A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1400-1499, 1575-1698
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Mortancestry, n. Also: mortancestry, -ie, -é, morthancestré. [Sc. altered form of Mortancestor: cf. Mortantecessory]. Chiefly breve of mortancestry, a brieve out of chancery directing an inquest into a claim that the raiser is heir to certain property formerly possessed by an ancestor and now wrongfully held by another. Also recognition (= investigation by inquest) of mortancestry.14.. Acts I. 13/2.
That breiffis of mortancestre and new dyssesing [L. brevia de morte antecessoris et nove dissaisine] nevir mare salbe impleydyt [etc.] 1471 Acts Lords Auditors 12/2.
Anent a breif of mortancestry dependand in the justice are of Couper betuix the said Andro & the lard of Ardros 1471 Acts II. 101/2.
Mortancestrj 1478 Acts Lords Auditors 66/2.
The bourghe fundin [etc.] … vpoun the breve of morthancestre c1575 Balfour Pract. 226.
And gif the superiour will not … restoir and deliver the heritage to the air, beand of … perfeit age, the air, be ane breif and assise of mortancestrie, will recover his … heritage fra his over-lord [etc.] c1575 Ib. 418. 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Breve de morte antecessoris.
The brieve of mortancestrie … or the brieue of succession … is … persewed be ane appeirand aire of perfite age, for recovering of his landes 1609 Id. Reg. Maj. i. 58.
Of the recognition of mortancestrie a1633 Hope Major Pract. II. 46.
The breif of mortancestrie is serued be ane assise of 12 neighbours a1670 Scot Staggering State xvii.
Now the business there [the chancery] is confined to the issuing precepts, brieves, such as of mortancestry, furiosity [etc.] 1686 Mackenzie Observ. on Sc. Statutes 75.
Brieves of mort-ancestrie (which are now call'd brieves for serving of heirs) 1698 Fountainhall Decis. I. 819.
The brief of mortancestry is one of the retourable briefs
