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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Unlaw, n. Also: unlawe, -la(u, -la(u)ch, -lay(e, undlaw, wnlaw, -low, -lay, onlau, -la, -lay, ounlau, -lay, ownla. Pl. also unleis. [ME and e.m.E. unlawe (a1200), unlah (a1225), vnlau (Cursor M.), OE unlaᵹu, ON úlögr.]

1. A fine exacted from one found guilty of a crime or misdemeanour; (a) (financial) penalty. Also with defining terms. Also, to be in(to) an unlaw (to another), to owe a fine. Also fig.For further examples see the Indexes to volumes I, IV-VI and VIII-XI of Treas. Acc., s.v. Unlaw(s); Acts XII Index, s.v. Unlaw, Wrong and Unlaw; Pain n. 1 b (4) and Penalté n. a (1) and b (1).See also Hunlaw and Nunlaw.(1) 1389 Reg. Cambuskenneth 260.
We found him dempt lauchfully in twa wnlawis to the said abbot 1424 Acts II 5/1.
Quha sa euer be conuickit of slauchter of salmonde in tyme forbodyne … he sall pay xl s. for the vnlaw 1424 Acts II 7/2.
Vnder the payn of eschete and tynsal of sic gudes sa sald and of x li. to the constabill vnlaw 1425 Acts II 12/2.
Gif the gouernouris of the toune be negligent in the execucion of … this ordinance … we lefe thaim in x lib. to the king of vnlaw 1448 Reg. Episc. Brechin. I 114.
That ȝe nothir in tym cumin … lift na rais amersiament na unlaw for the causis forsaid 1450 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 12.
That na man … brew aile to sell derare than for … viij d. at the darrest vnder the payne of escheitt of the aill. The vnlaw, the lede tane vp and the bodome strukkin owt c1456 Edinb. B. Rec. MS (Reg. H.) 3.
Master Johnne … is becuming souerte for his vnlaw 1457 Acts II 48/2.
And as tuichande the futball and the golf, we ordane it to be punyst be the baronys vnlawe and gif he takis nocht the vnlaw that it be takin be the kingis officiaris 1491 Treas. Acc. I 177.
To the Lard of Tynwald to beyt the hous of Lowmabane … quhilk wes assingnit him to tak of ane vnlaw 1496 Acta Conc. II 28.
The Lordis wil raise and tak the unlaw of xl s. of the party that tynis his accione 1544 Soc. Ant. II 396.
That the aill … be sauld for vi d. the quart under the payne of ane unlaw the first falt and ane double unlaw the next falt 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii 18.
Gif thy natiue bondman hes guilde within thy land: for ilk stock he sall giue to thee, or to anie other lord of the land, ane muton as ane vnlaw 14.. Acts (1597) Table.
Paine pecuniall or vn-law for none-compeirance in parliament is diverse, conforme to the estait and condition of the person 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Amerciamentvm.
The vnlaw of them quha are called subarmigeri is ane kowe, ane ȝowe, or three schillinges 1604 Aberd. Council Lett. I 96.
Undlaw 1606–7 Misc. Spald. C. V 80.
For ane eftir nunis drink to the provest and bailleis quhen the beir unlawis wer tane up 1662 Durie Decis. 33.
In an action of double poynding betwixt the laird of Lagg, as sheriff of Dumfries, and the bailly of Hallywodd, for an unlaw of blood 1701 Foulis Acc. Bk. 290.
24 [March] spent with Lenshaw and Mr. Baird about my act absolving me from the unlaw for absence from ane assyze 14 s.(b) 1497 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 77.
In the … curt … thir persones … chosyn be the hale communite till lay the vnlais 1511 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 182.
Hir vnla laid to vj^d 1515 Reg. Privy S. I 399/2.
The sowme of xvii scoir of lib. of unlais(c) 1503 Acts II 242/2.
At that be ane punt of dittay in tyme to cum, and at the vnlay therof be x li. 1514 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 192.
The greit vnlay to be tane of thaim wythtout forgevinnis 1518 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 155.
Gif ony persoune … beis fundin … takand vp the flaggis … thai … sall pay ane dovbill vnlaye 1556 Crail B. Ct. MS 19 Oct.
That nay personis pas to the vayr wythin this toun befor vj howris in the morning vnder the pane of ane vnlay 1624 Edinb. Masons 27 Dec.
That na maister within this bruch fie ane maissoun and his prenteis wnder the pane of the said wnlay content in the former act(d) 1575–6 Lanark B. Rec. 71.
vj s. viij d. for ane bill writting for steying the unla of the chaker … fyve li. allowet for the unlau of the onpeying the cheker 1605–6 Montrose Treas. Acc. 1.
Johnne Georges wnlaw v lib. William Lynes wnlow v lib.(e) 1605–6 Montrose Treas. Acc. 1 (see (d) above).
Wnlow(f) 1613 St. A. Baxter Bks. 79.
Quhatsumewir brother … proves nocht his complaint sall pay the vnleis the pairte complanit vpon suld pay gif the complaint ves trew(g) 1500 Reg. Episc. Brechin. I 219.
Thai sal pay the half of the reuenowis, herȝeldis, bluidweikis, onla of fre forest to the said maister Androw 1597 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 16a.
To the sargens for ane onlay for the wirking in ane haylie day that we knew not off 1605 Inverurie B. Ct. 1 Nov.
Onlayis(h) 1557 Inverness Rec. I 8.
For the nixt falt for ewyrre best xij d. for the third falt ane ownla 1663 Dunferm. Hammermen MS 64.
Ounlayfig. 1460 Hay Alex. 17711.
Mon thow pay the vnlaw with thai blude c1475 Wall. vii 436.
Lat ws to borch our men fra your fals law At leyffand ar, that chapyt fra your ayr. Deyll nocht thar land, the wnlaw is our sayr 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 396.
God … hath made sin a matter of an unlaw and penalty for the son of God's blood(2) 1458 Peebles B. Rec. I 127.
Henri Bochan was in an onlau to the balyeis, borch hymself for the onlau 1461 Newburgh B. Ct. 6a.
Jehon Dauisone is in ane vnlav for the vrangis haldyng of a bol of quheyt fra Patrik of Kynhard 1471–2 Acta Aud. 22/1.
The said Archibald is in ane vnlaw of xl s. 1472–3 Prestwick B. Rec. 21.
For the quhilk the enquest fand him gilty, and was in a vnlaw; borcht of the vnlaw his hand and his gud 1524–5 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 74.
[They] sal be into ane unlawe 1564 Perth B. Ct. 128 (1 Aug.).
The saidis jugis decernit the said Johnne Broun in ane blude vnlay

