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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Pais, Pace, Paix, n.¹ Also: paise, paice, payce, paiche, pache, pasch(e; peche. [Early ME. and ME. pais(1154), peis (Ancr. R.), paise, pays(e, peys (13th c.), payes (14th c.), OF. pais, paix, pes (see Pes(e n.) (11th c. in Littré; mod. F. paix), L. pac-em (nom. pax: see Pax n.), peace, also in med. L. area of jurisdiction, release from outlawry. Cf. Pes(e n., Peax n.] Peace, in the usual senses.

1. Cessation of fighting; absence of war or strife; amity; reconciliation.Also fig., as personification.(1) 1513 Doug. iii. iv. 100.
Thai wald we suld perdoun and pace requer Ib. viii. 72. 1515 Id. in Doug. (Sm.) I. xli.
He [King of France] salbe mayr glad to haf pace and amite wyth the Kyng of Ingland than [etc.] 1535 Stewart 57268.
Tua legattis come to treit for trewis and pace [: lace.] 1549 Compl. 5/16.
Mediatour … to treit pace ande concorde in diuerse cuntreis 1561 Digest Justiciary Proc. D. 15. 1562-3 Winȝet I. 30/25. 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 287.
Lord … restore pace againe to this commonewealth 1572 Sat. P. xxxi. 10.
That anis thair may be finall pace [: cace] a1578 Pitsc. II. 15/13. 1622-6 Bisset II. 198/23.
Pace and concorde generis prosperitie 1675 Kirkcaldy Council Min. 22 Nov.(b) 1513 Doug. iv. xi. 84.
Nevir luf nor payce [E. peche] betwix thir pepill be a1578 Pitsc. I. 8/1.
Paice 1591-2 Rob Stene 6.
To saw discord & baneis paice Betuix the Lyoun and his raice(c) 1513 Doug. xi. vi. 12.
Or to mak paix with Troiane prynce Ene Ib. xiii. 23.
In ganand tyme of paix [: pres](d) 1521 Grant Chart. 66.
Swarne … in wnite pache and concord athir othir to defend 1545–6 Corr. M. Lorraine 159.
Ferme paiche betuixt the Impreor and the Kyng(2) 1540 Acta Conc. & Sess. MS. XIII. 183.
Paice beand tane betuix France and Flanderis 1549 Compl. 5/21.
Quhen he purchessis pace ande concord c1590 J. Stewart 61/147.
Quhan Roland purchest pace [: face, plaice, space](3) personified 1549 Compl. 7/12.
The domicillis of tranquil pace that sueit goddes of humaine felicite

2. Tranquillity of mind. c1515 Asl. MS. II. 246/14.
To sewe the pace of perfyte cherite 1551 Hamilton Cat. 256.
The kingdome of God is rychteousnes, paice and joye in the Haly Spreit c1590 J. Stewart 108. § 5.
Pace 1590 Reg. Morton I. 165.
To al … pace and grace from God the Father 1604 Fraser Sir-Name of Baird 46.
The paix and luif of God — 1609 Garden Garden 34.
And giue vs perfect pace [: face]

3. In pace, in freedom from war or strife; in tranquillity.Also, In time of peace.(1) 1513 Doug. viii. vi. 31.
In paix … his common pepill governyt he 1549 Compl. 90/17.
Thai hef … brocht the realme … in sykkyr pace Ib. 107/11. 1551 Hamilton Cat. 256.
Quhen a Christin man … leiffis in paice with God 1609 Crim. Trials III. 17.
Bott I had rather gett liwe to live in pace — 1459 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 60.
Quhilkis landis … has beyn brukyt in pace and tranquilite … beyownd all memor of man quhill now 1573 Douglas Bequest 9 Nov.
To occupie the saidis landis … frelie quietlie weill and in pace(2) 1513 Doug. i. v. 92.
And Latyne pepill kepe bath in payce and weir 1544 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 19.
Schyr Patrick becam bound man … to ryde and gang with tham in pace and weir

4. A treaty of peace; a truce. 1513 Doug. vii. vii. 136.
The paix was brokyn and he wald move the were 1515 Id. in Doug. (Sm.) I. xli.
And I trast he dar nocht brek the trewys nor pace astablysyst 1549 Compl. 106 h. of ch., 107/26. 1573 Sempill Sat. P. xxxix. 33.
Scho did conferme a pace [: ceice] 1578 Conv. Burghs I. 60. 1584 Hawick Arch. Soc. (1961) 8.
To … meitt with the opposite wardanis for geving and ressaving of redres of attemptates committit aganis the paix c1610 Melville Mem. 14.
Quhilk moued the K. of France to pratek a paice with K. Edward the sext of England

5. The king's protection; (his) jurisdiction; public order.Letter of pace, a letter of protection.Analogously, in Godis pace.(1) 1606 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 84.
That thai swild keip the kingis pace 1615 Inverness Rec. II. 136. 1632 Cullen B. Ct. 13 May.
For keping the kingis pace in tyme cuming(2) 1575 St. A. Baxter Bks. 22.
For diecensioun and tranisgressioun of the pais(3) 1517 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 44.
Jonet Rutherfurd … deit at pais and fatht of our soverane lord the kyng 1573 Elgin Rec. I. 138. 1630 Monteith Stewartry Ct. 10 June.(b) 1588 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. 229.
Vestit and seasit as of fie at the pasche and faithe [of] our souerane lord the kingis grace 1590–1 Burntisland B. Ct. 26 Feb.
Pasch(4) 1596 Crim. Trials I. ii. 362.
The said ladie purchist ane letter of paice subscryuit be his awin maiesties hand(5) 1521 Aberd. B. Rec. I. xxxv.
Swa that the said nychtbouris may leif vnder the Kingis pace 1549 Breadalbane Doc. No. 69.
That quhair thai belevit to haue levit vnder Goddis pace … on harmyt [etc.](6) 1612 Inverness Rec. II. 87.
And sall faithfullie and treulie discharge your duties as a justice of his majesties pace

6. To hald (one's) pace, to be or remain silent. 1513 Doug. vi. Prol. 11.
O hald ȝour pace ȝe verray Goddis apis Ib. v. ii. 60. a1649 Drummond II. 269/10.
Imagine brookes & vinds vald hold theer pace [: disgrace]