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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
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Wardan(e, n. Also: -en(e, -ain(e, -in, -and, waredin, vardan(e, -en(e, -in, -arn, -am, vordan, wairdan(e, -ain(e, -en(e, -in, -ant, wirden. [ME and e.m.E. wardein (Ancr. R.), warda(i)n (both Cursor M.), wardeyn (1303), wardayn (Rolle), warden (Trevisa), north-eastern OF wardein.]

I. 1. A regent appointed to govern during the absence or minority of a monarch; specif. one of the guardians appointed after the death of Alexander III and during the Wars of Independence. 1375 Barb. xvi 33.
The tane the stewart Walter was The tother James of Douglas Wardanys [C. Vardanis] in his [sc. the king's] absence maid he For to maynteyme wele the countre 1388–9 Cal. Charters Suppl. (Reg. H.) 29 Jan.
Robert Erle of Fyf & of Menteth wardane of Scotland c1420 Wynt. viii 9, 18.
The statis of Scotland … Fra the kyng Alysandrys dayis ware dwne … ordanyd wardanys twys thre Quham throwch the land suld kepyd be Twa byschapys thai war and erlys twa Twa barownys … alsua. The byschape of Sanctandrewys … Erleys off Fyffe … And … Buchane Thir … lordis thre Ware wardanys be north the Scottis se Be sowth the byschape of Glasgw [etc.] … To thire sex … Off Scotland wes gyvyn the governale c1420 Wynt. viii 857.
Oure wardanys wyth lorddis off Scotland, And mony gret lordis off Ingland … thare gadyryt war c1420 Wynt. viii 2292.
Forsuk wardane evyr to be Or swylk state in Scotland hald c1420 Wynt. viii 3146.
The erle off Murrawe … Fra the kyng Robert enteryd was, All this meyne tyme off Scotland Wardane was c1475 Wall. vi 768.
Thai chesd Wallace Scottis wardand to be 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 593.
Archebalde … Erle of Angous? Quho with his prince wes more familiar, Nor of his grace had more auctoritie? Was he nocht gret wardane and chancellar? 1535 Stewart 57154.
Thairfoir king Richart … His erle merschell the wardane than maid he c1500-50 Brevis Cronica 337.
Edward Balliole … att the battle of Duplyne killit the Earl of Marr, Wardane of the Kingdome

