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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
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Thesaurar(e, -er(e, Tresaurar, Thresaurar, n. Also: thessaurer, thesaurair, -eir, -ir, -ore, -our, thezaurar, thesauerer, thesawrar(e, -er, thesawrar, thesarare, theso(u)rar, thesorer, thes(s)ourer, theserer, thesuarer, thesuerer, thesuirar, thessurer, theasawrer, theasurar(e, -er, theassurer, tresorare, -er(e, -eir, -air, -aur, trezorare, tresourer, tresowrare, tressourar(e, -ere, tressorayre, tressereur, tres(s)urer, tresurur, treserour, treasorer, treaseouror, trazarar, thres(o)urer, threserar, thressorer, thressarar, thresaireare, thresonar, threasurer, thesaur(e, -auer, thessrer, theasrer, tresore, tresowr, treasure, thresser, tressurie. [ME and e.m.E. tresurer (c1290), thresorer (1292), tresorer, tresurrer (both Cursor M.), treasorer (1533), thesuerer (1544), thresourer (1552), threasourer (1562), treasurer (a1586), OF tresor(i)er, late L. thesaurarius.]

1. A treasurer, one who administers a treasury, collects revenues and makes payments for services, repairs, etc. a. An official of this sort serving a monarch, esp. the Scottish monarch, ruler or magnate. b. The equivalent official in the service of a burgh. c. Of a craft guild. d. Of a diocese. e. Of a university. f. Of a parish. g. The paymaster of an army. h. As the name of a ship. i. fig.For many further examples see The Acts of the Parliaments of Scotland XII (1875) Index and The Acts of the Lords of Council in Civil Causes II (1918) Index.For a discussion of the historical development of the royal treasurer's role from treasurer of the king's household to treasurer of the kingdom, see Athol L. Murray ‘The Comptroller 1425-1488’, in Scottish Historical Review 52 (1973), 3-29. Cf. also the Introduction to Accounts of the Treasurer of Scotland XII (1971). 1203–24 Reg. Episc. Morav. 16.
[Testibus magistro Gylberto archidiacono Moravie Andrea cancellario magistro Henrico thesaurario [etc.] 1240 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 15.
Ego W thesaurarius subscribo 1243 Reg. St. A. 305.
Tesaurarius 1256 Reg. Episc. Aberd. II 45.
Officium autem thesaurarij est ornamenta et reliquias et thesauros ecclesie custodire et reficere luminaria 12… Liber Scon 59.
Domino Roberto thesaurario Dunkeldensis 12… Reg. Dunferm. 180.
Diliciis filiis deceno et thesaurario Glasguensis salutem 12… Reg. St. A. 284.
Domino Roberto tessaurario Dunkeldensis 1450 Reg. Dunferm. 316.]
Andrea de Melros nostro confessore et thesaurario 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Ferdingmannvs.
Ferdingmannvs, ane Dutch word, an penni-maister or thesaurara. c1420 Wynt. viii 2103 (W) (see (b) below).
Thesaurare c1420 Wynt. viii 2598 (W).
Counfeire The king of Inglandis thesaurere 1466 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 396.
Maister Dauy Guthre of Kincaldrone thesaurore til oure soueran lorde 1472 Lennox Mun. 85.
Schir John Layng, persone of Newlandis and thesourar till oure souerane 1473 Treas. Acc. I 32.
Thesaurair 1489 Treas. Acc. I 125.
Takyne be the kyng at dyuers tymys out of the thesorarris purs, of quhit siluer iiij li. x s. a1500 Bk. Chess 1954.
The thesaurer he suld be ay so leile That with the commoun gud and gold suld deile 1497 Acta Conc. II 70.
To … Henry abbot of Cambuskynneth, Thesaurare for the tyme, for the outred of our soverane lordis dettis 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1798.
Firme Constance is the kingis secretair And Liberalitie hecht his thesaurair [L. thesaurar] c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 128/69.
Efter our wrettingis, thesaurer, Tak in this gray hors, auld Dumbar 1508–9 Reg. Privy S. I 280/1.
