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

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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Obedience, n. Also: obedienc, obœd-, obeydience, obediennce, -yence, -yance, -eance, -iens, obegeience, obadiance. [ME. (Ancr. R.) and e.m.E. obedience, -yence, F. obédience (12th c. in Littré), L. obēdientia.]

1. Submission, chiefly due or proper, to rule or authority; the fact of obeying an authority or rule; allegiance, dutiful service; also, submissiveness.Freq. const. to or of the authority or rule.(1) c1450-2 Howlat 160.
Four fasandis … Benyng of obedience Ib. 302. c1460 Wisd. Sol. (S.T.S.) 241.
Bettir is the obediens of the wysman na the offerent of the full c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 7/26.
[Christ] be his obediens and humilite tholand sa cruell a ded for our synnis c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 156.
Schamefull Abaising And quaking Drede wyth humble Obedience 1549 Compl. 8/11.
My detful obediens 1551 Hamilton Cat. 24. 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 36. 1570 Inverness Rec. I. 193.
Nocht getting obedience for … clengeing of the myln leid wattir gang a1578 Pitsc. I. 13/8.
They that … leives without meassoure or obedience eftir thair awin pleasour 1587 Acts III. 462/1.
Quhome the landislordis … onlie gettis thair mailes of thame and na vther seruice nor obedience 1593 Ib. IV. 41/1.
Obediens 1596 Dalr. II. 241/30.
Quhen sum hilend men … culde [not] … be brocht til obedience esilie 1602 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 232.
They … reducit the samyn [isle] to als gryt obedience as ony pairt of the … in cuntrie 1622-6 Bisset II. 108/20.
Obedyence 1628 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 295.
Preists … hes corrupted thame in thair obedeance and alledgeance(2) a1400 Leg. S. xxxi. 208.
To thare ourmen … [they] Kepyt wele obedyence And renoncyt ay thar fre wil a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 23.
Venus, luifis Quene, To quhome sum tyme I hecht obedience c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 79/13. 1492 Myll Spect. 273/13.
Throw the obediens & luf that thow aw to thi fader a1538 Abell 89 a.
Obediens of creaturis to him 1562-3 Winȝet I. 59/25.
Obœdience 1571 Warrender P. (ed.) I. 106.
That indilaitlie they yield thair obedience to our auctoritie 1608 Highland P. III. 113.
With such obediens to thais ȝour heichnes lawes … as [etc.] c1650 Spalding I. 214.
That we humelie offer all ciuill and temporall obediens to your majestie(3) c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 26/10.
That naturale ded … thou accept … for the plesance and obedience of God 1611 Misc. Maitl. C. III. 15.
To leve heirefter under the obedience of his majesties lawis 1638 Nat. Covenant in Facs. Nat. MSS. III. xcvii.
That wee shall continue in the obedience of the doctrine … of this Kirk 1641 Acts V. 368/1.
Quhilk mais [= mace] for obedience therof [etc.]

b. To do, gif, kythe, mak etc. obedience (to, till, towards etc. an authority or rule), to render (him or it) obedience or dutiful service, to submit (to him or it). c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 11/16.
Thai ar oblist to … do Him honour and obediens in thir thre thingis c1552 Lynd. Mon. 234.
I purpose nocht to mak obedience To sic mischeand musis nor malmontrye 1583 Misc. Bann. C. I. 82.
That they and ilk ane of them salbe answerable to vs in doing their duetie and obedience 1593 Caldwell P. I. 87.
Ȝour guid affectione and obedience kyithit towardis ws from tyme to tyme 1605 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 72. 1608 St. A. Baxter Bks. 71.
And the haill breithrein of craft band and obleist thame to giffe obedience … to the said deakin 1609 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 176.
I do not hold it laugfull … to give the Pope any obedience therein 1640 Dumbarton B. Rec. 60.
And na obedience gevin 1653 Inverness Rec. II. 207.
Instead of giveing obegeience to the course of justice

c. Upon one's obedience or allegiance. — 1588 Glenartney Doc.
As ȝe and euerie of ȝow will ansuer vpoun ȝoure obedience 1591 Douglas Corr. 36.
As ȝe wilbe ansuerable to ws vpoun ȝour offices and obeydience at ȝour vttermest perrell

2. a. To mak (one's) obedience (to, till, etc., a superior), to do ceremonial reverence (to), to do homage (to).Cf. med. L. obedientiam facere.(1) c 1390 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 21.
That it ys reson that he mak obedience tyll his byschap in maner as other priours doys Ib.
Obedienc c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 2037.
The pepill … Quhilkis with gude will made him obedience c1500-c1512 Dunb. xlviii. 76.
To hir [Dame Nature] thair makar to mak obediens, Full law inclynnand with all dew reuerens 1531 Bell. Boece II. 225.
[They] ressavit young Malcome to mak his obedience to King Edward for the landis of Cumbir 1540 Lynd. Sat. 50. 1569 Acts in Waus Corr. 60.
That my Lord Cassilis hes maid dew obedience to the Kingis grace a1578 Pitsc. I. 205/4.
Lord Dawid … lychtit doun and maid his obedience to the King(2) 1456 Hay I. 188/25.
Ony man … that war a subdyt to a king … and syne maid obedience and service

b. In other contexts implying a show or expression of submission or reverence. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1025.
The childe he rais on his maist humbill wise, Inclining law with all obedience 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 176.
And do ȝow homage and reuerence With all detfull obedience

3. The fact of being obeyed; command, authority, rule, dominion.(1) 1456 Hay I. 255/17.
That realme is governyt be condiciouns of the Pape and under his obedience c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 2220.
Ȝe suld exempill gife … Till all that ar in ȝour obedience Ib. 2912.
That he wald neuir pas hence Quhill he haid trewage or obedience c1515 Asl. MS. I. 255/25.
He subiect to his obedience all Irland and Yngland 1572 Reg. Privy C. II. 152.
Toward the furthsetting of the Kingis obedience and auctoritie 1587 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 11.
That the haill indwellars … sall … leif under protectioun of his majesties obedience 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Schireffe.
With the wande he relaxis them quha returnis to the Kingis obedience fra the horne 1599 Crim. Trials II. 87.
The actis of parliament … is nawyis menit of sic as abaid att all tyme att his maiesteis obedience(2) 1613 Highland P. III. 138.
The erle wes … more able to reteane these for whome he wes cautioun vnder obedyance nor ony vther cautioner wes 1622-6 Bisset I. 39/14.
Obedyence

4. An instance of submission; the compliance with or performance of a command or the like.Const. of or to the command.Appar. uncommon before the 17th c.(1) c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 22/6.
It causis new merit be obediens of thire commandementis Id. Mir. I. 79/7.
Obediennce 1626 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 253.
Obedyence 1653 Inverness Rec. II. 207.
The said Charles in obegeience thairof peyit all theis nichbouris 1662 Justiciary Rec. I. 48.(2) 1606 Highland P. III. 86.
Twiching my obediens to his hienes … derectiones 1644 Inverness Rec. II. 182.
Obeydience c1650 Spalding I. 216.
Obedienss(3) 1588 Prot. Bk. J. Inglis 8 Sept.
That he haid all rady obayit the said charge … onder protestatione that the saidis obadiance … be no prejudiciall … to hym 1640 Cardross Ch. 41.
And yistirday also … na obedience gevin