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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 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

(Se-brefe,) Sey-breif, n. Also: sie-breiff. Pl. sey brevis, sie brewis, sea breives, -brieffes. [18th c. Eng. sea-brief (1755); Se n.¹ and Brefe n. 1.] An official document or pass issued to a ship's captain, specifying the nature of the business authorized to the ship; also, specif., letter(s) of marque (cf. Mark n.³ b.). 1547–8 Reg. Privy S. III 418/2.
In passing … with thair schip … furth of this realme in weirfare … without sey-breif charge, command, licence and privilege on quhilkis inemyis thai suld pas 1557 Admir. Ct. Bk. MS 14b.
Ane schip being apprehendit without thair coqueit, sey breif, or testimoniale 1558 Admir. Ct. Bk. (St. S.) 76.
The saidis capitane and maister war principallis haifand charge of the haill schip aganis the saidis inymeis with thair sey breif 1566 Reg. Privy C. I 481.
That nane … invaid … nor molest the subjectis … undir the cullour and pretense of the lettres of marque, or sey brevis of the kingis of Denmark Swaden or ony uther foreign prince 1567 Reg. Privy C. I 547.
Ordanis the secretare … to pas and direct seybrevis in dew and competent forme … to Sir Williame Murray of Tulybardin … and Sir Williame Kirkcaldy of Grange … for sercheing seking and apprehensioun of the Erll Bothuile 1577 Reg. Privy C. II 657.
Being desyrit to produce thair cokquet and sey breif, gif thay ony had, or ane testimoniall out of quhat toun thay come, and to quhat effect thay come in Zeitland; answerit that thay had nowther cokquet, sey breif, nor testimoniall 1587 Reg. Great S. 450/2.
Brevia marina lie sie brewis, licentias lie pasportis, certificationes et alias literas testimoniales sub sigillo admiralitatis dirigendi 1600 Aberd. Council Lett. I 90.
Of ilk skiper maister and awner of ane schip haiff yeirlie ane sie breiff or testimoniall … that his schip and him selff dew pass and [sic] treffeking upone honest trefeck 1674 Aberd. Council Lett. V 346.
The capers at sea press Scots merchant ships for sea breives 1674 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. MS 13 April.
To grant … to all burgesses of this burghe quha are skippers sea brieffes or passes in the ordinarie maner