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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.

Lig, Lige, Lyg(e, Ligue, n.¹ Also: ligg, lyig(e. [F. ligue (1425 in Hatz.-Darm.) faction, plot, later alliance. In Sc. the earliest form: cf. e.m.E. ligue (c 1645). Cf. Leg(e n.² and Lieg(ue n.]

1. A private compact of alliance or mutual interest between individuals. Freq. coupled with band.(a) 1424 Acts II. 7/1.
It is … forbodyn be our souerane lorde … that na ligis or bandis be maid amangis his liegis in the realme 1457 Ib. 50/2. 1452 Tytler Hist. Scot. II. 387.
I … oblisis me that I shall make na band na ligg … quhilk sall be contrar till his heines 1456 Hay II. 104/27.
Kepe thy condiciounis and ligis that thou confermes be thy lautee 1489 Irving Dumbartonsh. I. 19.
The grete tressoun … made aganis us … be Wilyame Erle Marchall [etc.] … in the making of certane ligs and bands at our Castell of Dumbertane a1538 Abell 110 a.
In his tyme the Erll of Douglas birnt Striviling and maid ane lig with the herll of Craufurd 1555 Acts II. 495/2.
It is thocht aganis all law … the making of particulare liggis outher in burgh or to land c1575 Balfour Pract. 18.
All schireffis sould have ane clerk … quhilk sall have na lig nor band or ony wayis be bund and oblist to the schiref, bot to the King allanerlie a1578 Pitsc. I. 87/13.
He thocht to bind ane lige witht sic nobillis as wald be partie 1587 Aberd. Council Lett. I. . 1610 Misc. Hist. Soc. II. 192.
Thai hopit that this thair lige … wald haue bene sufficient to have terrifiit the Erle of Bothwell(b) 1568 Reg. Morton I. 37.
Thair is ane wthir intelligence and ligue mair secreit, betuix the Erle of Murraye and the Erle of the Harford 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 48.
Ane ligue defensive aganis the power of the greate that is accustumat to ouerthraw the small in tyme of troubill c1575 Balfour Pract. 587.
Gif thair be ony ligue, pactioun, or confederatioun betwix ony in-dwellaris of the burgh, be the quhilk nichtbouris ar injustlie skaithit 1586 Warrender P. MS. 220.
The King … hes proceaded forder in the ligue then many of his subiectes

b. A document in which the terms of a compact are set down. 1493 Acta Aud. 171/1.
That … Andro Duff producit a lig and band maid amangis the comunite and burges of Colane 1616 Misc. Hist. Soc. II. 194.
Efter this band, lige or contract wes maid, subscryvit be manie & maid … manifest be publik proclamation to al

2. A military or political alliance between nations. Also to mak lig with, in lige with (another nation).(1) 1488 Acts II. 207/1.
To renew the haly aliay, lig, and confideracioun maid betuix the realmez of France and Scotland a1538 Abell 89 b.
At Bolon … thai renewit the auld lig betuix France & Scotland 1548 Acts II. 481/1.
Hauand regard to the ancient lig confederatioun and amitie standand betuix the realme of France and this cuntrie 1564 Warrender P. I. 37.
The … mercheantis trafficqueing in the eist seis wer … mair favourablie intertenyit then ony uther strangearis for respect of the ald lig and confideratioun [with Denmark] c1615 Chron. Kings 40.
The lig or mutuall allyance and band betuix France and Scotland(b) 1533 Boece ii. ii. 60.
King Achay … band ane perpetuall lige and societe with grete Charlis 1588 Cath. Tr. 176.
The greit emperour quhomewith Achaius King of Scotland contractit the lige of France(c) 1513 Doug. iv. iii. 43.
I affeir me … les … Jupiter … ne aggre … thai pepillis … Togiddir myddill or joyn in lyge [v.rr. lig, lyig] or band(d) 1503 Cal. Doc. IV. 442.
The auld lyig and baund ... obseruit of lang tyme betuix ws and ... the King of France 1531 Bell. Boece II. 136.
That the noblis of Scotland sal be mair mindful of this present lyig 1533 Boece i. vi. 47.
This necessare lyig, bundin with Scottis Ib. vii. 48 b.
To the ald lyig new condiciouns of pece war ekit Ib. vi. v. 195, viii. xiv. 281 b. Ib. x. iii. 350.
That ane perpetuale lyig & societe be confermyt(e) 1560 Cal. Sc. P. I. 451.
I doubte if it be expedient to propone the ratificacion off the ligue publiquely 1602 Lett. Eliz. & Jas. VI 150.
Of olde thaire was a ligue offensiue and defensiue betuixt France and my croune against Englande(2) a1538 Abell 3*b.
Charlys maid lyg with Scotland Ib. 58 b.
Quharfore the dukis of France decretit to mak lig with the Scottis and Pichtis 1596 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 15.
This dewk [of Florence] … is in lig with this repoblick, at lest in gret amittie

3. Designating particular leagues or confederacies. 1591 Crim. Trials I. ii. 228.
That he … tuik vp bandis of men of weir, strangearis, Spanȝertis, quha were ane pairt of the armie callit the Halie Lyg, destinat for suppressioun of all that professit the trew … religioune 1632 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 361.
Henrie the thrid in the civill warris of the Lig … redactit the money to half the pryce

b. The Solemn League and Covenant. 1657 Balfour Ann. IV. 61.
[His Majesty] had solemly suorne and subscriued the couenant, and the lige and couenant