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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Minist(e)ry, -(e)rie, n. Also: -terey, -tere(e, -tarie, -tre; minstery, minstrie, menstrie. [ME. (Wyclif) and e.m.E. mynis-, mynysterie, minist(e)ry, minstri, L. ministerium, f. minister Minister n.]

1. a. A ruler's executive officers of government or of the law, collectively. 1408 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 221.
We consent nocht to bynde na sic cause to nane enquest to be ressaivit befor the duc ne nane of his ministrie

b. Service, attendance, ministration. 1575 Moncreiffs II. 604.
[The King] makes him medicinar and houshaldman to his ministrie for life 1616 Mining Rec. 167.
All mettall of gold and silver quhilk by his menstrie panes and diligence … he is able to discouer

c. Agency, instrumentality. 1597 James VI Dæmonol. 52.
Yet may he make himselfe palpable, … by assuming any dead bodie, and vsing the ministrie thereof

2. Service or ministration (of the word of God, the gospel, the sacraments, etc.) as a minister of religion or by ministers of religion.Chiefly in the Reformed Church. 1563 St. A. Kirk S. 186.
The superintendent dischergis … Mr. Alexander Jarden fra his ministerie of preching & funccion of all office in the Kyrk 1562-3 Winȝet I. 43/14.
That na vnworthy persoun mycht quietlie creip to the ministerie off the altare 1567 Reg. Privy C. I. 574.
The ministerie and precheing of the word of God decayit 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 73.
In the ministrie of the word and sacramentes 1619 Rec. Univ. Aberd. 276.
No ministrie of the gospel in the kirkis of the deanrie, but lamentable hethenisme

3. The ministration of (a) minister(s) of religion. 1572 Ferg. Serm. iii Malachi Sig. C. ii.
That ȝe salbe seruit be the ministerie of men 1574 Aberd. Eccles. Rec. 17.
Andro Philpson wes delatted for blasphemying the doctrine and ministrie of the Kyrk 1619 Perth Kirk S. MS. 13 Sept.
He hes … vterit speichis against him and his ministrie 1638 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 48.
The reformed kirk within this realme … quher wee serue by our ministerey 1690 Cramond Kirk S. III. 9 Nov.
Considering the great advantage that hath already accresced to this paroch … by his ministry here

b. The profession of minister of religion. 1573 Davidson Sat. P. xlii. 325.
So laik of leuing … Dois mak the laik of multitude To serve into the ministrie 1584 Sempill Sat. P. xlv. 22.
He tuike the ministrie on hand, And servit at Syres vp a land 1600-1610 Melvill 417.
He never did guid in the ministerie sen syne Ib.
And now [he] hes renunced the ministerie, and takin him to be a mediciner 1614 Highland P. III. 163.
Thair is also a Scotisch knaw whom … I admittit to the ministere in Iyrland 1652 Moray Synod 114.
Suspended … from the exercise of the functione of the ministrie 1673 Beale Fife Schools 182.
Since he entered to his studies of the ministrie

4. A ministerial charge, the pastorship of a particular congregation. 1580 Reg. Privy C. III. 334.
His charge and cure of … minstrie at the said kirk … mon be left of 1585 Ib. IV. 15.
The said Maister Johnne to remane still at the burgh foirsaid for serving the cure of ministerie thairat 1589 Sc. Eccles. Soc. 250.
That he may nocht sustein the haill burding of the ministrie in his awin persoun 1599 Lett. Jas. VI to Bruce 286.
To transporte himself from the ministerie of the said toun 1600-1610 Melvill 417.
A sentence of depositioun pronuncit against Mr Jhone Rutherfurd from his ministerie of Kinnouchar 1600 Melvill 481.
The Acts … forbids a minister to joyne with his ministerie the office of a notar, [etc.] 1637 Baillie I. 6.
He … is speaking of dimitting his ministrie, and retireing to his own lairdshipe 1643 Edgar Old Church Life II. 358.

b. In Orkney and Shetland passing into: The district under the charge of a single parish minister, a parish. 1633 (1711) Sibbald's Orkn. & Shetl. 58.
Burray and Fressay are under one ministerie c1650-1700 Descr. Zetland 10.
In each ministery, at least in each parish, the stewart doth substitute a particular baillie [etc.] Ib. 23.

