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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.

Comptrollar(e, -air, n. Also: comptt-, compterollar, comtrollar, comprollare. [The usual Sc. form of Comptroller.]

1. The keeper of a counter-roll serving to check a treasurer's accounts; a household officer having control of expenditure.(a) 1492 Treas. Acc. I. 206.
Duncan Forster, comptrollar 1494 Ib. 245.
Be the awys of the Thesaurar, the Compterollar, and Master Alexander Ynglys in Leythe 1508 Reg. Privy S. I. 270/2.
A lettre made to Iames Dowglas, of xl lib. of feale … to be payt to him ȝerely be the comptrollare 1522 Doug. Works (Sm.) I. p. cx.
He has maid one Robert Bertoun, one verre pyrett and sey revare, Comptrollar c1530-40 Stewart Bann. MS. 96 a/26.
The thesaurare and compttrollar, Thay bad me cum I wait nocht quhair 1554–5 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 297.
Twa indorsingis raissit at the comptrollars instance aganis unfremen 1558–9 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 276.
To the Comptrollar for the borrow maill the yeir of the compters office a1578 Pitsc. II. 174/15.
All [the rents] sould be brocht to the quenis grace comptrollar and compt maid thairof in the chakerhous 1604 Red Bk. Grandtully II. 133.
Discharging heirfoir our compttrollar … off all trubling, ressaving or craving of our said seruitour 1607 Highland P. III. 104.
Thay being remittit to deale with ȝour Maiesteis Comptrollair(b) 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 11.
Coilwill … was chosin comprollare Ib. 13. a1578 Pitsc. I. 334/7.
The king … changit money of his offieceris, that is to say, thesawrar, comtrollar, secrietar, and maister houshald 1586 Conv. Burghs I. 226.
The haill wynis … that sal happin to be tane vp … be warrand and commandement of the comtrollar to his Maiesties vse

2. (See quotation.) 1561 Reg. Privy S. MS. XXX. 58 b.
Ane lettre to be maid makand him secund persone of hir gracis artailȝeirie … to be callit in tyme cuming the comptrollar of artailliere, and to rewle thairin nixt vnder the maister artailȝerie 1592 Acts III. 607/2.
Iohnne Cheisholme, comptrollar of his hienes artalȝearie

3. Comptrollar wardane = Comptar wardane. 1567 Treas. Acc. MS. 145.
The officiaris of the cunȝous … wardane, … comptrollar wardane, … assayer