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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Wardanry(e, -ie, n. Also: wardanery(e, -ie, wardan(n)ré, wardenrie, vardanry, wairdanery. Pl. also wardaneriis, wardainries, wairdanriis. [Late ME and e.m.E. wardenery(e (1434), wardenry (1462-3).]

1. (The period of) the office of regent of the kingdom. (Wardan(e n. 1.) c1420 Wynt. viii 5038.
Efftyr mony dedis worthy, That he [sc. Sir Andrew of Murray] dyde in his wardanry [W. wardanery]

2. a. The office of governor and military commander of a region. (Wardan(e n. 2 a.) b. specif.Of the Scottish border with England. (Wardan(e n. 2 b.) c. The country or region covered by the jurisdiction in b above. d. The equivalent region of England.a. 1375 Barb. viii 362.
Till Ingland in hy he [sc. Sir Aymer de Valence] gais Rycht to the king and schamfully He gaff wp thar his wardanry [C. vardanry]b. 1482–3 Acts XII 32/2.
The said Alexander duc of Albany sal … do his office of wardanry [sc. of the East and West Marches] 1516–17 Treas. Acc. V 98.
To the Lard of Cesfurd for his ȝeris fe of the wardanrie j^cx li. 1525 Crim. Trials I i 127.
The office of wardanery & lieutenentry of the Bordouris 1525 Crim. Trials I i 128.
Wardenrie 1533 Boece 595b.
That Douglas … suld … resaif the wardanrye of Tevidale 1535 Reg. Privy S. II 254/1.
Oure courtis of lieutenandry, wardanery, admarall courtis [etc.] 1546 Reg. Privy C. I 28.
Robert Lord Maxwell … hes tane upoun him the office of wardannre of the West Marchis 1551–2 Reg. Privy C. I 121.
That thair be maid ane commissioun of wardanrie to Johne Maxwell of Terreglis … to be exped under the greit seill 1564 Reg. Privy C. I 278.
Wardanerie of the said marche 1584–5 Reg. Privy C. III 726.
Wardanre 1588 Melvill 266.
It may pleis his Majestie … to reteire his powar of lieutenantdrie, wardanrie, and uther his auctoritie … from all … Papistsc. 1513 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 4.
[The Earl of Angus … undertook] … to reforme all attemptatis committit betuix Fortht and Quhitterne except the bordowris and the bowndis of the wairdanriis as eftir followis 1552 Treas. Acc. X 149.
All the barones withtin the myddill wairdanery to pas … to ane meting 1569 Reg. Privy C. II 31.
Wardaneriis 1577 Douglas Corr. 226.
The principall fugitives quhom I find dissobedient within this west wardanrie 1577–8 Warrender P. (SHS) I 136.
Gar the Lord Maxvell gyf in the namis of all the landis within the Vest Wardanry [pr. Wardary] 1597 Skene Verb. S. (1599) s.v. Iter.
Quhen the justice aire is to bee halden vpon the Bordoures; the wairdaines within their wardainries and their deputes … being warned theretod. 1500 Acta Conc. II 408.
Attemptatis committit … apone the inhabitantis within the wardanerye of the West Merchis of Ingland 1545 Corr. M. Lorraine 134.
The hale cuntreth off this west wardanry off Ingland … is … makin wyth all expedition alle bere breid and furnissing that is in thair possibilte 1578 Reg. Privy C. III 77.
King James the Fift … understanding ane few disloyall subjectis of his realme, inhabiting the fronteirs of England in the oppositive wardanrie … had done sindrie incursionis in his cuntrie

3. The office of warden of the guild or incorporation of masons. (Wardan(e n. 5 b.) 1590 Sc. N. & Q. V 77.
For … exerceing of the office of wardanrie over the airt & craft of masonrie