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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Chancel(l)er, -ere, -eir, n. Also: chaunceller, chanciller, -seler, -saller. [ME. chanceler (c 1300), -ere, chaunceler, etc., AF. chanceler, OF. chancelier, L. cancellārius.]

1. A court officer. a1400 Leg. S. xlvii. 142.
Ȝet the jug … Gef byding til a chancelere, That he suld haf hir hyne away

2. = Chancellare 1. 1397 Acts I. 208/2.
It is ordanyt that the chanceller sal write preceptis of this statut til al scherefis 1398 Ib. 211/1.
The qwhilke he sal write to the kyng for, & the kyngis priue seel to the chanceler 1402 Dundee Chart. No. 22.
Gilbert bysshape of Abirdene, chanceller of Scotland 1424 Acts II. 7/1.
Anent hospitalys … to be vesyit be the chanceller as hais bene done in the kingis progenitouris tymis 1449 Ib. 34/2.
The king … has ordanit that his chancelleir … sall syt fra hyn forthwarte thrys in the ȝer 1466 Ib. 86/2.
To the quhilk day the Chancelere or his deputis sal cum with the ordiner 1484 Misc. Bann. C. II. 38.
Colyn, Erle of Erguile, Chaunceller of Scotland 1496 Douglas Chart. 158.
Archibald, erle of Angus, lord Dowglas, and chanceller of Scotland 1515 Wemyss Chart. 141.
Iames, … Archibischop of Glasgw, chanceler of Scotland a1578 Pitsc. I. 41/8.
The chanceleir suore be his great aith … thair was in Scotland no wther [etc.] 1584 Argyll Lett. 63.
Colene, Erle of Argyle, … Chanceller and Iustice Generall of this realme 1596 Dalr. I. 109/7.
Thay … war than promouet to the cheif charges of the realme. … as to the chanciller, thesaurer [etc.] 1603 Moysie 70.
He gat presence in the chancelleris ludging betuix the Bowis 1615 Highland P. III. 198.
George ansuerit … that the Chanceller sould tak his defence in all his lauchfull adois 1624 Melrose P. 561.
You must … procur … letters to the chansaller and presedent of Scotland, shewand that [etc.] 1695 Annandale Corr. iii.
M. says his orders are not yet ready. He will see the chanceler gone first

3. The chancellor of a diocese, district, or cathedral. 1423 Reg. Great S. II. 30/1.
Wyt ȝhe us til haf made … Michel the Ramsay our chanceler and chamerlane of our … lordschip of Ananderdale 1457 Reg. Episc. Brechin I. 183.
Certane landis and boundis belangyne our said chanceler, his kirk, ciette and citteneris of Brechine c1515 Asl. MS. I. 222/26.
This person forsaid brocht ane summondis apon Sir Gilbert Mclathane that tyme chanceller of the forsaid cathederall kirk