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

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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Redres, n. Also: red-; ra- and -dres(s)(e, -drest; -drasse. [ME and e.m.E. redresse satisfaction (for a wrong: north., c1400), remedy (Chaucer), means of redress (1472–5), act of redressing (1538), AF redresse, -dresce (14th c.), f. redresser Redres v.] Redress, in various senses.

1. Reparation, satisfaction or compensation (for (of) a wrong or a loss resulting therefrom, also the person or thing harmed).Freq. in the phr. to mak (do) redres, to ask (seke, crave) redres, and to haf (tak, get) redres, etc.Only Sc. and north. till 1597.(1) 1375 Barb. xix 232.
[He] saw men wald nocht ma Redres of schippes … And of the men … slane 1405 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 59.
The qwhilk skathis our lege lorde … chargit me til aske & ger be askyte be my deputz redresse tharof 1456 Hay I 206/3.
The king … sall ger do him lawe and redres of that fals jugement 1553 Reg. Privy C. I 148.
The said capitane … occupys … the samyn fischeing … quhairof the Lord Hume can get na redres 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 49.
That sould haif na hoip of redresse of wrangis done to thame be the kingis rebellis a1578 Pitsc. I 16/2.
Quhan ony past to seik redres at the chancellar of sic iniures … sustenit be thame [etc.] 1579 Conv. Burghs I 82.
For suting of redres of the schippis … pilleit be the Inglismen 1584 Hawick Arch. Soc. (1961) 8.
To … meitt with the opposite wardanis for geving and ressaving of redres of attemptates committit aganis the paix 1596 Warrender P. (S.H.S.) II 293.
[On] dayes of treuce … the officeris … mead mutuall redres of such vrongis as had occurred 1611 Misc. Maitl. C. III 28.
Besyde the satisfactioun and redres of the pairtyis skaithit 1618 Aberd. Council Lett. I 161.
For craving redres of the extorsioun usit aganes the liegis be the extraordinarie custumes exactit of thame — 1456 Hay I 190/13.
The injure that is done to the wyf is pertenand till hir husband, and he [shall] … have redres and reformacioun of lawe for hir 1532 State P. (Reg. H.) No. 23.
Redres has bene maid for the attemptat committit be Inglismen apoun the inhabitantis a1578 Pitsc. I 39/21.
So money wedowis … seiking redres for thair husbandis … slaine be … murthereris 1591 Conv. Burghs I 356.
Craweing … reddres … for the wplifting fra thame of ane laidilfull of euerie laid of victuall(b) c1475 Wall. xi 1181.
The king chargyt Eduuard … Radres to tak off wrang(2) 1375 Barb. xix 198 (C).
The king send oft till ask redres Bot nocht thar-of redres ther wes [E. nocht off it redressyt wes] 1384 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 5.
For the tyme is to schort to mak full redrasse beforsayd Ib.
For to do and tak full radresse and execucioun of [etc.] 1405 Ib. No. 59.
Qwhat tyme it like to our lege lorde … to ordane redresse to be made 1456 Hay I 208/13. a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 173 (Asl.).
And na redres maid to the hurt partie c1475 Wall. i 312.
The persone … said, … ‘I can nocht witt how that radres may be’ 1500 Acta Conc. II 408.
Til see that perfyte and finale redres be made 1526 Douglas Corr. 110.
Certane bordoraris that suld haif enterit plegis for making of dew redres 1528 Ib. 127.
I caus my lieuteinentis … meit and mak gude redres and perfurnis [ed. perfurms] thir materis in deid 1535 Stewart 14287.
Quhen that we ask redres agane At ȝour wardane [etc.] 1567 Reg. Privy C. I 578.
To seik redres be the ordinar magistrattis a1568 Scott xxii 3.
I can get no redres Of ȝow my lady fair a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. 304/44.
All that … to purches pure menis gude thame prydis And not confydis that thai sall mak redres [etc.](3) 1405 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 58.
Thai sewit … for redres & reformacyon of thaire gudis 1492 Acta Conc. I 208/1.
For the reddres of the quhilk [bill] [etc.] 1507 Treas. Acc. III 335.
To pas in Irland … for redres of the men that slew the folkis in Innermessan a1568 Bann. MS 160a/30.
Than to the Lord for his redres … To call and nocht refrane 1622-6 Bisset II 257/31.
The maister [of the ship] is bundin for redrese of all the domaiges of the merchandis guidis 1633 Acts V 22/1.
To haue recourse to the Lords … for redres of any preiudice he may … sustein(4) c1420 Wynt. viii 6961.
Bot at the dayis off redres The mast part ay redressyd wes

b. Also, once, pl., with distributive force. — 1547 Reg. Privy C. I 77.
Redressis suld be maid of all dampnaiges and injuris done … be the subditis of this realme

2. a. The correction or reformation (of something wrong). b. The repairing (of something broken).a. 1568 Lyndesay Pref. (S.T.S.) 402.
Ȝit … we luke for redres and reformatioun of all sic horribil deformitiesb. 1617 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 42.
A great tow to haill up the said cannoun for redress thairof being tuyse brokin

3. The action of restoring or giving (something) back to those to whom it properly belongs.Cf. Redres v. a1585 Maitland Maitl. Q. 76/65.
Of all ȝour vniust conqueis mak redres And it restoir to thame it did belang 1641 Kirkcudbr. Min. Bk. 157.
Ane competent localitie, furthe of the redrest of thair said husbands' rentes, goodes and geir, for aliment of thame

4. (One's) redres, an improvement in a person's situation brought about by granting him redress or relief. a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 202.
Sa was the factious Lords bissie for thair redres, althoght be ane extraordinar meyne