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

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Fens, Fence, v. Also: fense. [ME. fense (1435), e.m.E. fence, f. Fens n.]

1. tr. To protect (a court of law) from interruption or obstruction by the utterance of a formula forbidding these; to open the proceedings of (a court) in this way.Freq. in formulae granting power to hold courts. Also exceptionally fence about.(1) 14.. Acts I. 343/2.
The maner of the Justice ayr. Fyrst call the soytour, syne rede the justice powere, syne fens the courtis a1500 Henr. Fab. 943.
The panther … Fensit the court, as of the law effeirit 1520 Fife Sheriff Ct. 176.
I … hes ordanit … my sone and Thomas Grundiston … to fense ane schiref court at the burgh of Coupere 1556 Inverness B. Rec. I. i.
The bowrow curt … callit, the curt lauchfullie fensit and effermit as wse is 1596 St. A. Baxter Bks. 59.
Eftir that the court ves fensit, Johnne Greig … iniurit Alexander Scharpe be wordis 1618 Elgin Rec. I. 235.
The Courte being fensit … it wes objectit aganis William Torrie that [etc.] c1650 Spalding II. 176.
Thay sat doun and fensit thair courtis daylie, albeit thair wes not ane full quorum convenit 1659 Forbes Baron Ct. 224.
The Court fensit and affermit(b) 1570 Henr. Fab. 941.
The Iustice bad the Court for to gar fence a1578 Pitsc. II. 88/10.
The haill lordis … fenceit thair ane court of iustice in the quens name 1629 Misc. Spald. C. V. 219.
The suittis callit, … and the court lawfullie fencit and affirmit 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. ii. xxiv. § 3.
There was no court fenced here, not yet an assize sworn(2) 1508 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II. 333.
Giffand … to my said bailye my full pouar curtis in the said land and tak to fens, begyne, and hald 1531 Fam. Rose 202.
With ane power of balȝore, curtis to fens, offisharis to creat [etc.] 1569 Reg. Privy S. II. 58.
To fense and hald … courtis of justiciarie of the boundis of the diocy of Caithnes 1584 Digest Justiciary Proc. K. 45.
To fens and hauld courtis of iusticiarie for administratioun of iustice(3) 1462 Peebles B. Rec. 145.
Then the court fensyt about, ilke man … gaf thair lectioun to the sayd Schyr Iohn 1467 Ib. 156.
The curt auysyt and fensyt abowt [etc.]

b. Similarly of the opening of parliament. 1570 Leslie 131.
The King, Quene and lordis … wald nocht pas furth of the castell, bot fenset the parliament … in the same 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 220.
Thair the parliament being fensit and soittis callit, thair wes ane supplicatioun givin in 1578 Reg. Privy C. II. 705.
That his Hienes Parliament … salbe thair fensit that day, and thairfra continewit to be haldin c 1600 Moysie 9.
The erles … come to Edinburgh and … causit fense the parliament within the tolbuithe theirof c1650 Spalding II. 436.
Oure Parliament sat doun in Edinbrugh and wes fensit 1669 Lauderdale P. II. 142.
Then were the rolles called & the Parl^t fenced (as we call it heir)

2. To strengthen; to make firm or secure. 1456 Hay I. 37/28.
All the wallis all our [were] fensit with platis of metall 1533 Bell. Livy I. 54/31.
Commandis thow me to fens ane band with the fader patrat of Albane pepill? Ib. II. 89/15.
Ane part of his army fensit statiouns affore the portis of his tentis 1540 Elgin Rec. I. 53.
Thomas Hay … fensit ane broch that the said Andro myth and suld say aganis the bailyeis [etc.] 1609 Gardyne Garden 56.
Those gallants that haue … gotten glore … for fensing a-before Their natiue soyle from ferce and faithles foes 1621 Urie Baron Ct. 38.
To cast the laids, fens the damis, and bring watter to the milne

3. To put under an arrest. 1543 Acts & Decreets I. 563.
The said officiar … corsit, fensit, & arrestit all the gudis being than on the said ground 1561 Treas. Acc. XI. 105.
To fens and arreist ane smale bark or crayar being in Prestoun havin 1570 Prestwick B. Rec. 71.
Adame Myller accusyt Arche Campbell for ane wob of blew clayth … quhylk was fensyt in his hand 1595 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 163.
To serche unfremenis guidis … that the same maybe fensit and arreistit within the towne 1612 Glasgow Weavers 88.
Oure will is … that … ye … fens and arreist all and quhatsumevir lynnyng yairne whilk is to be caryed … furth of this oure realme

4. To enclose or block. 1596 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 180.
To discharge ony mercat to be maid at the Brwmelaw, bot to fens the same fra doing thairof