baillies

Nelson Mandela must occasionally wonder if his real birthplace is not actually somewhere in west central Scotland as the postman brings the puzzled old freedom fighter yet another sackful of certificates, baubles and doctorates from right honourable and worshipful baillies, provosts and presiding officers.

All hail the Robert Burns of our day | Kevin McKenna 2011

And the deaconis of ye craftismen fearing vproare, maid great solistatuis at ye handis of ye said provost and baillies, and als requirit John Knox, minister, for eschewing of tumult, to superceid ye execution of him, vnto ye tyme yai suld adverteis my Lord Duke yairof.

The Abbot 2008

David Symmer and Adame Fullartoun, baillies of the samyne, causit ane cordinare servant, callit James Gillion takin of befoir, for playing in Edr. with Robene Hude, to wnderly the law, and put him to the knawlege of ane assyize qlk yaij haid electit of yair favoraris, quha with schort deliberatioun condemnit him to be hangit for ye said cryme.

The Abbot 2008

"Mirroring the industrial model, Selkirk Town Council, with provost, baillies, magistrates and all, gave us another kind of top-down leadership – one which was never challenged in the industrial age and one which, though democratically elected, perpetuated the idea of a civic leadership which embodied power in individuals."

John Terry’s sacking as England captain tells us something interesting... 2008

Castellhill, and in this menetymne the saidis provest and baillies, and thair assistaris being in the writing buith of the said Alexr.

The Abbot 2008

He can sit in the park with her at summer until late at night with a bottle of baillies and stolen glasses getting drunk.

fragile-liar Diary Entry fragile-liar 2001

"As the power of the sovereign extended over the west," says Mr. E.W. Robertson, "it was his policy, not to eradicate the old ruling families, but to retain them in their native provinces, rendering them more or less responsible for all that portion of their respective districts which was not placed under the immediate authority of the royal sheriffs or baillies."

An Outline of the Relations between England and Scotland (500-1707) Robert S. Rait

Henceforth they shall swear not to give nor send any gift to any man who may be on our council, nor to their wives nor children nor to any soul belonging to them; nor to those who shall audit their accounts on our behalf; nor to any inquisitors whom we may send into their baillies or provosties to make inquiry into their acts.

The Memoirs of the Lord of Joinville 1906

Moreover we ordain that those who hold the provosties, shrievalties, and other baillies cannot sell them to anyone else without our leave, and if several persons combine to buy the aforesaid offices, it is our will that one of the buyers shall perform the duties for all the rest, and exercise the liberties pertaining to remounts, tallages and public charges, as the custom is.

The Memoirs of the Lord of Joinville 1906

They must therefore have somehow bestowed 'the power of the Sword' on the baillies and town council of

Historical Mysteries Andrew Lang 1878