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

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Lieutenandry, n. Also: leu-, leeu-, lew-, lyiu-, lieeutand -ten(n)andry(e, -drie, -ten(n)endry, -drie, -dre(y, ( -tonandrie,); -ten(n)entry, -trie. [OF. lieutenanderie (1388), e.m.E. lieutenantrie (Shakespeare): cf. Locumtenendry. Cf. also Levetenandry and Lufetenandry.]

1. The office or the jurisdiction of a lieutenant; chiefly, that of a vicegerent or deputy of the sovereign (Lieutenand n. 1 a and 2).By a ‘commission of lieutenantry’ extensive, virtually sovereign, powers were delegated to the holder either generally or over particular persons or areas or for particular purposes.(1) 1504 Breadalbane Doc. No. 32.
All and sindry thingis to do excers and vs that to the said office of leutennandry … pertenis 1525 Crim. Trials I. i. 127.
The office of wardanry and lieutenentry of the Bordouris 1547 Corr. M. Lorraine 210.
This nobill man [the Earl of Argyll] has excepit this lyiutenandry allanerlie for the recover [of] Bruchty and Dunde 1585 Acts III. 411/1.
Ratificatioun grantit to the Erll of Huntly of his office and lieutennandrie 1604 Reg. Privy C. VII. 19.
Sir Williame Cranstoun … to proceid in the dischairge of the office of lieutennendrie quhairof he, as deput to the Lord Home, principall officer his the burdeine 1612 Acts IV. 497/2.
The office of lies tenandrie upoun the seyis, coronalschip, and justice general c1630 Scot Apol. Narr. 68.
Diverse of their friends … looked assuredly for advancement to offices, charge of guards, and lieutenentries as they had befor c1650 Spalding I. 10 marg.
The countrie cassin louss throw this lieutennandrie c1680 W. Row Blair 461.
Middleton … is discharged of … his lieutenantry over the forces in Scotland(2) 1535 Reg. Privy S. II. 254/1.
Oure courtis of lieutenandry, wardanery, admarall courtis [etc.](3) 1567 Reg. Privy C. I. 509.
Sen now … necessitie requiris nocht that ony under hir Hienes self have power … to command the subjectis … [she] dischargeis the commissionis of lieutenendry grantit … be hir Hienes to Mathow Erll of Levenax [etc.] 1571–2 Warrender P. (S.H.S.) I. 112.
Ane commissioun of lieutonandrie: [… we make … William Lord Ruthven, Treasurer, our lieutenant and justiciar in that part within all the marches of our kingdom, etc.] 1590 Grant Chart. 177.
Quhat deidlie feiddis, … hes fallin out amangis nobill men, … be granting of priuate commissiounes of iusticiarie and lieutennendre a1639 Spotsw. Hist. 286.
A commissioun of lieutenandry was given to the Earl of Angus for convocating the subjects(b) 1563 Cal. Sc. P. II. 75.
[My lord of Murray gets his commission of] lewtennendrie 1611 Peterkin Orkney & Zetl. App. 88.
His L. had given to him an commission of leutenandry and justiciary with power to sit upon all crymes

2. The area over which a lieutenant is granted authority or jurisdiction. 1516–17 Reg. Privy S. I. 449/1.
The ferme landis within the … Erle of Ergilez lieutenandrye 1552 Reg. Privy C. I. 136.
[To] be reasit … within the boundis of my lord Huntleis lieeuttenendrie [infra leeutennentrie] tua ansaingyis of fittmen 1604 Ib. VII. 19.
To command … all our soverane lordis leigis … within the bounds of the said lieutennendrie to ryse