettres in the four formes, past upoun ane decrete of the lordis of his counsaill, for non-desisting … fra the violent occupying [etc.] 1569 Reg. Privy C. II. 68.
Upon the quhilk the saidis complenaris rasit letters in the four formes, and be vertew of the samyn the said James Somervell wes lauchfullie put to the horne 1590 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 51.
In the hour of caus with continewatioun of dayis to heir and sie oure utheris letteris decernit to be direct in all the four formes and ilk executione to be efter utheris within thre dayis(3) 1546–47 Balfour Pract. 304.
Letteris of four formis may be execute be divers officiaris, swa that ane officiar may give ane charge, and ane uther another 1611 Scrymgeour Invent. (S.R.S.) 36.
Letteres of four formes obtenit at the constabillis instance aganis Cristiane Scrymgeour 1622-6 Bisset I. 238/32.
The lordis of counsall … hes … ordaned, that upoun all decreittis and sentences gevin be theme, quhereupoun letteres of foure formes have bene accustumate to be directed, that letteres of horning upoun ane singill [v.r. simpill] charge sal heireftir be directed

8. plur. Letters, literature or acquaintance with it; learning, scholarship, schooling; literacy.Also devine letteris, Devine a. 1 (3).(1) a1500 Bk. Chess 632.
A king but letteris lykynnit is … Vnto a crovnit as c1520-c1535 Nisbet Acts xxvi. 24.
Mony lettres turnis thee to wodnes 1531 Bell. Boece II. 138.
Young childrin weill institute in letteris 1554 Misc. Bann. C. III. 83.
We ar insularis duelland in ilis seuerit aluterlie fra science of lettres 1555–6 Reg. Privy S. IV. 555/2.
Florischeing of lettiris, knawlege and science 1562-3 Winȝet II. 48/11.
To quhois knawlege, quhen the Greikis gaue place, the Hebrew literis [sic] also war exornat be him 1567 Acts III. 25/1.
The pouerte of mony is in sic sort, that thay may not hauld thair children at letteris a1570-86 Arbuthnot Maitl. F. xxix. 180.
Letteris ar lichtlyt in our natioun For lernyng now is nother lyf nor rent 1583 Edinb. Univ. Chart., 88.
Ane college for lettres in the Kirk of Feild 1588 Old Ross-shire 26.
For upbringing of the youth in edification of verteu and gude letteris c1616 Hume Orthog. 3.
Manie kinges … have advanced letteres be erecting schooles 1619 Edinb. Test. L. 211.
I leve … to the colledge of Edinburgh for help … of bursaris and studentis in letteris thair ane thowsand merkis(2) c1520-c1535 Nisbet John vii. 15.
How can this man lettris sen he has nocht leirit? 1555–6 Reg. Privy S. IV. 555/2.
Thir mony yeiris bigane … thair hes bene few that … gaif thair studie to obtene lettiris a1578 Pitsc. I. 153/13.
To learne lettres at the scoill 1596 Dalr. I. 266. m. Ib. II. 399/26.
Quha heir [sc. in monasteries] ar inclosit suld haue lettiris, or as we speik be lettiret

9. Attrib. a. Letter-office, letter-post-office (sense 5). b. Letter(is)-silver, -server (sense 7).a. 1661 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. I. 115; etc.
Robert Mein, keiper of the letter office of Edinburgh 1672 Aberd. Council Lett. V. 167.
It is ther lordships most earnest desyre that ye would preferr Alexander Farquhar … to be keeper of the Leter Post Office 1680 Fountainhall Decis. I. 113.
Robert Mien, keeper of the letter post office is imprisoned … for publishing the news letter before it was revised by a [sc. privy] counsellor or their clerkb. 1540 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 171.
xvj d. of letter syluer 1670 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS. 5 March.
Fynes Robert McChesnie in thrie punds Scots and ordaines him to pay the samyn for letteris silver and messengers charges 1674 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds I. 367.
[They have been taken prisoners by John Gass, messenger, by virtue of letters of caption … and they also promise to pay £10 8s. as] letters server [with 40s. of penalty]