2. a. The governor and military commander of a province or region under the monarch. b. specif.Of the Scottish/English border, specif.from (1) the Scottish and (2) the English side. Freq. Wardane of the March(es(Bordouris). Also (3) comb.with clerk, depute, officiar, seriand and attrib. with buik, court, fee, raid.Some examples in a probably belong in b.a. 1375 Barb. v 474.
For off Walence schyr Amery Was in-till Edynburgh lyand That ȝeyt was wardane of the land Wnderneyth the Inglis king 1375 Barb. xiv 512.
Agane thaim war gadryt thar With the wardane Richard of Clar The Butler and erlis twa Off Desmownd and Kildar 1481 Acts II 132/2.
That ilk lord … deliuer the persons that dois the skaith to the king or his lieutenantis or wardanis 1517–18 Reg. Privy S. I 464/2.
Passand as capitane … with the wardane and lieutenent in the kingis army now devisit to pas apone the traitouris in the Mers 1545–6 Reg. Privy S. III 238/1.
Hir grace … dischareging … all and sindrie hir admirallis, wardanis … and all uthiris our officiaris … of all … intrometting with the said Adam 1556–7 Reg. Privy S. V i 9/1.
Dischargeing all and sindrie hir hienes wardanis, lieutenentis, justices, schireffis, stewartis … and all hir hienes officiaris … of all … intrometting with the said James 1582 Coll. Aberd. & B. 353.
Licence to the said Williame to remane … fra all oure oistis … and assembleis … maid be ws oure lieutennentis, wardenis, admirallis, coronellis, capitaneis or vtherisb. (1) 1451 Acts II 40/2.
Na catal be sauld in Inglande … vnder the payn of eschete … to be distribute betuix the king & the wardane of the marche 1456 14th Rep. Hist. MSS App. iii 10.
George Erle off Angus … wardene of the est and myddyll merchis off Scotland affornent Ingland 1471 Acta Aud. 15/2.
That [they] … sall restor … the gudis takin be thaim out of Hethpule quhilk was assouerit be the wardane 1520 Edinb. Chart. 204.
James, Erle of Arrane … ane of the regentis of the realme, lietennent of the Mers and Louthiane and wardane of the Est Merschis 1535 Stewart 43114.
This ilk king Henrie … Vpone the Scottis on thair bordour syde … to ryde And tak all guidis … And for na wardane … Of all that gude wald nocht agane restoir 1540 Lynd. Sat. 3986 (B).
The widdefow wardanis [Ch. wairdanis] tuik my geir … Now walloway I mon be hangit … Adew my brethir commoun theivis … Adew … Littillis … and Armestrangis … The Scottis of Eisdaill and the Grames [etc.] 1542 Annandale Corr. 3.
The west bordouris … is destitut of ane wardane and gydar 1563 Reg. Privy C. I 244.
I have … causit commandment be send to the wardanis of all the mercheis of the realme 1570 Leslie 110.
De la Bawtye, being luftenent and wardane of the bourdouris 1578 Bk. Carlaverock II 484.
The saidis Grahames hes biggit to thame selffis ewin vpoun the verray fronters of this ȝour cuntre aucht or nyne greit stane hous, inprynnabill for the warden of Scotland his power 1595 Colville Lett. 187.
Many dois think the office of vardarn [sic, ? vardain] sall fall on Johnston or Carmichell 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Iter.
Quhen the justice aire is to bee halden vpon the Bordoures, the wardaines [1599 wairdaines] … suld convoy the justice and his deputes to the place appoynted for halding of the court 1600 Skene Memorabilia 13.
The lard of Carmichell wardane slane be the Armestranges(b) 1590–1 Cal. Sc. P. X 471.
Wairdants(c) 1517 Treas. Acc. V 123.
The vordan of the Myddil Marche(2) c1475 Wall. viii 1503.
Thre gret lordys thai ordand for to pas … Trewis to tak … Than chesyt thai thre lordis for this thing. The keyn Clyffurd, was than thar warden haill, Bewmont, Wodstok … Quhat thir thre wrocht the layff suld stand thar till. The kingis seyll was gyffyn thaim at thair will 1545 Douglas Corr. 156.
Schir Raiffe Euerie, Varden of the Middille Marchis 1545 Douglas Corr. 159 (see Lord n. 29). 1545 Corr. M. Lorraine 133.
Or I com to thir west bordouris the Erell off Leonax wyth Lord Quhartom warden, war departit … to London 1549 Compl. 103/10.
The vardan of the vest marchis of Ingland a1552 Corr. M. Lorraine 129.
The wairdene of Ingland [sc. of the West Marches of England] offerit monye to betrais ws 1570 Leslie 123.
Surraye wes maid generall warden and the marques Dorset wardan of the eist and middill marches and the lord Dacres one the west marches a1578 Pitsc. I 61/16.
The Earle of Saillisberrie being lutennent and wairdane … wpoun the Inglisch border … invaidit Scottland(3) comb. 1448 Acts I 351/1.
That ony man beand plaintyf of reif of his presoner, or his gudis, sall find a borgh in the hand of the wardane seriand 1532 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 388.
My lord erle of Murray … wardane of the est and myddle marchis, hes creat … George lord Hume his wardane depute upoun the est marchis and … Andro Kar of Farnyhirst, and Mark Kar his wardanis deput upoun the myddle marchis 1570 Treas. Acc. XII 218.
Chairgeing all and sindry … quhilkis hes ony complaintis aganis Ingland that thai cum to David Home of Nynewellis, wairdane clerk of the eist merches 1575 Treas. Acc. XIII 65 (see (4) below).
Wardane clerk 1576 Treas. Acc. XIII 101.
Williame Young wardane officiar of the middill merchis 16… Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. III 159.
As for the government and customes of the country [sc. Teviotdale] they had a sheriff as other shires had but his power was much eclipsed by an office and jurisdiction which was here called the warden office [? erron. for officer] who was a person of great command and power, being the king's lieutenant and in time of war, exercised martial law; and the sheriff and all the shire … were bound to attend him & to be answerable to his court. He was the kings chief justice in criminals within his jurisdiction … The Scots and the English wardens had upon the border their meetings [etc.](4) attrib. 1575 Treas. Acc. XIII 65.
Johnne, Lord Maxwell, and Harbart Andersoun, his wardane clerk of the west merchis of this realme, to compeir … befoir my lord regentis grace and lordis of secreit counsale … bringand with thame thair wardane buikis 1583 Reg. Privy C. III 584.
He findand … souirties actit in the warden buikis to be answerable for all attemptatis 1448 Acts I 351/2.
The … use of merchis in tym of were … the wardane sal ger the presoner be brocht to the wardane court [etc.] 1509 Reg. Privy S. I 295/2.
Exemys all the said persouns … fra all compering to justice, chaumerlane-airis, wardane courtis, sessiouns … and all uther courtis 1542–3 Reg. Privy S. III 15/1.
To Robert, maister of Maxwell—makand him justice-wardane of the west merchis of the realme … committand to him justice and wardane courtis respective within the boundis foirsaidis 1565 Reg. Privy C. I 373.
Sir Walter Ker to hald ane wardane court in Kelso 1583 Reg. Privy C. III 621.
A persoun fylit, bakbilland and cravand a warden court to be sett upoun his perrell 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Iter.
Like as the wardaine on the Bordoures in his wardaine courte, may nocht intromet with ony thing that perteinis to the dittay of the justice aire 1598 Acts IV 172/1.
To compeir befoir him … in his lieutennent wardane and iustice courtis 1531 Treas. Acc. VI 47.
Item, to the Lord Huym, wardane off the eist marchis, for his wardane fee 1557 Crim. Trials I i 397.
That the House of Sanchare was neuer in vse to keip ane wardane raid sene thai war wardanis thame selffis 1578 Conv. Burghs I 68.
Concerning the charges gevin to the burghis of this realme to pas to wairdan or lieutennend raidis