That … thai continew in the forgeing of bullioun … alsoft as thai sal be requirit ar chargeit thareto be us, oure thesaurar, or maiester of our money … for the furnessing of oure … cunȝe 1512 Justiciary Rec. (Reg. H.) III 293.
The saidis airis maid composition with our thezaurar for the samyn 1527 Renfrew Arch. Coll. I 139.
Thesaurour 1528 Lynd. Dreme 22.
Rycht potent prince … I haue … Bene occupyit … sumtyne … Thy purs maister, and secreit thesaurare 1529 Lynd. Complaynt 195.
Thesaureir 1528–9 Reg. Privy S. I 592/2.
Ane lettre maid to Robert Bertoun … makand him thesaurar [and] comptrollar to our soverane lord, maister of his cunȝe, and gret custumar of Scotland, for all the dais of his liff 1531 Bell. Boece I 93.
He ordanit Plautius to be governour as afore, and M. Trebellius to be thesaurar 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2662 (B).
Bot he that all the warld hes wrangit A crewall tirrand [etc.] … By buddis will he obtene favouris Off thesawrar [Ch. tresurers] and compositowris 1540 Lynd. Sat. 875 (B).
Thesawarar [Ch. thesaurar] 1545 Corr. M. Lorraine 152.
The king of Frauncis thesuirar 1547–8 Corr. M. Lorraine 219.
Thesawrare 15.. Clar. i 415.
Thesawrer 1583 Reg. Privy S. VIII 188 (see 3 comb. (1) below).
Thesaurar 1584 Reg. Privy S. VIII 354 (see 3 comb. (1) below).
Thesaurare 16… Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II 26.
Two of the familie have been chancellors of Scotland and a third thesaurere(b) c1420 Wynt. v 2254.
This Saynt Sixt, I spak off are, Till auld Phylype wes tresorare [C. tresowrare] c1420 Wynt. viii 2145.
Kyng Edward off Ingland … send Schyr Hw off Karsyngame That that tyme wes trezorare [C. tressourare, W. thesaurare], In Scotland wyth a gret poware c1420 Wynt. viii 2479.
Tresorere [C. tressourere, E. thesorar] c1475 Wall. vii 1102.
Edwuard as than couth nocht in Scotland fair; Bot Ketyingame, that was his tresorair 1519 Lennox Mun. 217.
Tresoraur 1521 Thanes of Cawdor 143.
I Maister Jhon Campbell … tresorer to our soverane lord 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2662 (Ch.) (see a above).
Tresurers 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 90/12.
Establishe honest … searcheris … & haue a honest & diligent treasurer, to take compte of thaime 1613 Melrose P. 123.
Sir Gideon Murray, our deputy treasorer 1640 Haddington Corr. 178.
And your tresurur most be hanged for betraying his countray falsly(c) 1510 Stirlings of Keir 292.
Quhilkis landis … is in my handis as ourlord, and I the said Schir Willem Menthet is bowndyn to the trazarar thairfor(d) 1519 Montgomery Mem. 90.
Thresaurar 1522 Mar & Kellie MSS 11.
Thir 20 footmen sall be abilȝeit anis in the yere be the thresaireare of the colors of the king, read and yallo(e) c1530-40 Stewart in Bann. MS 96a/26.
The thesaur and compttrollar Thay bad me cum I wait nocht quhair(f) 1657 Balfour Ann. II 114.
Ther wer liuing in this kings time at one instant, two treasures, three secretaries [etc.]b. 1482 Edinb. B. Rec. I 45.
The grete custumys and dewiteis that the thesaurare of the toune resavis and takis of strangearis and vnfremen of schippis and gudis cummand in at the port of Leith 1497–8 Acta Conc. II 111.
That thai [sc. the burgesses of Elgin] cheise yeirely … a man of substance, to be thare thesaurare for the inbringin, ressat and keping of thare commone rentis 1514 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 151.
The president baillies and counsale decernis the thesaurer to pas in the townis behalf and big vp the said heid dykes of thair waist lands aboue written c1520-c1535 Nisbet Rom. xvi 23.
Erastus, thesaurare [P. tresorere] of the citee, gretes you wele 1556 Peebles B. Rec. I 235.
And siclike ordanis the thesaurare to vesy gif ony tymber be to by to mak portis of 1564 Crim. Trials I i 447.
