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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.

Seditio(u)n, -icio(u)n(e, n. Also: seditio(u)ne, sediciounn, sedietioun, sedetione, seduccione, ceditioun. [ME and e.m.E. sediciun (a1380), sedicioun, seducioun (both Wyclif), cedicioun (1402), sedycyoun (1447), sedicion (Caxton), sedition (1536), OF sedition (1213 in Larousse), L. sēditiōn- dissension, civil discord, insurrection.]

1. Hostile action, strife, dissension, feuding, quarrelling, freq. to raise or move seditioun, to stir up trouble. b. An instance of discord between different parties, a quarrel. Passing into sense 2.Some quots. may belong in sense 2. a1400 Leg. S. v 291.
Al tha that mad sacrifice Til mawmentis … Ine the puple [raisit] seduccione [L. seditionem in populo concitantes] A-gane Sancte Johne a1400 Leg. S. xv 173.
Baryene … mowit sic sedicione [L. seditionem … excitavit] In-to the foule folk of the towne That thai tuk … Sancte Barnaba & pynyt hyme a1400 Leg. S. xli 233.
Sedicion 1490 Irland Mir. III 148/6.
Ane the realme ȝeid be eleccioun ‘alsua & the multitud of the pepil maid the eleccioun' thar war perell of sedicioun and diuisioun 1533 Boece 89b.
Be mervellus prudence and mansuetude he [sc. King Ewan] dressit the domestic sedicioun be quhilk certane tyme be insulans he was inquiet; for baith public and private … he detestis nychtboure feid 1533 Boece 331b.
He was sum parte inquiet be sedicioun amang the inhabitantis Lennex and Argile. … The king ceirssit the cheif begynnaris of the sedicioun. … This bruleȝe that folelie was begun and sa sone dantit maid the name of King Maldwyne sa fereful to the pepill that all his tyme the grete men fra intestine sedicioun abstenit 1531 Bell. Boece I 17.
Becaus he knew na thing mair odius than seditioun amang weirmen, he maid afald concord amang his pepill 1531 Bell. Boece I 25.
Providing allwayis, that we remove seditioun, scurrilite and avaricius leving 1531 Bell. Boece I 59.
Quhat hes brocht our nobillis to sic mesiry … ? Nocht bot sedition intestine amang thaimself 1531 Bell. Boece I 72.
Nocht to that behuffe, that thay suld leif in seditioun, and invaid othir as beistis … bot to incres togidder under ane benivolence and freindschip 1533 Bell. Livy II 161/6, 12.
The chevelrie of Romanis standing in this maner rais in Rome seditioun intestyne … Thus had al the Romane tentis almaist bene replete of seditioun vrbane a1538 Abell 53b.
Seditioun betwix the Lennos and Argile he meisit 1549 Compl. 78/6.
Thair vas gryt sedition and discentione amang al the gryt personagis of Grece … be rason that the Grekis var diuidit amang them selfis 1549 Compl. 90/35.
Sedetione 1555 Acts II 500/1.
The pepill may tak occasioun of sic priuie conspiracie aganis the prince or seditioun aganis the maist Christin kingis subiectis 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 181 (G).
This present tyme off seditione and vproir 1562-3 Winȝet I 33/31.
Be war to moue distruction to ȝour selfis, and seditioun in this nobyll town be ȝoure calking, and keling, and peruerst mynd. 1568–9 Dundee B. Laws in Mill Mediæv. Plays 173.
For eschewing of tumult seditioune drinking and vther vncumlie insolans and vantownes a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. 29/69.
Ceditioun a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. 311/101.
Ane vther caus thair is of this seditioun Amang the lordis the vehement suspitioun The ane trowis giff that the vther be Aboue thame put in to authorite Thai sall haue caus to dreid [etc.]b. a1400 Leg. S. v 319.
Aristodemus … Raisit a gret sedicione In the puple of that towne Sa that thai drew to partyse thare 1531 Bell. Boece I 144.
Prudent men sal pas to the Pichtis, to peacifie thaim of al seditionis. … Be this counsall, ambassatoris wer send to the Pichtis and schew that sic dammage and cruelteis procedis of civil weris [etc.] 1531 Bell. Boece I 208.
Donald … rejosit in na thing sa mekill as to gener frequent seditionis amang his subdittis traisting be thair seditioun to have felicite and be thair concord to have trubill in his crown 1562-3 Winȝet I 2/23.
One Pasche Twisday … 1562 … thair apperit ane daingerous seditioun in Edinburgh throw calking of the durris on euery syde 1562-3 Winȝet I 26/17.
Ane publick seditioun or tumult