3. The governor or military commander of a district, town or castle.Some examples may belong in 2 a. 1375 Barb. iv 474.
The king arywyt in Arane … And in a toune tuk his herbery And speryt … Off ony strang men in that land … 'Off strang men … Thai haff discomfyt our wardane And mony off his men has slane' 1375 Barb. x 119.
The king … Till Dunstaffynch … A sege set and … Assaylit the castell it to get And … he it wan And ane gud wardane tharin set 1375 Barb. xvii 738.
Thar wardane [sc. of Berwick] … raid about for to se quhar That his folk hardest presyt war c1420 Wynt. viii 3262.
The hevyddis off thame all Ware set wp apon the wall … on Elandonan Agayne the come off the wardan c1475 Wall. xi 939.
Eduuard the Bruce … past … Till Wygtoun … and that castell has tane [etc.] … Inglis wardans till London past … And tauld the king … How Wallace had Scotland fra thaim reduce 1524 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 73.
The said Wollyem and George Symson sall comper in Melros befor the wardan of the samyn

4. Applied to a. The night watch of a town. (Cf. Wach(e n. 3 d, the usual term.) b. Apollo, as guardian of Mount Soracte. c. The wardens of the Tower of London.a. 14.. Burgh Laws c. 64 (A).
And ony burges be arettit … giff he be tane on nycht … he salbe ȝemyt with his chalangeour & with the wardanis [B. keparis] of the toune quhil the morneb. 1513 Doug. xi xv 43.
O brycht Apollo … Of haly mont Soractis the wardane [L. custos]c. c1650 Spalding II 31.
Lord of Strafforde wes convoyit to the scaffold on Towrhill … Befoir marched the Marschallis men … efter thame the Kingis guard of wardenis of the towr

