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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Lecence, n. Also: lecens, lecience, lechence, lessence, -ens(e, lescence, lescience, leshens; leicens, leychentce, leisence. [Sc. variant of Licence n. Cf. also Legence and Lischence.] Permission, leave, authorization, or a document embodying this. = Licence n.(1) 1423 Chart. (Reg. H.) C.O. No. 37.
[I] grantis to Jhon of Seton … full power fredome & lecence to labor … the landis of West Lochtrysk 1509 Rec. Earld. Orkney 83.
Wnder the pane of ane mark Orkneis to be paytt to the aneris of Saba for ilk leyd or buirdyng takyne awa withowt gwyd will and lesense of the said Jhone Irwyng 1520 Fife Sheriff Ct. 182.
That the said Johnne … had … thankfully payt to him for the said lecence [to cut peats] giffing 1536 Edinb. Hammermen 2 b.
That nane maner of thar seruandis … tak vpon hand to be absent … except thai haue lecence of thair master 1541–2 Elgin Rec. I. 69.
With lecence to all and sindry nychtboris … to cast dwuettis vpone the grenis of the said tovne 1549 Compl. 146/34.
He gat neuyr lecens to marye quhil on to the tyme that [etc.] 1549 Banff Ann. I. 25.
That na maneir of persone ... tak on hand to howis ... ony passingerrs ... without lecience of the provest and baillies 1553 Lanark B. Rec. 29.
The said David dyssirit leif and lessens at the said Alexander … to byg ane closet apon the baksyd of his hous 1563 Peebles B. Rec. I. 293.
[The council] ordanis the scuillmaster … nocht to gane to hunting … but lescence of the aldirmen a1578 Pitsc. I. 186/3.
He desyrit the captaneis lecence to send for tuo bossis of wyne 1581 Lanark B. Rec. 84.
[He] gaf the said lecens and walter roum to the said myln to the toun … fre 1588 Prot. Bk. J. Inglis 21 Aug.
Geif thai pretendit to intromet with thair teind schawes without lescience tak or tollerance of the said Mr Thomas 1594 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 4 a.
Lechence 1599 Ib. 64 a.
For our leshens to our part xxx doleris 1604 Lanark B. Rec. 116.
Without lecens or testemoniall hie hes passit furth of this toun to suspect places 1615 Ib. 125.
Quhille hie obtein lecens of the balleis to be lesit thairof out of ward(b) 1614 Highland P. III. 169.
That ȝour Majestie giues leicens if any … rebels … can be apprehendit that thay may be gevin bake ageane(2) 1478 Peebles B. Rec. 183.
[He] raquerit [them] for a lessens to the said … chaplan of the said seruice … that he mycht leif a chaplan in his sted … and this lessence was geffyn be award of the hall cowrt 1549 Compl. 96/35.
The thrid part of them … suld … hef ane lecens to pas in ony straynge cuntre 1568 Lanark B. Rec. 41.
Quha that sall be fund tryit doin in the contrar, the said geft and lecens of craft to expyr in the self 1587–8 Cal. Sc. P. IX. 541.
I pray ȝour honour to remember to get my leychentce past againe that tyme quhilk I spak of to ȝow 1630 Misc. Hist. Soc. II. 257.
I think ye neid not be curius now for a leisence, for the cornis ar devydit