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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Constabulary, -arie, n. [med. L. constabularia, f. constabulus Constabil. Cf. Constabilry.]

1. The district under the jurisdiction of a constable.The constabulary of Haddington is frequently mentioned throughout the 16th cent. 1498 Reg. Privy S. I. 35/2.
Landis … liand in the schirefdomez of Roxburgh and Edinburgh and constabulary of Hadingtoun 1526 Ib. 525/2.
Landis … liand in the constabularie of Kingorne within the schirefdome of Fiffe 1533 Treas. Acc. VI. 122.
Ane letter to charge all within the constabularie of Hadingtoune to pas with the lord Setoune … for defence 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 83.
All … our soueranis lieges duelling within the sherefdomes of Edinburgh … , within the constabularie of Hadingtoun [etc.] 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Arage.
The Barronie of Calder, within the Constabularie of Linlithcow

2. The rank or office of constable. 1520 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 203.
The hundreth pundis promittit be the toun to my Lord Erle of Errol for the office of Constabularie deputt 1587 Acts III. 440/1.
We revoik … all infeftmentis … of all offices sic as … constabularies and baillieries of our propre landis and castellis 1606 Ib. IV. 293/2.
The heretable office of the keiping, captanrie, and constabularie of the castell 1606 Lett. & St. P. James VI 82.
The privilege of Constabularie … hes bene to judge vpone bluide and bluidweit 1617 Acts IV. 560/1.
The office of gryit Constabularie of this realme of Scotland 1641 Acts V. 587/1.
The liberties, priviledges and extent of my place and office of highe constabularie 1689 Ib. XII. 73/1.
His heretable constabularie and government of the castle of Stirling