II. 5. An official, overseer or superintendent. a. Of a craft guild. b. specif.Of the guild or incorporation of masons. See also Luge n. 3 c for further examples.a. 1427–8 Acts II 15/2.
Of euery craft … salbe chosyn a wardane … the quhilk … sal examyn ande pryse the mater ande the werkmanschip of ilk craft 1622-6 Bisset II 237/26.
Calfaderis and schip wrichtis unles thai [etc.] … sall nocht deall witht schipis mending … The warden of the craft sall see gif any falt beis in there wark [etc.] 1686 Mackenzie Observ. (1687) 20.
Deacons are discharged by this act … and in place of them, the King did introduce wardens of crafts, who were to supervise the work of the respective trades-men, and were indeed deacons, but were called wardensb. 1590 Laurie Hist. Free Masonry 421.
Gevand … to the seid Patrick the seid office of wardanrie over the said craft of masonis within the said hail thrie sheriffdomes, and makand him wardane and justice ovir them … with power also to him to hald wardane and justis courtis 1598 Murray Lyon Hist. Lodge Edinb. 9.
Satisfactioun to be maid to the awneris of the wark at the sycht and discretioun of the generall wardene 1598 Laurie Hist. Free Masonry App. iii 441.
The statutis and ordinanceis to be obseruit be all the maister-maissounis within this realme sett doun be Williame Schaw maister of wark to his maiestie and general wardene of the said craft 1598–9 Montgomery Mem. 239.
That thay be obedient to thair wardeneis, dekynnis and maisteris 1598–9 Montgomery Mem. 241.
That the generall warden be advertysit ȝeirlie quha is chosin warden of the ludge 1599 Murray Lyon Hist. Lodge Edinb. 12.
The wardenis of everie ilk ludge salbe answerable to the presbyteryes within thair schirefdomes for the maissounis subject to the lugeis 1601 Edinb. Masons 3 March.
The quhilk day Blais Hammiltoun … is admittit and … hes done his dewitie … to the satisfactioun … of the dekyn warden and haill maisteris of the said craft 1607 Murray Lyon Hist. Lodge Edinb. 27.
Wairdin 1607 Edinb. Masons 15 Nov.
Wardin 1636 Laurie Hist. Free Masonry 446.
Ane sufficient … persoun … to be their wardane ovirsman or deacone quha … sall have power to suppres all … usurperis of the saids craftis 1677 Ars Quatuor Coronatorum XXIV 41.
Wairden(b) 1637 Laurie Hist. Free Masonry App. v 451.
Sir Anthonie Alexander waredin to his majestie and generall maistir of work in Scotland … An. Alexander mester of work Thoma Aytoine wirden David Low deikinattrib. 1646 Murray Lyon Hist. Lodge Edinb. 7.
Our vardene booke

