Also vicar-general. [VICAR 4 c, after med.L. vicarius generalis, F. vicaire général.]
The pl. occurs variously as vicars general(s, vicar generals.
† 1. The title assumed by or bestowed upon the Pope, as head of the Church under Christ. Obs.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 253. At Rome … The vicair general of alle Of hem that lieven Cristes feith.
1456. Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 104. God…, and next him his vicare generale the pape.
1539. Tonstall, Serm. Palm Sund. (1823), 46. All power is gyuen to me that Christe had: and I am his vicar general, as Peter was here in erthe ouer all.
1581. Allen, Apol., 17. Whither should we rather flee for releefe either of body or soul, then to … the Vicar general of Christ?
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., IV. xliv. 335. Consequent to this claim of the Pope to Vicar Generall of Christ in the present Church,… is the Doctrine, that it is necessary for a Christian King, to receive his Crown by a Bishop.
transf. c. 1386. Chaucer, Doctor’s T., 20. Lo, I, Nature, Thus can I forme and peynte a creature…. For He that is the Former principal, Hath maad me his viker general [etc.].
2. R. C. Ch. An ecclesiastical officer, usually a cleric, appointed by a bishop as his representative in matters of jurisdiction or administration.
c. 1450. St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 8023. Before his pepill ordande he Þe prior archedekyn forto be, And his generall vicare.
1498. Reg. Privy Seal Scotl., I. 36/1. A presentation … Direct to the vicare general of Sanctandris, the sege thairof vacand.
1509. Plumpton Lett. (1839), 205. Master Plompton,… at his departing out of England, comaunded to me John Carvar, his Vicker generall,… to wryte unto you.
a. 1578. Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 286. Pryor Johnne Hepburne was at that time wicar generall of the bischoperick of Sanctandrois.
c. 1628. in Foley, Rec. Eng. Prov. S. J., I. I. 137. His inferior officers, dispersed throughout all the Countyes of this realme, with titles, powers, and formalities belonging to any Catholique Bishops wheresoever, as Vicaires Generalls.
1672. in Cath. Rec. Soc. Publ., III. 100. Mr George Richardson … was ordained in Ireland by ye Chrs dimissoryes given him by ye Vicar Gen[era]ll.
1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey), Vice-Dominus Episcopi, the Official, Commissary, or Vicar-general of a Bishop.
1767. Phil. Trans., LVII. 461. The vicar-general of this diocese.
1797. Mrs. Radcliffe, Italian, xxvi. While Vivaldi spoke the vicar-general listened with attention.
1800. C. Butler, Life A. Butler, xiii. 44. He was immediately appointed vicar-general to the bishops of Arras, St Omers, Ipres, and Boulogne.
1847. Sarah Austin, Ranke’s Hist. Ref., III. 81. The bishop … sent some delegates, under his vicar-general Faber.
1885. Lady Herbert, trans. Lagrange’s Life Dupanloup, I. 358. The Abbé Valgalier,… and the Abbé Desnoyers, were made titular vicar generals.
b. Similarly in the Church of England; spec. a permanent lay official serving as a deputy or assistant to a bishop, or to the Archbishop of Canterbury or York, in certain ecclesiastical causes.
1536. Act 28 Hen. VIII., c. 10 § 4. All and every Archebisshoppes, Bisshippes and Archedeacons,… their Commissaries, Vicars generall, and other their Mynisters … shall make diligente inserch [etc.].
1588. Marprel. Epist. (Arb.), 3. To the right puisante, and terrible Priests, my cleargie masters of the Confocation-house, whether fickers generall,… or any other of the holy league of subscription.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 31 Aug. 1663. After which the Vicar-general went to the vestry, and brought his Grace into the Chapell [at Lambeth].
1726. Ayliffe, Parergon, 161. According to the common way of Speech, a Chancellor is a Vicar General to the Bishop to all Intents and Purposes of Law.
1836. Penny Cycl., VI. 481/2. The Chancellor of a Church or of a Bishop is Vicar-general to the bishop, holds his courts [etc.].
1854. Hook, Church Dict. (ed. 7). 792/1. The Vicar-General, an ecclesiastical officer who assists the bishop in the discharge of his office, as in causes and visitations.
1887. Pall Mall G., 23 June, 2/2. The Vicar-General [in the Isle of Man] is a man of many callings, holding, in addition to the Vicar-Generalship, the positions of secretary to the bishop, keeper of the records, coroner, and magistrate.
1907. Who’s Who, 413. Cripps, C. A. … Vicar-General of Canterbury; Chancellor and Vicar-Gen. of York since 1900.
3. Hist. The title given to Thomas Cromwell in 1535 as representative of the King in ecclesiastical affairs. (Cf. VICEGERENT sb. 1, quots. 1536–38.)
1679. Burnet, Hist. Ref., I. III. 181. The first act of the Kings Supremacy was, his naming Cromwell Vicar-General, and General Visitor of all the Monasteries and other Priviledged places.
1706. trans. Dupin’s Eccl. Hist. 16th C., II. IV. vii. 419, note. The name of Vicar-General, as appointed by the Prince, had been odious ever since Cromwell’s Management of that Office in Henry VIII’s Time; and was never, for that Reason, taken up afterwards.
1714. Jer. Collier, Eccl. Hist. Gt. Brit., II. II. 104/1. It appears that Cromwell by being made Vicar General had an entire Delegation of the King’s Supremacy.
† 4. (See quot.) Obs.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 235. The King was made Vicare generall, and Lieutenant for the Emperour.
Hence Vicar-generalship, the office of a vicar-general.
a. 1578. Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 287. The bischope … be the consall of wyse men gaif to this pryour the wickar generallschip.
1714. Jer. Collier, Eccl. Hist. Gt. Brit., II. II. 104/1. A Mistake in confounding this Vicar Generalship with his following Dignity of Lord Vice-gerent in Ecclesiastical Matters.
1850. Gladstone, Glean. (1879), V. 193. The Vicar-generalship of Cromwell and … the episcopal Commissions of both these reigns.
1892. Pall Mall G., 4 Feb., 7/1. Twenty-five years of Vicar-Generalship under Manning … ought to weigh in the balance even against aristocratic descent and Court favour.