Alexander Park allegit that he was nocht vpon the counsale bot wes allanerlie thesaurer and ingadderare of the commoune-gude 1570 Edinb. B. Rec. III 279.
Thesaurare 1597 Edinb. B. Rec. V 202.
Thesaurer … to delyver to Mr. Adame Newtoun … the sowme of foure hunder pund as lent money 1601 Prestwick B. Rec. 85.
Thessurer 1604 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. 343.
Alexander Auld, ald thesauser, and Thomas Lamb present thesauser 1645 Irvine Mun. II 63.
Thessourer c1646 Craufurd Edinb. Univ. 64.
Immediately thereafter (whereas in former times the thesaurar of the citie had had the charge of the colledge revenues) a peculiar thesaurar was appointed to manage the colledge rentis 1653 Peebles B. Rec. II 13.
The thesaurer to provyde ane saidill worth ten merkes mony … to be run at upon Beltane day … the old way—the inputtes to be for ane after school 1662 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. MS 21 July.
Five hundreth marks … of penaltie to be payed to the theassurer of the said burgh 1667 Aberd. Council Lett. IV 295.
Commissione grantit … for reveising of the said Walter Cochranes compt books and the compt books of the thesaurer of Aberdein 1672 Aberd. Council Lett. V 180.
Theserer 1681 Irvine Mun. II 293.
Thesuarer 1682 Fraser Lowland Lore 8.
Thessrer 1682 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS 27 Sept.
Thessaurer 1699 Fraser Lowland Lore 24.
Theasrer 1709 Corshill Baron Ct. 242.
Thesourer 1716 Dumbarton B. Rec. 104.
Thesuerer(b) 1460 Ayr B. Ct. p. 176 (6 Oct.).
This inquest has ordanit a tresaurar to be chosing this day xl dais to kepe the common gudis ȝerly as alderman & bailȝeis ar chosing & othiris officeris 1460 Ayr B. Ct. p. 178 (3 Nov.).
Tresowris to be chosing ilk ȝer … qwhen alderman & bailȝeis [etc.] … ar chosing … and qwhat euir he be that is chosing tresowrar … sall nodir be alderman na bailȝe 1525 Wigtown B. Ct. 254b (see Want v. 1 (1)).
Tressorayre 1537 Soc. Ant. II 399.
George Rychartson sall pa to the tressaurer [sc. of Haddington] … 40 s. … becaus he would not be Abbot of Unresson 1677 Irvine Mun. II 275.
Thresowrer 1681 Irvine Mun. II 102.
Tressurie 1681 Irvine Mun. II 293.
Treserour 1681 Irvine Mun. II 297.
Tresowr 1683 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS 26 Sept.
Tresore(c) 1539 Mill Mediæv. Plays 251.
Thressarar 1667 Aberd. Council Lett. IV 294.
The lairds of Philorth and Boyndlie being debitors to the thresser of Aberdein 1681 Irvine Mun. II 294.
Thressorerc. 1469 Perth Guildry 453 (10 Nov.).
Allix Scot … is oblist be the treuth of his body & be his awyn hand til pait the tressourar betuex this and ȝouled. c1450-2 Howlat 209 (A).
That bur office Obeyand thir bischoppis … the curlewe … Chargit as chancillar … as thesaurer [B. thesaurare] tane, With grene almous on hed, schir Gawane the Drak 1492 Reg. Episc. Morav. 244.
Vilyam Vinchestre thesaurar of the cathedrall kirk of Murray 1497 Treas. Acc. I 315.
Maister Andro Liell, thesaurar of Abirdene(b) 1559 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I lxxxviii.
To Mr. Patrick Myrton, thresaurer, 89½ unces, beside a gold chaine and great ring 1579 Inverness Rec. I 267.
Mr. Johne Robertson, thresonar of Rose. 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 16.
The thesaurar [sc. of St. Andrews university] salbe chosin anis in the ȝeir … and sal geif compt at the ȝeris end to the censouris the day afor the cheising of the new censouris c1646 Craufurd Edinb. Univ. 6.
Maister of work and thesaurar or collector of the colledge rentis c1646 Craufurd Edinb. Univ. 64 (see b above).
