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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Legat, Legate, n. Also: legait, leggit. [ME. (1154) and e.m.E. legat, legate, OF. legat, L. lēgātus ]

1. A papal legate: an envoy or a representative of the Pope, armed with the latter's authority.Also legate a latere, the designation of the highest class of papal legates.(a) c1515 Asl. MS. I. 205/27.
King John … resignit wp the crovne … to Pandulf the Papis legat 1536 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 131; 1566 Reg. Privy S. V. ii. 224/2.
The actione … movit be James … Archbiscop of Sanct Androis, primat and legat of Scotland 1563 Acts II. 536/1.
Legattis, archbischoppis, bischoppis, abbottis, [etc.] 1698 Fam. Innes 2.
Ther being a William sent legat from Rome … who did not arryve whill the beginning of … Malcolmes reign(b) c1420 Wynt. vi. 1343; Ib. vii. 2205.
Thare come in to the rewme off Frans A legate send a latere, For till wysyd … How the byschapys governyd ware Ib. vii. 1879.
[The Pope] Send wyth hym a messawngere In Scotland to ken off that matere … And swa wes gret cownsalys sere Haldyn … Be this legatys autoryte 1487 Acts II. 183/2.
Na legate nor messingere of the court of Rome 1518 Douglas Corr. 75.
To the … Cardinale of Ȝork … legate of the sege apostolicque 1546 Lynd. Trag. Card. 67.
I … for vphalding of my dignitie, Was maid legate 1596 Dalr. II. 150/25.
To Scotland legatis fra the Pope ar sent with hallowit sword … to the King(c) 1501 Treas. Acc. II. 100.
To gif to Cipriane de Rege, quhilk com fra the legait a1538 Abell 84 a.
First he wes legait in Norwage & that wild pepill conuertit till gude life Ib. 112 b.(d) a1578 Pitsc. I. 247 heading.
Hou he [the Pope] maid him [Forman] leggit of Scotland

b. Borne legat, rendering L. legatus natus : see Legatnait n. 1622-6 Bisset I. 88/28.
To all metropolitanis … of the kingdome of Scotland, archebischopis and primattis, borne legattis and bischopis [etc.]

2. An envoy or ambassador generally. c1400 Troy-bk. i. 33.
Furth he sende hys legate sone … To Hercules ande to Jasone Ib. ii. 80.
Quharfor Gregeois has Vlixes Statute and als Dyomedes … As legates to the toune to ga 1456 Hay I. 235/24.
Na justice may compell thame, sen thay ar legatis of princis and cummyn in the Kingis realme 1533 Bell. Livy (1822) I. 418.
The Faderis … determit to abide on the returning of thare legatis fra the tempil of Delphos a1538 Abell 25 b.
The legattis of the Romanis come on thare kneis before the confidirit kingis 1596 Dalr. I. 139/4.
The Britons … seeing thame selfes defett, sent legatis of peace Ib. II. 117/7.
King James at last rundis in the legatis eire that with Ingland he bind wil a … band 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. 274.
In this behalf thay ar the legats and embassadeurs of Christ Jesus

3. A governor of a province of the Roman Empire.Common only as a rendering of the L. legatus in this use. 1531 Bell. Boece I. 131.
Swetonius, legat of Britane, for his arrogance and cruelte … was deponit 1533 Boece v. iii. 168.
Lucius Anthenous legate sare with infirmite vexit be intemperance of the Britan are 1535 Stewart 9910.
Hir dochteris bayth to the legat wer led Ib. 10480.
The Romanis all had loissit bene that nycht, Had nocht thair legat sonner maid thame lycht 1596 Dalr. I. 194/6.
In thir dayes the Romane legat Maximus had the governing of al Britannie