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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.

Provestry, -ri(e, n. Also: prowest-, proveist-, provist- and -rye, -re, -rey; -erie, -ery. [f. as Provostry n., conformed to Provest n.]

1. The office of provost of a collegiate corporation of clergy or the revenues attached to this. Cf. Provest n. 1. 1488 Acts II 209/2.
Bischoprikis abbacyis prouestriis [etc.] 1490 Lennox Mun. II 135.
Presentacionis of prouestriis, chanounriis [etc.] 1494 Acta Aud. 186/1.
The froitis and dewiteis of the prouestri of Linclowdain 1531–2 Reg. Privy S. II 151/2.
The gift and dispositioun of the provestrey of the college kirk of Dunbertane 1539–41 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 266.
The taxt of the provestry of Meffane … xlviii lib. c1560 Old Ross-shire I 12.
I ame … ondouttit provest of the College Kyrk of Tayne and I and my predecessors provests tharof be ressone of the said provestery war alswey provests of the said toune Ib. 14.
[The use of the seal is] properte and pairt of the patrimony of the said provestery 1569 Treas. Acc. XII 161.
Maister David Mortoun, takkisman of the provestrie of Crale a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. clxxiv 62.
At thi gift is mony abaseis, personages, prouestres [etc.] 1571 Bk. Univ. Kirk I 214.
All prouestreis and prebendaries in college kirkis foundit vpoun temporall landes or annuellis … salbe gevin … to bursaires and studentis in grammer, art [etc.] 1573 Reg. Privy S. VI 372/1 (see Provest n. 1). 1576 Carrick Baillie Ct. 27 June.
Replaidgit be Henrie M^cRankene baillie of the provestre of Maybole 1587 Glasgow Chart. I ii 206. 1627 Orkney Rentals iii 85.
The benefices of the prowestrie callit the prebendarie of the Trenetie consists of landis [etc.] … of the said thre kirkis 1592 Reg. Morton I 181.
My brother in law … hes obtenit his [an advocate's] gude will of the prouestrie of Dalkeith … and wantis onlie the consent of ȝour L., patrone of the said benefice 1633 Sibbald's Orkn. & Shetl. 3.
A fair cathedral church … containing a provestrie, viz. a provest (the bishop), a dean, seven beneficed persons, and seven prebends

b. The office of provost of a college (of St. Andrews University). Cf. Provest n. 2. — 1574–5 Reg. Privy S. VII 10/2.
The place of the provestrie of the New College … being vacand [etc.]

2. The office or jurisdiction of the provost of a burgh. Cf. Provest n. 5. 1508 Reg. Privy S. I 262/1.
Forsamekle as Gilbert Menȝeis was and is in the office of provestry of the said burgh [etc.] 1519 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 149.
To remuf the provest … fra the office of provestry … and to cheis ane uthir ganand persoune tharto 1540 Linlithgow B. Ct. 4 Oct.
And to exerce hant and ws his office of prowestre wndir our souerane lord the kingis grace 1550 Elgin Rec. I 103.
The prowest of his auctorate of prowestre and luftennent deputrie has commandit [etc.] 1554 Haddington B. Rec. (Robb) 5 Oct.
The ald counsale with the new hes chosin lits of the provestrye and baillies for this ȝeir 1569 Reg. Privy C. II 16.
The saidis inhabitantis … to answer and obey to me in the said office of provestrie, conforme to my infeftment 1576 Glasgow B. Rec. I 53.
The said noble and potent lorde of the provestrie 1590 Crail B. Ct. MS 25 Nov.
The office off prowestrie within this burght is now vacand 1676 Lauder Jrnl. 218.
[Act] declaring that no man shall in tyme coming be capable of provestrie or magistracy but merchants and actuall traffiquers duelling within burgh(b) 1663 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. MS Oct.
Alexander Hird, proveist, gave in leit of proveisterie(c) 1691 Lauder Jrnl. 306.
Sir James Rocheid … who aspyred att the provistrie