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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Trespas, n. Also: tresspas, trespace, -pase, -pass(e, traspas. [ME and e.m.E. trespas (c1290), trespace (Cursor M.), trespasse (1429), truspas (c1440), OF trespas.]

1. Sin, wrongdoing, fault, offence; an instance of this. Also attrib.(a) 1375 Barb. xii 487.
Thai ask mercy bot nane at ȝow, For thar trespas to God thai cry 1375 Barb. xix 241.
He … gave the trewis wp opynly And in the wengeance of this trespas [etc.] c1420 Ratis R. 1179.
Tresspas c1420 Wynt. ii 121 (W).
He … fra hire … reft the lif. All thus scho endit in to trespas 1456 Hay II 7/9.
His trespas of ȝouthede a1500 Lanc. 1311.
Than quod the king, … why Ar ȝhe agrewit? Or quhat tresspas have I Commytit so that I shal yow disples? a1500 Henr. Fab. 699.
Art thow contrite and sorie in thy spreit For thy trespas [H. traspas]? 1490 Irland Mir. I 122/11.
How the blist sone of God … deit for oure gret trespas 1490 Irland Mir. III 44/31.
The syn faute & trespas be werray iustice requiris satisfaccioun c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 176/14.
Win thy port of grace; For and the deith ourtak thé in trespas 1513 Doug. i Prol. 455.
Remittyng my trespas and euery mys Throu prayer of thy Moder 1567 G. Ball. 4.
Forgiue vs our trespassis 16… Gordon in Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II 397.
Let any man judge whither or no the alledged parliament of 1560 be in that role of trespasses pardoned in the act of oblivion(b) a1400 Leg. S. iii 1110.
He repentyt hym … Of his trespace and his foly a1578 Pitsc. II 65/11.
He forgaif the trespase of my sinnsattrib. 1646 Gillespie Aarons Rod Blossoming Table of Contents.
That scandalous … persons were not admitted to a trespasse offering (which was a reconciling ordinance) … without a publique penitentiall confession of their sinne

2. An offence against the law, a crime or misdemeanour; criminal activity. a1400 Leg. S. xl 968.
The serefe … gert the mysdoaris bryng To curt, to here chalansing Of sere trespas, that var done 1398 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 38.
Gif ony man … dois harme … as takyng or slaghtir of men [etc.] … to bryng that mysdoar … to knawlage of Marche and qwha sa beis fondin culpable of ony sik trespas 1398–9 Acts I 211/2.
Til vndergang the law for thair trespassis c1420 Wynt. viii 3287.
The jwrysdyctyowne he lede hale And punysyd exces and trespas 14.. Burgh Laws c. 42 (A).
Gif ony burges be … tane vtouth burgh for ony trespas or misdeide his nychtburis sal pas to borow him 14.. Acts I 107/2.
Of transgressioun done cumand to the ost … that the bailȝe in quhais bailȝerie suilk a mysdoar duellis in sal haf commandment of the iustice wythin quhais iustry the trespas [L. transgressio] wes done 1447–8 Aberd. B. Rec. MS IV 473.
Jhone … chalangit Williame … for the dispysing of the kyngis wande and rebellyng of the aldermen & ballieis for the quhilk trespace he has fundyn Duncane of Clat borch c1500 Barounis Lawis 4b.
He aw to … gang to the seriand of that iurisdictioune and say … that sic ane mane … has done to him sic ane trespas 1560 Rolland Seven S. 7669.
Ony man … condampnit to die On the gallous, for trespas and vnricht 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Enach.
Ane mendis or satisfaction for ane fault, crime, or trespasse 1611-57 Mure Doomesday 84.
A summar processe shall ensew, Conforme to thy trespasse 1661 Holmains Baron Ct. 12 Nov.
The … barlamen are to go throw and take notice of any trespass they sall see

b. Wrongful entry into the lands of another. 14.. Acts I 328/2.
Of trespas [L. delinquentes] in forest of baron. Item gif a fre man hapyn to trespas [L. delinquat] in the forest of ony baroun … apon sic transgressioun … x lib. sal pay … for the forfalt and the hors and all that is fundin with him trespasand in the forest