Meaning of wand of peace | Babel Free

Definitions

A wand or staff with a silver tip which was given to an outlaw as a sign that they were restored to the king's or queen's peace; and also carried by a messenger of the monarch as a symbol of office, to be broken in protest in cases of deforcement (“resistance to the execution of the law”).

Scotland, historical

Examples

“A Respit maid to DONALD MAKLAUCHRANE, for art and part of the slauchter of Robert Fargussoun of Brakanside and Alexander Fargussoun, and for all uther actiouns, etc.,— […] To endure for xix zeris, etc.: With power to the schireffis of Edinburgh and Dumfreis to relesch him fra the horne and deliver him the wand of pece, etc.”

“Meſſengers have as the Badge of their Office, a Blaſon bearing the Kings Armes, and a VVand of Peace if they bear not the Blaſon, […] [T]he VVand of Peace is that vvhereby they touch a Rebel, and declares him to be their Priſoner, and vvhen they are deforced, they uſe to break the VVand of Peace, […]”

“A Meſſenger, vvhen deforced, uſes to break his VVand of Peace, as a Symbol of the Deforcement, and proteſt for Remedy of Lavv. This Crime is Purſued only before the Court of Juſticiary.”

“Meſſengers have ſometimes occaſion to take Inſtruments in the Hands of a Notary upon Deforcement in the Execution of their Office, and to proteſt, That the Reſiſters and Deforcers may be liable in the Pains of Lavv; […] vvhen this Opportunity cannot ſo vvell be had, his breaking his VVand of Peace in preſence of his Concurrences, and his ovvn Execution thereon, is ſufficient.”

“Deforcement being a crime which has a diſtinct punishment affixed to it, the meſſenger, it has been argued, when reſiſted, ſhould break his wand of peace, and proteſt for remeid of law, and is not juſtifiable in killing, unleſs he be ſeriously attacked with offenſive weapons.”

“And here, where I brake the wand of peace ower him—here I stand again—to bid God bless and prosper the just heir of Ellangowan, and will sune be brought to his ain; […]”

“The legal officer, confronted with him of the military, grasped with one doubtful hand the greasy bludgeon which was to enforce his authority, and with the other produced his short official baton, tipped with silver, and having a moveable ring upon it—"Captain M'Intyre,—Sir,—I have no quarrel with you,—but if you interrupt me in my duty, I will break the wand of peace and declare myself deforced."”

“It is argued […] that messengers are a much higher grade of officials than officers of a sheriff, and therefore, though the table [of fees for sheriff-officers] was authoritative, it applies only to the privileged class. […] [N]otwithstanding their blazons, their wands of peace, and connection with the Lyon of Heraldry, the S.S. [Sheriff-Substitute] is inclined to think that the time and trouble expended in any given act should be the main element of charge in both classes of officials.”

CEFR level