b. The revenues raised from fines; a sum of money from a particular fine; a sufficient sum of money with which to pay a fine. Also attrib. c. The right to collect payment of fines. d. A written record of a fine to be paid. e. Nocht worth the kingis unlaw, (of a pauper) unable to pay a fine, hence, unsuitable as a witness.b. (1) 1466 Acts II 85/2.
The lordis of regalis … sal haue the vnlawis within thare landis 1473 Reg. Cupar A. I 201.
Tha sal haue the vnlawis that cumys of the woddis 1505–6 Reg. Privy S. I 173/2.
Ane letter of gyft maid to David, bischope of Ergile, of the gift of all unlawis [etc.] 1512 Treas. Acc. IV 344.
Messingeiris … to pas with lettrez to inbring unlawis and eschetes of the Kirkpatrikis 1527 Wigtown B. Ct. 202a.
Fore the vrangus haldyne fra hyme of xl vnlavys this xx ȝeire 1558 Peebles B. Rec. I 252.
The saidis vnlawis to be collectit and warit on the mending of the dyke 1584 Conv. Burghs I 197.
Jhonn Guthre, collectour of the vnlawis, to delyuer to … clarkis of Linlithqu, ane vnlaw of twenty li. for thair paynis and travellis 1593 St. A. Kirk S. 756.
Androw Sellar officiar … to pay vj s. viij d. … for ilk tyme … ony persoun salbe fund … drying or dichtand cornis, sawand treis [etc.] … in the kirk yaird … Unlaw to be deliverit to the box of the puir(2) 1595 Edinb. B. Rec. V 145.
Sic [drunk person] as hes nocht the unlaw to pay to be imprysonet … and had to the croce(3) attrib. 1554–5 Edinb. Old Acc. I 31.
Lent be the compter … furth of the unlaw boxc. 1529 Wigtown B. Ct. 221b.
The samyn daye the ovnlavys of the thovne … set to Patriyk M^cKe aldermand. 1525 Crim. Trials I i 131.
We charge ȝow that … ȝe draw all the saidis vnlawis furth of our said adiornale bukis, and defese the samyne. 1611 Crim. Trials III 140.
He being ane vagabund, without ony residence, nocht worth the Kingis vnlaw c1630 Hope Minor Practicks (1734) 59.
Item, a beggar, or poor body, that is not worth the king's unlaw, that is to say, ten pounds, may not be witness; but if the said poor body have a calling, he may be witness, notwithstanding of his poverty 1676 Lauder Notices Affairs I 98.
He is not worth the King's unlaw, estimat to 10 lb. Scots 1681 Stair Inst. iv xliii § 9.
And therefore in our custom, it uses to be objected against witnesses that they are not worth the king's unlaw, that is, the ordinary mulct for misdemeanors 1698 Kirkwood Plea before Kirk (1698) 14.
Beggars or such as live on charity, or not worth the kings unlaw, as we say

2. Wrang and unlaw, see Wrang n. 3 b. c1575 Balfour Pract. 290.
Unlauch 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii 22b.
Vnlach

3. An outlaw. = Outlaw n. 1665 Justiciary Ct. Rec. I 138.
To be denounced … as fugitives and unlaws frae his Majesties laws