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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.

Patent, a.¹ [ME. and e.m.E. (letter, letters) patent (1387), AF. (1292) and OF. (1307) (lettres) patentes, patentes lettres, med. L. (litteræ) patentes: cf. Patenta.² and Patent n.] In lettres (letter) patent, patent letter (lettres), appar. only early, and, once, charter patent (1654): ‘Open’, patent.Applied to a letter or document addressed to ‘all and sundry’, issued by the crown or other authority and written upon an open sheet, recording the terms of a grant, appointment, concession or decision, as opposed to clos lettres or a clos letter which was addressed to a particular individual or individuals and (originally) closed by being folded and sealed on the outside.(1) 12.. Reg. St. A. 363.
[Nos in testimonium huius facti litteras nostras patentes inde fieri fecimus 1406–7 Ib. 6.]
Quasdam patentes litteras in papiro scriptas 1381 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 4.
We [William Earl of Douglas] make it kennyt be thir our lettres patent that we lely heichtis & grantis … till our systir forsaid that [etc.] 1420 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 181.
Alsua our lord the governour sall gif hes letteris patentis till the said Earll of Mar of power to be stead haldand till him c1420 Wynt. viii. 4053.
And be thaire lettrys playne patent For to trete a trew fermly 1424 Acts II. 8/1.
That ilk bischop gif bidding be his lettres patent till his clergy to mak … speciale prayeris for … the king [etc.] 1433 Swintons xxxiii.
As be his letter of tutery patent ondyr our suffran lord the kyngis gret sele 1489 Acta Aud. 138/1.
It wes prefit be a patent lettre vnder our souerane lordis priue sele … that … the said Patrik wes serrif of Edinburgh 1497 Acta Conc. II. 82. 1498 Reg. Privy S. I. 26/1.
And to pas and repas with lettrez clos and patent and to … sugeorn within Ingland 1516 Ib. 432/2.
Last … possessour thairof be his patent lettrez under his sele and subscriptioun manuale(2) 1654 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 141.
That all heretors … shall … hold their respectiue lands of the respectiue lord … by dead, charter patent or infeofament