Thesaurarf. 1599 St. A. Kirk S. 888.
Mr. Robert Ȝule, as present thesaurar to the pure, is ordinit to pay viij li. vj s. viij d. to Andro Watsoun 1621 Fraserburgh Kirk S. 123 (13 June).
The sessioun … hes admittitt Mr. William Jaffray theasurar off the box till Lambes next 1626 Elgin Rec. II 194.
Johne Andersone, kirk thesaurer 1653 Stirling Ant. II 14.
The session ordained John Farlaine the thresourer to delyver to Harie Chrystie £4 10 s. 1653 Stirling Ant. II 8.
Thesourer 1667 Kingarth Par. Rec. 55.
Threasurer 1670 Kingarth Par. Rec. 67.
Thresurer 1692 Rothesay Par. Rec. 84.
The Session … ordains that the thesaurer take no caution whatsoever but ready money for consignationsg. 1456 Hay I 141/16.
Gif a capitane … appoyntis with the king of Fraunce for vj frankis for ilke man in the moneth … and takis his wage at the tresourer, and passis till his ordinaunce quhare he is ordanyt tobe 1456 Hay I 147/14.
Tresourar 1545 Corr. M. Lorraine 135.
The makying of thare mostrys and the men all [furneisyt to] cum fordwartis to the bordoris. The mony and thesawrar is cum fra Donkcastell to pay the wageourish. 1507 Treas. Acc. IV 72.
To Johne Bertoun to furnis the schip callit the Thesaurari. 1490 Irland Mir. II 43/1.
Queyn of hevin and of all merci tressorar

2. (My) Lord (High) Thesaurar, Greit (Heich) Thesaurar (of Scotland), the officer of state in charge of the treasury, the treasurer of the kingdom of Scotland. Cf. a above.For further examples see Lord n. 28 (22). ?1616 Countess of Dorset in Misc. Abbotsf. C. 241.]
[Since my Lord Threasurers death c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 134/16.
Neidis nane ȝour payment till dispair; Welcom, my awin lord thesaurair! 1511 Treas. Acc. IV 192.
Fra my lord thesaurar of the kingis awne crammesy satyne to be the king ane gret doublat 1584 Reg. Privy S. VIII 355.
[Appointment of John, Earl of Montrose, as] Greit Thesaurare, ressaver and intromettour with all and sindrie his hienes casualiteis [for life, with power to appoint deputies and clerks, etc.] 1586 Cal. Sc. P. VIII 359.
Eftir sum speache of my lord tresoreir and your honour 1604-31 Craig iii 3.
Lord and governovr of Berwick, heigh thesaurer of Scotland, great maister of the minerals there 1616 Haddington Corr. 129.
Thresawrer 1617 Ure Rutherglen 11.
Lord Erskin, lord high tressurer, comptroller and general recever of our said kingdom of Scotland 1619 Thanes of Cawdor 249.
Johne earle of Mar, hiche thesaurar of Scotland 1682 Irvine Nomenclatura 2.
The great thane, in his province … was an officer of state, not unlike to a high theasawrer 1683 Laing MSS 430.
To tell you that my lord treaseourors displeaseur lasts still against me

3. attrib., comb. and possess.For further examples of thesauraris clerk, see the Index to Treas. Acc. V.Thesaurar-hous, a building used as a treasury or as a safe repository for valuables. Cf. Thesaur(e n. 16 and Thesaurary n. 3.comb. (1) 1512 Reg. Privy S. I 365/2.
For merchandice takin be him to the kingis use … the tyme that he wes thesaurare clerk 1513 Treas. Acc. IV 444.
To Master Andro Hume, thesaurar clerk, ex consideratione auditorum for his lauboris, to his goun, xx li. 1522 Treas. Acc. V 241.
Maister James Currour, thesaurar clerk 1540 (c1677) Elgin Rec. I 27.
Mr. Henry Balnevis of Salhill thesauer clerk 1545 Reg. Privy S. III 174/2.
Thai schewand to oure [sc. the Queen's] thesaurare and thesarare-clerk the said Mathois … discharge of the ressait of the sammyn soum 1554 Treas. Acc. X 244.