5. The ministers of the church, collectively; the clergy.Applied to the body of ministers of the Church of Scotland as a whole or to any smaller section of them, as of one district or parish.Also ministerie of the kirk, of Goddis word.(1) 1558-66 Knox II. 128.
Yf the poore, the schooles and the ministerie of the kirk had thair awin 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 152.
In all place quhair thaj come, detrudit the ministarie of Goddis word and imputt in thair places preistis … againe(2) 1566 Reg. Privy C. I. 494.
We … hes assignit for sustentatioun of the said ministerie certane victuales and money … to be tane up and disponit be the said ministerie and thair collectouris or chalmerlanis 1567 Sat. P. v. 101.
Prouyde als for the ministerie 1573 Reg. Privy C. II. 261. 1575 Bk. Univ. Kirk I. 335. a1578 Pitsc. II. 315/21.
The maist pairt of the nobilitie and ministrie var in Edinburgh 1583 Cal. Sc. P. VI. 657.
The ministere 1585 Reg. Privy C. III. 741.
The ministeree 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 252.
There is … a very great povertie in the most part of all the ministrie 1597 Misc. Maitl. C. I. 89.
Quhosoever sall sclandir the ministerie 1600-1610 Melvill 626. 1606 Forbes Rec. 519.
The holy ministrie ar … notted … as restles and unquyet spirits a1650 Row 152.
Five or six of the discreetest of the ministrie c1650 Spalding I. 77.
The ministrie and laitie Ib. 115.
Many covenanting and antecovenanting of the ministrie wes thair(3) 1561 St. A. Kirk S. 75.
Be the Superintendent and holl ministerie [? sc. of the diocese] 1568 Reg. Privy S. VI. 64.
To the … communitie of the cietie of Glasgw for sustentatioun of the ministrie thairof 1569 Canongate Ct. Bk. 50. 1571 Reg. Privy C. II. 80.
Requiring the Kirk, minstery and superintendentis in that part to admit him thairto 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I. 173. 1605 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 45.
In presence of the ministrie and sessioun 1600-1610 Melvill 374. Ib. 421, 488.
The ministerie of the northe haillelie 1612 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 79.

b. The ministers and elders of a congregation as a court of the church; the kirk session.Common in St. A. Kirk S. in the period 1560–9. 1560–1 St. A. Kirk S. 61.
Per ministerium ecclesiae reformatae Sanctiandreae, … the ministerie forsaid Ib. 64, 70. Ib. 1.
In the session of superintendent and ministerie of Sanctandr[ois] Ib. 77, 79, 82. 1561 Ib. 87.
We, the minister and eldaris of Cristis … congregacion wythin … Sanctandrois, … be verteu of commissione … direct be the foyrsaid Superintendent to us, as to the ministerie of the principall town of his residence wythin the said diocye 1561–2 Ib. 142.
Anent the caws of delacion gevyn in be the ministerie of Crayll 1564 Ib. 199. 1568–9 Ib. 314. 1569 Ib. 315.
The Superintendent, wytht avis of the seat and ministerie 1629 Kirkcaldy Presb. 43.
Any seatt … whilk is placed be vertue of ane act of ane lawfull ministrie and sessioun

6. A religious house under the superiority of a ‘minister’ (Minister n. 4). 1544 Ayrsh. Coll. IV. 106.]
[The gift of the abbey and ministry of Failford 1622-6 Bisset II. 105/23.
The … numer of all the monasteries [etc.] … , ministeries, preceptories, provinciall places [etc.]