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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.

Chancel(l)ar, -are, -air(e, n. Also: chawnselare, chauncel(l)ar(e; chansillar, chansel(l)ar, -ssellar(e, -scelar, -schellar. [Alteration of Chancel(l)erre, in accordance with other agent-nouns in -ar(e, and L. cancellarius.]

1. The highest officer of the Crown and chief legal authority. Freq. with addition of Scotland.‘The Chancellor of Scotland was formerly an officer of very great importance. He presided in the Scots Parliament, and in all courts of judicature, and had the principal direction of the Chancery. He had the custody of the great seal, and was chief counsellor to the King’ (Bell).(a) c1420 Wynt. vii. 3197.
The kyngis officiaris behuwyde Out of thar office to be remowide, As chanscellar, chawmirlayn, and iustis 1425 Acts II. 11/1.
The king … has ordanit that his chancellar … sall syt fra hyn furthe thre tymmis in the ȝere c1450-2 Howlat 205.
Thar come the curlewe … Chargit as chancillar, For he couth wryte wounder fair 1464 Reg. Episc. Brechin II. 107.
Andro, lorde Avandale, chauncelar of Scotland 1473 Lennox Mun. 95.
Our weil belouet cosyng and chanscelar, Andro Lord Avandaill Ib.
As our forsaid chancelar had the samyn landis of vs of befor 1494 Treas. Acc. I. 241.
Gevin to ane currour to pas to Wigtoune to stop the seruing of my Lord Chancelaris brevys 1520 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 196.
He sould nocht cum within the toun quhill my Lord Chancellar maid ane finall concord betuix him and the nychtbouris thairof 1532 Grant Chart. 75.
The lordis of counsale vndirwrittin, … Gawine, archibishop of Glasgow, chancellar [etc.] a1578 Pitsc. I. 41/2.
Quhen this earle was command fordwart on this wyse, the chancelar on sett purpois raid fourtht to meit him 1582 Argyll Lett. 20.
To … The Erle of Ergyle our Chancellar 1613 Haddington Corr. 73.
Commissionar, Chancelar, and Estaites of Parlement of our kingdome of Scotland; — It is oure will [etc.] 1626 Bk. Carlaverock II. 76.
The commissionis that the Erle of Anandaill … broght of agreeing the Chancellar and me 1694 Annandale Corr. 81.
Much will depend vpon the chanselars firmnes, who may have temtations anof to the contraire(b) 1439 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 6.
In the Tolbuith, before the Chancelare, be the alderman, the baillies and the counsale, … it is statute [etc.] 1445 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 311.
Our souerane lorde the kingis consaleour dailie being aboute him, that is to say, a reuerend fader in Criste James … bischop of Dunkeld and chancellare of Scotland 1456 Hay I. 2/24.
William, erle of Orknay and of Cathnes, lord Synclere and chancelare of Scotland 1474 Treas. Acc. I. 1.
Compt of a reueraund fader … before … oure sade Souerane Lordis counsale … Andro, lorde Avandaile, Chauncellare 1491 Ib. 166.
Chauncellare, we charge ȝow … that ȝe here the Thesauraris compt and defeis, and allow as ȝe think accordis to resone 1566 Fraser P. 224.
The Lordis of Consale underwrittiin … Lord George, Erle Huntlye, Chancellare [etc.] 1582 Argyll Lett. 21.
To … the Erll of Argyle, our Chancellare 1622-6 Bisset I. 143/20.
The chancellare … [sall] caus ane roll … to be maid of all causes(c) 1528 Douglas Corr. 16.
In lyk wys we have oft … considerit mony apperand dangeris … in defalt of the Erle of Angus oure said chancellaire 1571 Wemyss Corr. 15.
Iames Erle of Mortoun, … Chancellair and Admirall of this realme 1577 Reg. Morton I. 102.
I ressauit ȝour writing schawing that my lord of Angus had steikkin vp the writing that I send to the Chancellair 1593 Acts IV. 34/1.
The chancellair, thesaurair, … clerk of registrie, maister almousser [etc.] 1607 Highland P. III. 97.
This gentleman … by the earnist … solistatioun of ȝour Maiesteis Chancellair tuke the seruice in hand 1624 Melrose P. 576.
We, your maiesteis chancellair and secretair, had diuers meetingis with the earle of Nithisdailltransf. 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. iii. 523.
His chancelair is cleipit conscience, Quhilk for na meid will pronounce fals sentence

2. One of the chancellors of England. c1420 Wynt. vii. 1323.
Saynt Thomas wes hys Chawnselare, And his gret sele wyth him bare 1606 Acts. IV. 292/1.
George, Erle of Dunbar, … Chancellar of the escheker in England

3. The chancellor of a diocese. 1490 Acta Conc. 160/1.
Maister James of Balfour, chancelare of Brechin, gert summond thaim 1537 Glasgow Prot. IV. 113.
Master Ihon Reyd, chanschellar of Abbyrden 1566 Fraser P. 224.
Maister Dauid Chalmer, Chancellar of Ross

4. The foreman of a jury. 1491 Acts II. 225/1.
That the chancellare or presedent … with the avise of his assissouris sall put quhat pane … thai think expedient 1519 Fife Sheriff Ct. 150.
Williame Scott … chancellare of the said assise 1644 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. VIII. 147.
Robert Somervell in Eardhouses is electit chancellar to the said inquest 1666 Forbes Baron Ct. 267.
The haill assys … in the mouth of the choncelar convictis and mackis the said William Norey guiltie