Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

NARRATIVE, n. Sc. Law: that part of a deed or document, gen. the initial clause, which contains a statement of the relevant essential facts, i.e. the names of the granter and grantee and the cause of granting, the recital, the statement of a case (Sc. 1838 W. Bell Dict. Law Scot. 669, 1946 A. D. Gibb Legal Terms 58). Cf. Narrate.Edb. 1715 South Leith Rec. (Robertson 1925) 30:
The Committee appointed to draw out a narrative anent the act of putting the Impost of Wines into the hands of the Masters of King James his Hospitall.Sc. 1722 W. Forbes Institute I. ii. 111:
A Charter consists ordinarily of six Parts. 1. The Narrative. 2. Dispositive Clause, etc.Sc. 1773 Erskine Institute ii. iii. § 22:
After the name and designation of the granter, follows that clause in the charter called the narrative, or recital. In charters granted by the crown this clause commonly expresses the merit or services of the grantee as the cause inductive of the grant . . . In charters granted by subjects the cause of granting is also set forth in the narrative.Sc. 1838 W. Bell Dict. Law Scot. 494:
Like every other signet letter, the inhibition contains a narrative and a will. The narrative recites the ground of debt.