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

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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Procuto(u)r, n. Also: procwt-, procat-, procot- and -oure, -ur(e, -ar, -er, porcutour. [ME procutour, -atour(e (Chaucer), -utur, -utor, pro(c)ketour, -owre, -ur (15th c.), syncopated variant of Procurato(u)r n.¹; after the 15th c. appar. only Sc., also in the later dial.: cf. Proctour n.] = Procurato(u)r n.¹

1. A procurator of the Roman Empire. = Procurato(u)r n.¹ 1. a1538 Abell 31 b.
And … passit aganis the Romanis in batell & … slew the legat & Hircy the imperouris procutor

2. = Procurato(u)r n.¹ 2, 3, 4.(1) 1494 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 52.
Andro Yowngar coym in gugisment and mayde Archybalde Stewart procatur to cleym xiiij s. 1507 Lanark B. Rec. 18.
For to ak our procutour 1511 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 14.
Comperit James Wolsone and persewit Robert Gilles as procutor for his wyf 1522 Dundee B. Ct. I fol. 110 (10 Nov.).
Thar comperit nocht nane of thaim na ȝit na procutur 1525 Wigtown B. Ct. fol. 204 a.
Jhone M^cclellene procotovre fore the Lard of Bonbe 1526 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 82.
Consideryng he is burges and dishobeyit seriand and procutour 1526–7 Ib. 84. 1531 Edinb. Hammermen 133.
Gevin for aictis in consistory & to mak procutoris xx d. 1540–1 Prestwick B. Rec. 56.
Wylȝame Hamyltoun … has ackyt his procutouris for hym in al his actionis … wiz. Jhone Wallace [etc.] 1550 Edinb. Hammermen 184.
To the procutoris noneschankis ij s. 1553 Lanark B. Rec. 27.
Procutur Ib. 28. 1563 Bk. Univ. Kirk I 42.
[That] the said Anne … might compeir … be herself, and be no procutor, to answere as law will c1568 Lauder Minor P. ii 42.
Justice is rowpit, … The falsest actioun that may be Sall no wayis want ane procuture 1569 Boyd Fam. P. No. 56 (21 June).
Oure werrie lauchful and vndoutit irreuocable procutours 1570 Cal. Sc. P. III 370. c1460 Regim. Princ. 264 (Maitl.).
Bot everie man with his awin procutour For iustice kepis nocht of no cosingnage 1581 Boyd Fam. P. No. 64 (9 May).
The said Dene Johnne Mure as procutour for the said venerable father; … the said Dene Johnne porcutour foirsaid 1583 Wemyss Corr. 99. 1592 Mining Rec. 70.
That ye will grant me inspectioun of the saidis Mr. Johnes writtis for sik space as your lordships thinkis I throchlie aduise with my procutores 1587-99 Hume 72/148.
Maissars … Quhilk procutors and parties called in 1607 Melrose Reg. Rec. I 48.
Procutour c 1620 Liber Dryburgh 387.
Procuter 1626 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV 259.(2) 1596 in Melvill 339.
The cause betwix the said presbyterie and … minister … and generall procutour for the kirk, or uthers … on the an part, and the said partie compleaner on the uther part 1641 Acts V (1817) 413/2.
The humble supplication of Mr. Archibald Johnstoun procutor for the kirk(3) 1562-3 Winȝet I 56/26.
Iohne Knox … attributis to me a new style, calling me Procutour for the Papistis Ib. 58/34.
Procutar 1651 Johnston Diary II 74.
I who … was called by the church to be their procutor for Christ and His rights

b. A spokesman or advocate of a cause or principle. 1562-3 Winȝet I 62/5.
God … sall steir wp in his contrare strangar Kempis and perfytear procutaris than I am 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. xix.
And this far for such patrociny that kirk-buriall procutors doe vse pragmatically to pleade

3. A procurator of an ecclesiastical community. = Procurato(u)r n.¹ 2 b. 1549 Aberd. B. Rec. I 265.
The said day, freir John Blak, collectour and procutour for the freris predicatouris of Abirdene, producit in iugment ane chartour

4. One practising as professional law-agent or advocate. = Procurato(u)r n.¹ 5. 1665 Lamont Diary 183.
His lady was maried to one Peter Hay att Pearth, a procwtor before the cowrt ther

5. A person's substitute or proxy in voting. = Procurato(u)r n.¹ 6. a1633 Hope Major Pract. I 17.
In this parliament ther is a great number of the nobilitie ar sett doune be procutors who voitted for them