▪ I. safe-conduct, n.
(seɪfˈkɒndʌkt)
Forms: see safe a. and conduct n.1
[a. F. sauf-conduit (13th c.), f. sauf safe a. + conduit conduct n. Cf. Sp., Pg. salvoconduto, It. salvocondotto, med.L. salvus conductus.]
1. The privilege, granted by a sovereign or other competent authority, of being protected from arrest or molestation while making a particular journey or travelling within a certain region. Phrases, in safe-conduct or with safe-conduct, under safe-conduct or upon (a) safe-conduct.
| 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 10226 To vinde him gode borewes, & sauf condut al so. c 1325 Coer de L. 3617 Ye schole gon in saff coundyte; No man schal do ye despyte. 1338 R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 260 In stede of messengeres, saue condite vs gyue, Þorgh þi lond to go in þin auowrie, Þat non vs robbe ne slo, for þi curteysie. 1390 Gower Conf. II. 160 For he anon hem wolde assaile..His sauf conduit bot if thei hadden. 1412–20 Lydg. Troy Bk. i. 935 For þei of pryde, with-outen any leue Or safcondyte, han þe stronde y-take. 1433 Rolls Parlt. IV. 475/1 Letters of save condut. c 1450 Merlin 82 Thei hadde saf condite to returne to Tintagel. 1456 Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 93 Gif a man be tane presonare apon ane otheris sauf condyt. 1470–85 Malory Arthur viii. xxxii. 322 Thenne the Barons sente for syr Tristram vnder a sauf conduyte. a 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. VIII 34 Then the capitayne sent woorde that with saufeconduyte he would come and speke with the kynges counsayll. 1549 Compl. Scot. xiii. 107 Nor scottis men til entir on inglis grond vitht out the kyng of ingland saue conduct. 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 254 Graunting to all commers out of every Countrie safe conduyte to come and go. 1577–87 Harrison England ii. ii. (1877) i. 53 To be short, upon safe-conduct, the bishop commeth to the king's presence. a 1578 Lindesay (Pitscottie) Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.) I. 83 The Earle gat saif cundit to come throw Ingland. 1677 Govt. Venice 238 Sixtus V, and Clement VIII, granted Safe-conduct to the Maranes, to remain, and traffick in the Town of Ancona, without being molested or disturbed by the Inquisitors. 1840 Dickens Barn. Rudge lxxi, The task of conveying one female in safety through such scenes as we must encounter..is enough... If you accept the service I tender..she shall be instantly placed in safe conduct. 1879 Froude Cæsar iv. 35 He had come over under a safe conduct, and he was not detained. 1887 Rider Haggard Jess xxi, A pass..giving you and Miss Jess Croft a safe conduct to Mooifontein. |
2. A document by which this privilege is conveyed.
| [1392 Earl Derby's Exped. (Camd.) 179/32 Pro scriptura et sigillacione vnius saueconducti Ducis de Stulpez.] ? 1404 Skydmore Let. 5 July in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. ii. I. 20 And ther y was and spake with hym [Owen Glendower] upon truys, and prayed of a saufconduyt under his seal to send home my wif and hir moder and thaire mayne. 1473 Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot. (1877) I. 67 Traistand at the said Inglisman had na saulf conduct, and thareftir he schew a conduct. 1523 Skelton Garl. Laurel 503 Some shewid his salfecundight, some shewid his charter. 1620 Sir R. Naunton in Fortescue Papers (Camden) 115 And humbly praies his Majesties signature to this safe conduct here inclosed. 1766 Blackstone Comm. II. 401 Such goods as are brought into this country by an alien enemy..without a safe-conduct or passport. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. x. II. 576 Feversham was asked for his safe conduct. He had none. 1875 Stubbs Const. Hist. II. xiv. 122 The safe conduct granted them on their departure is dated on the 27th of July. |
3. The action of conducting or convoying in safety; safe convoy.
| 1338 R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 80 He praied þam of alle þing..To haf saf condite, vnto þe New Kastelle. & Hugh did as he hight, led þam sauely welle. 1529 Household Bk. Hen. VIII in Trevelyan Papers (Camden) 152 For the costes of him and such other with him, as attended upon the salve conduct of the said moneye. 1577 E. Hogan in Hakluyt's Voy. (1589) 156 For my safe conduite to the Court he had sent foure captaines. 1652 Needham tr. Selden's Mare Cl. 481 And give them such safe Conduct and Convoie, as they shall reasonably require. |
4. fig.
| 1426 Lydg. De Guil. Pilgr. 112 Vn-to synnerys, that deye repentaunt, To yive pardon off hys benynge graunt, [The] Wych ys to hem, vn-to ther refut, Proteccyon and true sauff-conduit, Hem to save, that thay be nat lorn. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 5 b, In heuynesse, feblenes, and trouble of ennemyes, it is our conforte, our strengthe, saueconducte and peace. 1551 T. Wilson Logike (1580) A 3 b, This worke maie not at the first enteraunce, haue the saufe conducte and protection of your most noble roiall Maiestie. 1574 Hellowes Gueuara's Fam. Ep. 267 Being as we are fallen into the most grievous sinnes, we do live, and go so contented, as though we had received of God a safeconduit to be saved. 1625 tr. Gonsalvio's Sp. Inquis. 146 God vnder his mighty protection, and by his owne safe⁓conduct, brought that holy burthen thither. 1872 Lowell Wks. (1890) IV. 102 A great controlling reason in whose safe-conduct we trust implicitly. |
▪ II. † safe-conduct, v. Obs.
[f. prec. n.]
trans. To lead, convoy, or conduct safely.
In verse stressed safe-ˈconduct as well as safe-conˈduct.
| 1564 Jenkinson in Hakluyt's Voy. (1599) I. 346 That he would..giue me..men to safeconduct me vnto the sayd Sophy. 1567 Drant Hor. Ep. i. vii. D iij, If he maye be safeconducted and welcum to thy grace. 1590 Marlowe 1st Pt. Tamburl. i. ii, Bearing his priuie signet and his hand To safe conduct vs thorow Africa. a 1600 ? Hooker Serm. Jude ii. §22 He indeed was able to Safe-Conduct a Theefe from the Crosse to Paradise. 1600 Fairfax Tasso vi. xiii. 96 This Sword (I trust) shall well safeconduct mee. 1639 Ainsworth Pentateuch Contents 2 This Second Booke of Moses sheweth.. the bringing out of Israel..the safe⁓conducting of them in the Wildernesse. |