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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

†REGRESS, n. The re-admission by a feudal superior of a vassal to land which the vassal has conveyed to a creditor in Wadset as security for a debt and which he has managed to redeem. Phr. letters of regress, the written obligation by which the superior bound himself to do this (Sc. 1838 W. Bell Dict. Law Scot. 841).Sc. 1722 W. Forbes Institute I. ii. 12:
Where a Wadset is given to be held of the Disponer's Superior, the Disponer sometimes takes Letters of Regress from the Superior, obliging him to receive back his Vassal, when he shall redeem his Lands.Sc. 1734 J. Spotiswood Hope's Practicks 243:
Regress is a Written Obligation by the Superior of the Wadset Lands, granted to his Ancient Vassal . . . that he had dispon'd these Lands to the Wadsetter . . . and . . . that how soon the Lands shall be redeemed, the Reverser shall have full Access and Regress to the Property.Sc. 1773 Erskine Institute ii. viii. § 18:
Letters of regress were frequently obtained from the superior, by which he became obliged to give the reverser, his former vassal, full regress to the property upon his redeeming the lands. The necessity of these letters is now in a great measure superseded by 20 Geo. II. c.50 §§ 12 and 13.