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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.

Procuratio(u)n, n. Also: procwr-, procowr- and -atione, -acio(u)n(e, -acoun(e, -atoun. [Late ME and e.m.E. procuracio(u)n (c 1420), e.m.E. procuration (1523), F. procuration, OF -cion (13th c. in Littré (the act of giving) power of attorney, L. prōcūrātiōn- caring for, superintendence, administration, management, f. prōcūrāre Procur(e v.] In senses of Procur(e v. and Procurato(u)r n.¹

1. a. Care, protection. 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii 39.
All they quha are destitute … salbe vnder the Kings procuration and protection within his realme

b. Management, superintendence, stewardship. 1533 Bell. Livy II 63/31.
The tribunis seand, as apperit than, the procuratioun [L. procurationem] of this office [sc. of censor] mare necessare than honorabil, made litill empeschement thareto 1619 Rec. Univ. Aberd. 276.
That in his procuratioun of the colledge effairis and rentis thairof he had … bene negligent

2. a. Nefarious contrivance, devising, scheming, or an instance of these. c1420 Ratis R. 1529.
Tharfor thar propre accioune, With al thar procuracioune, Wyll besy thaim 1439 Acts II 54/2.
Sa that nouther the said schir Alexander [etc.] … be nought the neirar the deede be the miene of the said princes hir procuracione or seruantis 1531 Bell. Boece II 444.
Johne Sanctmehel slew ane nobill knicht … be procuration of Schir William Douglas a 1566 Three Reformers 14.
Quhilk sall mak certane demonstrations To help us in our procurations, Your haly Ordour to decoir

b. Accomplishment (of something desirable) by one's care or effort. a1538 Abell 58 a.
Stude wniersale of Paris beguth be procuration of Alcuyn Charlis maistir

3. Procuring a seal. 1496–7 Acta Conc. II 45.
The procuratioun of the quhilk sele to the sade obligacione the sade Patrik denyit 1497 Ib. 73.
Procuracione

4. A payment due to the bishop from a parish or its incumbent minister in commutation of the duty to entertain the bishop or the archdeacon on their visitations.Also Procurage n. 1240 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 15.]
[Carta exemptionum ecclesiarum communium a solutione procurationum et aliarum exactionum c1450-2 Howlat 220 (A).
Bot in wplandis townis, At vicaris and persounis For the procuracounis Cryand full crows 1511–14 Rentale Dunkeld. 11; Ib. 9 f.]
[Account of Master James Lyne, canon of Dunkeld and dean of Christianity in the parts of Stratherne [etc.] … The whole procurations of the churches of his deanery for 1511, £27/6/8 1561 Reg. Episc. Morav. (Pref.) xix.
Nota — The procuratiouns and synodallis was wont to extend yeirlie to four score pound

5. The action of collecting offerings for a charity etc. also ? dues for a public work. 1483 Perth Guildry 107 (10 Dec.)
The provest baillis & consale has the limtacioun & procuracioun of the brig of Taye for this ȝere to Johnne Weddirspoun for iiij merkis 1504 Ib. 156 (15 Nov.).
That all gildbrether quhen thaj ar requirit … to the procuratione of the halyblud licht pas & exers the samin diligently endureing the said tyme of the halyblud mes1553 Edinb. B. Rec. II 328 (see Pece n. 18 b attrib.). 1553–4 Ib. 343.
I am to be chargit with the silver of the pece of procuratoun1556 Ib. 240 (see Pece n. 18 b).

b. plur. Offerings collected for charity, collectively. = Procuracie n. b. 1466 Aberd. B. Rec. MS V ii p. 837 (10 Oct.).
Dauid Blabir sal be collector of Saynt Thomas hospitale of all procuratounys belangande to the said hospitale for this ȝer

c. Attrib. in procuratioun-day. 1518 Edinb. B. Rec. I 182.
To the forsaidis merchandis and gild brethir … to mak the Haly Blud to be thair patrone and to haif the octauis of Corpus Christi to be thair procuratioun dais

6. The action of appearing for another in litigation as his procurator, esp. as a professional advocate: Procur(e v. 9. 1532 Acts Sederunt i 5.
And giff ony vtheris … will desyr to be admittit to the office of aduocatioun and procuratioun, thai salbe ressauit with the avis of the said lordis 1532 Reg. Cupar A. I 312.
For aduocatioun and procuratioun to be maid be him … in all … our actionis and causis, aganis quhatsumeuyr personis 1539–40 Reg. Privy S. II 483/1.
For thare advocatioun and procuratioun of the pure 1552–3 Edinb. Old Acc. II 15. 1562 (c 1650) Dundee B. Laws 29.
Gife any person speakes or procures agains the common actiones of this burgh, and [etc.] … that the person … sall tine his freedome … and be dischargit of his procuratione in this judgment … for ever 1574 Comm. Univ. III (St. A.) (App.) 188.
And that nane be admittit befoir the lordis or utheris jugeis to ordinar procuratioun except thai sall first give specimen doctrine in the Universitie of Sanct Androis and report a testimoniall fra the said lawier 1574 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 16. c1575 Balfour Pract. 299.
And the said advocat [sc. for the poor] sall sweir that he sall tak na profit fra thame for his procuratioun 1595 Edinb. B. Rec. V 147.
Gevin to Mr. Jhonn Scherp [etc.] … advocatts for thair counsall and procuratioun before the lords in the townes caussis

7. Pleading a case, arguing in a certain way. 1562-3 Winȝet I 58/35.
Calling me ‘Procutar for the Papistis’. Gif ony man … sall think this my procuratioun in thir articulis to be wngodly, lat him remember [etc.]

8. A mandate or authorization formally constituting another one's procurator; a document bearing such a mandate; the authority so delegated. = Procuratory n. a, b, f.(1) ?14.. Ship Laws c. 1 (A).
The maister may nocht sell the schip bot gif he haf commandment or procuracoune of his masteris 1456 Hay I 180/3.
For and I had gevin power to my procuratour in parlement to lede a proces for me … suppos I have put in his procuracioun ‘and generally all othir causis and dettis’ ȝit may he nocht [etc.] 1559 Liber Melros II 648.
And the said procuratioun of licence at his hand be thair said tenentis now in absence of ane maister and unprouidit therof as ȝit 1563–4 Perth B. Ct. 20 (2 Feb.).
Comperit the said Blais and producit ane procuratoun and ane indent 1574–5 Edinb. Skinners in Bk. Old Edinb. C. VI 92.
For making of ane procwratioun and lowking of the vrytingis and making menet of thame 1583 Reg. Morton I 137.
I haue left ampll procowration to my serwand … to mell intermet and giue dischairges 1594 Conv. Burghs I 449.(2) 1567 Acts III 11/1.
The dimissioun … maid be the quenis grace … be vertew of hir letteris of commissioun and procuratioun subscriuit with hir hand and under hir preuie seill 1574 Reg. Privy C. II 404.
Be thair letters of procuratioun under the seill of the same toun

9. Government or administration of a province of the Roman Empire by a procurator (Procurato(u)r n.¹ 1). 1596 Dalr. I 207/21.
Maximian … eftirward committing the procuratione of Britannie til Dionethie, passid in France