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

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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Prelocuto(u)r, -loquit(o)ur, n. Also: -locquitor, -loquotour, -loqu(u)to(u)r. [Med. L. prelocutor a spokesman, repr. L. *prælocūtor one who speaks beforehand or forestalls another in speaking, but in med. L. often put for prolocutor Prolocuto(u)r n. Only Sc.] One's pleader in a court of law. = Prolocuto(u)r n. 1.(a) 1517 Fife Sheriff Ct. 70.
The actione & cause persewit be Johne Broune … & Master Thomas Wemis prelocutour & procuratour for hyme aganis Johne Spens 1519 Ib. 163. 1531 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 50.
And for the part of the said David in jugment comperit Thomas Scot his prelocutor replyand heyrto [etc.] 1532 Ex. Processes (Reg. H.) p. 2 Betoun v Melville. 1533 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 95.
And Master Thomas Wemys thair prelocutor 1535 Prot. Bk. Sir J. Cristisone 37.
[The vicar of Rayne] prelocutor [for the laird] 1561 Reg. Privy C. I 167.
Prelocutour 1564 Crim. Trials I i 442.
Prelocutouris for the pannell, Mr. Clement Litill [and others] … prelocutouris for the persewar, the Lard of Torry [and others] 1565 Perth B. Ct. 325 (9 May).
Prelocutour c 1566 in Fife Sheriff Ct. 407.
Gif the persoun accusit or persewit can nocht schaw furth his awin caus … so weill as neid wer he aucht to haif ane prelocutour or afoir speikar to help him 1572–3 Reg. Privy C. II 191.
The saidis complenaris comperand personalie with Maister David Borthuik thair prelocutor 1573 Ib. 254. 1574 Ib. 362.
Prelocutour 1586 Jurid. Rev. IV 295.
The prelocutor foirsaid alledgit that the remanent personnes in pannell cannot be putt to the knowledge of ane assyze [etc.] 1592–3 Misc. Spald. C. II 120.
Prelocutour 1615 Peterkin Orkney & Zetl. App. 45.
Quherupon the pannell and his prelocutors mycht haif consultit 1616 Crim. Trials III 398.
It is allegit be the pannell and thair prelocutour, that the dittay is nawayis relevant 1625 Justiciary Cases I 25.
For him selff and in name of the haill defenderis togidder with Mr. Wm. Oliphant younger, aduocat, his prelocutor 1626 Ib. 46.
Compeirit personallie the said Donald McAngus of Glengarie with Mr. Thomas Nicolsone aduocat, his prelocutor, and with Mr. Roger Mowat also as prolocutor for him Ib. 48. 1631 Ib. 191.(b) 1532 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 59.
In the actione … aganis Robert Orrok … comperit in jugment … Master Hendre Spittall his prelocquitor 1532–3 Ib. 89.
Prelocquitor 1573 Murray Kilmacolm 244.
The saidis preloqutouris in defence alledgeis that [etc.] 1575 Rep. Hist. MSS. Var. Coll. V 100.
Hir preloquutour 1582 Misc. Stair Soc. I 103.
Being alsua personallie present with Maister Jhone Shairp his preloquotour 1584 Acts III 301/2.
Accumpaneit onlie with … thair preloquutouris 1586 Crim. Trials I ii 209.
Persewaris … Preloquitouris for the pannell 1601 Ayr Chart. 135.
The saidis provest, baillies [etc.] … comperand be Jhone Lokart thair preloquutour 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii 23.
The defender or his preloquutour sould not answer before the complainer or his preloquutour hes spoken and said all 1624 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV 247.
The saidis … perseweris being baith personallie present with Maisteris Thomas Hope and Andro Aytoun thair preloquitouris 1627 Orkney Rentals App. 104.
Preloquiturs

b. One who is appointed to act as spokesman for a body of persons of which he is a member, as an assise or a group of procurators. = Prolocuto(u)r n. 1 b. 1398 Reg. Episc. Morav. 212.]
[Que assisa … dicebat per os … Johannis de Galhagy preloquutoris assise quod idem Willelmus … fuit … quietas de furto dicte eque 1500 Acta Conc. II 474.
Be it kend … me … til haf made … Robert Erskin [etc.] … our verray lauchfull and undowtit procuratouris … to ansuere to the sade summondis … with full power ane or maa procuratouris or prelocutoris in thare stedis to make … haldand … quhatsumever thingis the sadis my procuratouris or thare substitutis or prelocutouris … ledis to be done 1561 Reg. Privy C. I 166.
The saidis merchandis [of Nantes] comperand be Guilliame Lanbier and Andro Luley, thair procuratouris, with Maiester David McGill, thair prelocutour; and the said Thomas Kennedy … being personalie present with Maister Thomas McCalȝean [etc.] … his prelocutouris Ib. 167.