6. The chief officer of the Scottish Mint. Also possess. and attrib.Also comptar (counter) or comptrollar wardane, see also Comptar-wardane, Comptrollar(e n. 3 for further examples. See also Cochran-Patrick Coinage I xxiv ff. for further information. 16… Cochran-Patrick Coinage I xxviii.]
[There is noe comptrollers of the mynt in Scotland but is named the warden of the mynt, whoe keepes the like register for the kinge, as the genn^s all doth … The counterwardens are in stead of the comptrollers clarke and keepe register with the other warden and is alsoe clarke of the irons … Theis two wardens doe weighe every piece before it goe to bee stamped 1456 Acts II 46/1.
And at ther be cunȝeit [etc.] … at the wardane se at that be done to the fynnes [etc.] … the … auditouris of the chekar … examyn the fynnes bath of golde and siluer the quhilk is present to thame … be the wardane of the cunȝe 1478 Acts II 118/2.
Wardain 1487–8 Acts II 182/2.
That his hienes deput a trew wise man of gude fame to be wardane of his cunȝe … and that the maister of money sall ansuer to the wardane and changeour in all thingis … and the wardane to present his assayis in the chekker 1527 Reg. Privy S. I 567/1.
To Adam Boyd—makand him wardane principale and kepar of the kingis cunȝe irnis 1566 Treas. Acc. XII 36.
The officiaris of the cunȝehous. Item to David Forrest, generale, for his fee … to Andro Hendersone, wardane … to Maister Johnne Balfour, comptrollar wardane 1574 Treas. Acc. XIII 40.
To the wardanis and prentaris of the cunȝehous for coillis for warming of the irnis 1578 Reg. Privy S. VII 257/2.
[David Adamesoun] ane of his hienes compter wardanis of his cunyehous 1587 Reg. Privy C. IV 220.
The generall, wardane, countare wardane, sinkare and assayare … of his majesteis cunyiehous 1597 Aberd. Council Lett. I 72.
Wardaine 1636 Cochran-Patrick Coinage II 105.
When the mony is striken it is al weyit befoir the stryking quhilk is the office of the warden 1641 Cochran-Patrick Coinage I xxx, xxxi.
The warden principill hes 50 li. yeirlie … The countre warden … hes 40 li. a yeire … James Ballatine who is principill warden keepes the haill yrons and that there is not ane clerk of the yrons 1686 Acts VIII 605/1.
Subscrived accompts from the master warden counter warden and the essay master of all the quantities of silver coyned in his Maiesties mintpossess. 1539–41 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 290.
For pointing of … the melting hous v ruidis … the vardanis hous [etc.] 1605 Cochran-Patrick Coinage II 319.
25 peices of gold quhilks agreit in number with the particular jornayes specifeit in the wardans buiks 1673 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. IV 125.
That the essayes of silver … should … correspond with the dayes jorneys insert in the wardens registersattrib. 1533 Treas. Acc. VI 206.
Remittit … to James Achesoun cunȝeour … quhilk wes laid apoun the said James heid for the wardan feis

7. The superior of a community of friars, chiefly or only Franciscan. 1481 Misc. Spald. C. II 325.
Ws … beris wytnes onder our seylle of officis of wycharagis and wardanis of the conuent of Dunde 1490 Misc. Spald. C. II 327.
Frer Jhon Yhar ministyr principal of the Freris Minoris of Scotland. Frer Andro Russel wardan of the Freris of Dunde 1522 Dumfries B. Ct. 43b.
Freyr Robert Litill wardan of the freyr minors of Drumfries 1531 Bell. Boece II 357.
The provincialis wardanis and ministeris of all beggand freiris 1550 Grey Friars II 10.
The wardane and convent of the Freris Minoris of the burcht of Hadingtoun 1560 Peebles B. Rec. I 271.
Gilbert Brovne wardane of the Trinite freris 1588 Exch. R. XXI 407.
To Freir Charles Home, sumtym varden of the cordeleris of Drumfreis

8. a. ? A custodian of some sort in a religious community or church. b. Kirk-warden, see Kirk n. 10 c. c. A housekeeper [Du. waardin].a. 1473 Reg. Cupar A. I 198.
Ws … Abbot of the [Abbay of] Couper and our conuent … til hafe … set … our landis of Calady … to Neyl M^kKeden … he payand … to ws … xij suklar kyddis … to be … delyuerit at the ordynans of the cellerar and wardan 1586 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. I 212.
The quhilk day the prouest [etc.] … hes agreit with Johnne Henrysoun to be kirk maister … and ring the bell and do sic seruice as the wardan did and vphauld the kirk in sklait … money and to haif the salt and vther dewties the wardane hade of befoirc. 1493 Acc. of William Scheves, Archbishop of St. Andrews in Halyb. 5.
Paid … in Handwarp for Master Johne Scheues … Item paid to owr vardin of Bery 4 s. that scho lent hym. … Item paid for a gon I causit our wardin frist hym 1493 Halyb. 32.
Paid to my wardin of Bery

9. The guardian of a minor. b. ? A guardian more generally, ? a man of business or solicitor. Cf. Ward n.¹ 3 a. 14.. Burgh Laws c. 69 (A).
Na childe that is within elde sal suer athe na ber witnes in burgh bot his wardan [Acts I 37/2, wardane, B. kepare] in quhais ȝemsall he is sall gyf ansuer for himb. 1623 Laing MSS 159.
He withheld the bill of exchange from him untill he was forced to giwe him that letter to his mother of fourty three rex dolloures … and waitted a long tyme for his motheres vardam to uplifted it