2. Hostile action specifically directed against an established authority; rebellion. b. An instance of this. a1400 Leg. S. ii 163.
The folk of Rowme … Raisit in hym [sc. Nero] sedicione [L. seditionem contra eum excitare moliens] And wald have brokyn his palace done 14.. Acts I 58/2.
Of tham convyckit of sedicion &c. … Gif ony be convickyt that rychtiusly is defamyt of the kingis ded or of dissayit of the kynrik [etc.] c1520-c1535 Nisbet II 238 marg.
The sediciounn of Chore, Dathan, and Abironn [sc. against Moses and Aaron] a1538 Abell 38a.
Maxim in Briton be seditioun wes callit impriour 1549 Compl. 23/5.
Oure ald enemeis be traisonabil seditione takkand violent possessione of ane part of the strynthis ande castellis of the bordours of oure realme 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 178 (G).
Thair … rakles railling, entisand to seditione and lawles liberte 1562 Reg. Privy C. I 209.
The controventioun gif it be permittit to proceid unpunissit may nocht onlie engender maist hie contempt of hir majesteis authoritie but also raise tumult and seditioun within the realme 1562-3 Winȝet I 54/6.
I intendit … to schaw me a manifest aduersar, efter my small leirning and knawlege, to all schisme, seditioun, errour and heresie a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. 304/24.
Bot ȝit I feir that men full of seditioun Hes sawin suspitioun that credence is areir 1581 Bk. Univ. Kirk II 534.
[Mr. Robert Montgomerie] accusit the ministrie of seditioun and leise majestie saying, exhorting them not to be seditious, nor to meddle with hie mattres 1584 Misc. Spald. C. IV 70.
His maiesty hes that gud oppynioun off yow that he will be layth to see any seditioun provyit or mynistrat in your bundis 1585 Acts III 377/1.
That … [na] leagues and bandis be maid … without his hienes … privitie and consent … obtenit thairto vnder the pane to be haldin … as mowaris of seditioun and inquietnes 1596 Acts IV 102/1.
That na persone … spirituall or temporall sould declyne his maiesteis iugement in ony materis of seditioun and tressoun … or in ony contumelious seditious or tressounable speicheis vtterit be thame in pulpittis, scuillis, [etc.] 1596 Dalr. II 355/31.
Quene Regent of Scotland … directes the Erle of Huntlei with ane armie til Abirtarfie, to slokne al sedetione in Jhone Mudyard and his confederatis 1609 Acts IV 436/2.
Strait and seveir pvnishement … to be inflictit vpoun sic as sould … mak dissentionis betwene the prince and his subiectis or rais seditioun in the realme 1633 Perth Convener Ct. Bk. No. 4.
Prouestis of the said burcht … be seditioun of the inhabitantis thairofb. 1513 Doug. xi vii 105.
Ane seditioun or a brek to make [L. seditione potens] Sa masterfull tharin was nane hys mayk 1567 Reg. Privy C. I 514.
In all this tyme of hir majesteis awin presens … [her subjects] have nevir felt the force of foreyn inymeis … nor yit bene ourthrawin be the auttouris of ony domestik seditionis that hes nocht bene spedelie dantonit and punissit 1577–8 Reg. Privy S. VII 236/1.
James, Erll of Mortovn … hes … pacefeit the seditionis and civile weir … quhairthrow oure said soveranis liegis enjoyit ane ressonabill quietnes and rest a1578 Pitsc. I 69/4.
Thair raise ane marvalous sedietioun in Ingland … for money of the nobillis invyand the impyre and governance of the Duke of Gloscester quho was chossin protectour … during the kingis minorietie … tuik him and put him in pressone 1586 Cal. Sc. P. IX 43.
Seditionis and practizes is and wilbe movit to disturb this amytie