To the thesaurar clerk of this terme 1583 Reg. Privy S. VIII 188.
[Appointment of David Lawtie, writer to the signet, for life, as] servitour and waitter on under his majesteis thesaurar and thesaurar clerk … in the justice airis and justice courtis, for awaitting upoun the escheitis and unlawis that sal happin to fall thairin 1584 Reg. Privy S. VIII 354.
Remembering the … service done … be … Schir Robert Melwill … not onlie in the office of thesaurare deputrie … bot [etc.] … makand … the said Schir Robert thesaurare deput and als thesaurare clerk in the office of his hienes thesaurarie … for … his lyvetyme … with power … to compone and have the resaving and debursing of compositionis and casualiteis in the said office [etc.] … and als with power … to mak and substitute [etc.] … utheris clerkis under him for keiping of the register [etc.](2) 1708 J. Chamberlayne St. Gt. Britain II ii iv (1737) 376.]
[The officers of state [of Scotland] before the late Union … The Lord Thesaurer Depute, whose commission ran in the same terms with that given to the Thesaurer Principal, or the Commissioners of Thesaury 1582–3 Exch. R. XXI 570.
I, Schir Robert Melvill of Murdocarny, knycht, grantis me to have resavit the soume above written as thesaurare depute, and I am content that this act be deleit furth of this buk. Robert Melvill, threserar depute 1584 Reg. Privy S. VIII 354 (see (1) above).
Thesaurare deput 1613 Maxwell Mem. II 69.
The secretary, the advocat, and the thesorer depute 1614 Fraser P. 117.
To notifie thair names to oure [sc. King James VI's] thesaurir depute to the effect thay may be … persewit for regraiting [etc.] 1615 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 259.
The thressorer deput wald glaidlie gif me the same [sc. a liferent] 1625 Justiciary Cases I 33.
Sir Archibald Naper of Merchinstoun, knycht, thesaurer depute of our said kingdome of Scotland, last justice clerk and maister of the said ceremoneis 1641 Baillie I 396.
For the thesaurie, since it could not be gotten to Argyle, it was agreed to keep it vacant till the king might be gotten drawn; and in the meane tyme, after the English fashion, to serve it by a commission of fyve, two of Hamiltoun's friends, Glencairne and Lindesay, the Chanceller and Argyle himself, with the thesaurer-deput 1671 Mylne Master Masons 164 (see Thesaurary n. 2).
Threasurer Deput 1676 Acts Sederunt ii 127.
The which day the Lords Thesaurer-deput, Collingtoun, Reidfoord and Newtoun, made report to the Lords 1679 Fountainhall Decis. I 34.
In Halton, treasurer-depute, his cause against the town of Dundee — 1584 Reg. Privy S. VIII 354 (see (1) above).
Thesaurare Deputrieattrib. (1) 1584 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 335.
The sowm of xvj^c li., awand to Mungo Russell at the futting of his last thesaurer compts 1595 Skene in Treas. Acc. XII xiii n.
Ane thesaurare compt in the yeir of God 1488(2) 1603 Reg. Great S. 516/1.
The thesaurer custumes … that the toun of Edinburgh ressavis and takis of strangeris and unfremen of schippis and guidis cumand in at the poirt of Leith and enterit in the townis buikis(3) 1489 Treas. Acc. I 114.
The saim da eftir none, takin be the king furth of the thesaurare hous, xxx^ti royse nobillis 1558 Edinb. B. Rec. III 22.
The said dene of gyld to haif the reliquis … of the kirk of Sanct Geill to the said thesaurar hous of the castell 1558 Edinb. B. Rec. III 22.
The haill evidenttis and wryttingis now beand in the thesaurar hous of this burgh 1617 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 67.
For hewing a ruid and 8 elne pavement for the thesaurar houspossess. (1) 1516 Treas. Acc. V 87.
To the thesauraris clerk 1698 Annandale Corr. 166.
To beg yowl wse your interest to procure for my lord the tressereurs [pr. tresseseurs] deputs place(2) 1527 Treas. Acc. V 332.
To the clerk of register takand ȝerlie in the thesauraris compt 1489 Treas. Acc. I 119.
For the mendin of the thesauraris hous dure