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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.

Unlaw, v. Also: wn-, onlaw, unlay. P.t. unlawed. P.p. also unlawitt, -et, -lauit, wnlauett, unloit, onlaued, -lawed, -lait, -laid, -lyit, -lyed. [17th c. Eng. unlaw (Milton) to annul (a law); Unlaw n.] tr.

1. To impose a financial penalty on, to fine (a person, corporation, etc.). Also const. in or for (a sum of money, a penalty).(1) pres. 1508 Reg. Privy S. I 244/2.
That nane of ȝow presume to call, geif sentence, unlaw, vex, inquiet, arrest, challenge … the said Johnne 1601 Conv. Burghs II 106.
With powir to the saidis brughis that conweyneis to vnlaw the burrowis absent 1664 Decis. Lords G. 79.
To cite him so often and to unlaw him so high, is against justice(b) c1549 Reg. Episc. Aberd. II 308.
To onlaw, falt, and amerciat clerkis [etc.]p.t. 1580 Crawford Mun. Invent. I 114.
[A former warrant … through occasion of the Earl's sudden departing was not presented to the Lords in proper time in consequence of which they] unlawed [the Earl's sureties]p.p. 1479 Acta Conc. I 23/1.
William Boyde … has callit Robert Boyd & William Boyde his sone & vnlawit thaim & raisit vnlawis of thaim vtouth ther avne landis 14.. Acts I 346/2.
Item … to his [sc. the justice's] clerk for ilk man vnlawit or sald ij s. 1545 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. II 116.
Gif the defendare be [nocht] reddy to ansuer at the call he sall be vnlawet 1582 Conv. Burghs I 148.
The burgh of Linlithqu salbe vnlawitt … becaus Henry Auld commissioner … past hame butt licence or ony lawfull excuse maid(b) 1608 Melrose Reg. Rec. I 78.
[They] protestit that thai sould nocht be onlait and … tuik actis(c) 1673 Culross II 174.
Onlyed(2) pres. 1605 Glasgow Chart. I i dcxviii.
It sall be lesum to the visitour to unlaw the sellaris [sc. of meal] in tuentie schillingis 1627 E. Loth. Antiq. Soc. II 127.
Unlawes Jon Diksoun in amerciament of court for his absence 1651 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 120.
That they wnlaw ewerie absent in the soume of threttie shillings money(b) 1615 Conv. Burghs III 16.
The present commissioners unlayes the burgh of Dumbar in ane unlay of tuentie pund for depairting fra this conventione befor the dissolving thairof(c) 1629 Monteith Stewartry Ct. 21 May.
The judge onlawis the said Jon in the sowme of xl s. money for his disobediencep.p. 1567 Digest Justiciary Proc. F. 53.
The said James to be unlawit and adiudgit in the paines of ane hundreths punds 1600 Reg. Privy C. VI 660.
William Dumbar, being only a feuar, should be unlawed only in 500 merks, his sons, being but bairns, only in 200 merks(b) 1631 Elgin Rec. II 219.
George Innes wyff onlaved in 20 s. for selling aill on Sonday in tyme of divyne serwice 1647 Rec. Old Aberd. I 77.
Onlyit 1694 Stitchill Baron Ct. 115.
The wholl tennents and cottars wer onlaid and amerciat … in 40 sh. Scots money for contraveining the acts of parliament made anent laying in of green lint in lochs and burns and running waters(3) 1603 Rec. Old Aberd. I 32.
Ilk persoun contrauenit to be vnlayit for xx s.

b. Const. for or (in Hawick) in, = because of (an offence). Also absol.(1) 1522 Stirling B. Rec. I 16.
All the land burges war unlauit for thair absence fra the heid court 1551 Prot. Bk. J. Cristisone 107.
The bailȝe and membris of court hes callit the said Bessie Lesli … and hes vnloit and giffin dome one hir for absence 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i 121.
Gif ane baxter, or ane browster is vnlawed for bread, or aill, na man sould … intromitt therewith, bot onely the provest 16… Crail Squaremen 25.
Wnder the paen to [be] wnlauett be the said decon & his counsell for his fellie theranentabsol. 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. ii xiii 3 (1699) 210.
A barron may unlaw for absence, for ten pounds, but not above(2) 1687 Hawick Arch. Soc. (1868) 35/2.
[She] was onlawed in ane bluid committ upon Isobell Trumble 1710 J. J. Vernon Par. & Kirk Hawick (1900) 203.
[They] were each of them … fyned and onlawed in egregious ryotts committ upon other within the church

c. absol. or intr. To pay a fine (to another). 1528 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 95.
Jhone Clerkis wyf vas fondin be devis of the communite unabyll to unlaw and vas ordinit to be put out of the toun 1692 Hector Renfrewshire Rec. I 54.
They … ought to unlaw to the pro[curatou]r-fiscal and explanary punished in their persons

2. p.p. Proclaimed an outlaw. = Outlaw v. 14.. Reg. Maj. c. 86.
Quha sa euer be law of the land be vnlawyt efterwart be the benefice of the prince is restoryt again to the pece [etc.]