Forms: 5 viker(i)age, vicerege; 5– vicarage, 6 viccar-, vyc(c)ar-, Sc. wicar-, vicrage, 7 vicaradge; 5 vycary-, 5–6 vicariage; 5–7 vicarege, 6–7 -edge, -ige, 6–8 -idge, 7 viccari(a)ge. [f. VICAR + -AGE.]
1. The benefice or living of a vicar.
1425. Rolls of Parlt., IV. 290/2. That they holde residence opon thaire Parsonages, Vikerages, and Hospitalites, opon payn of lesyng the valeu of thaire Benefice.
c. 1438. Ld. Clifford, in Finchale Priory (Surtees), 71. There is a vicerege in Craven … of the which the presentacion longith to you.
1459. Rolls of Parlt., V. 365. The advouson of the Vicariage of the same.
1536. Protocols Town Clerks Glasgow (1897), IV. 98. Factouris as thai allegit to the vyccarage of Mwnkland.
1589. Cooper, Admon., 47. That of Euans concerning the Vicarage of Warwike, is maliciously reported.
1631. High Commission Cases (Camden), 246. He was charged with the simonaicall resignation and bestowing of his viccaridge of Castor upon a young man, a minister.
1660. R. Coke, Power & Subj., 206. Tythes appertaining to Parish-Churches, Prebends, Hospitals, Vicaredges.
1695. Kennett, Par. Antiq., ix. 91. We meet with no such early records that make them distinct and proper Vicariges.
1729. Swift, Libel on Dr. Delany, 132. The offals of a church distrest; A hungry vicarage at best.
1749. Pote, Hist. & Antiq. Windsor, 12. It is a Vicaridge in the Deanery of Reading and Diocess of Salisbury.
1815. Jane Austen, Emma, iv. Though the vicarage of Highbury was not large, he was known to have some independent property.
1863. H. Cox, Instit., III. vii. 700. The hereditaments of the Crown (except advowsons and vicarages).
1884. Manch. Exam., 14 May, 5/3. The plaintiff, a clergyman, who at one time had a vicarage at Bow.
transf. 1587. Holinshed, Chron. (ed. 2), III. 558/1. The three peruerse prelats … stroue togither for the sacred see of papasie Gods vicarage.
1653. H. Whistler, Up-shot Inf. Baptisme, 2. Whether they were redeemed by the Vicarage of a Levite, or (for want of such peculiar help) by a ransome for neighbourly Levites assistance Ordained of God.
† b. A benefice attached to a parsonage. Obs.–1
1501. Reg. Privy Seal Scotl., I. 98. The parsonage of Sanct Colinez Kirk … with the annexis and vicaragis thairof, that is to say, Kilmolowok in Rasay and Kilmory in Walternes.
† 2. A college of vicars. Obs.
1485. in Ripon Chapter Acts (Surtees), 277. I will that my messebuke be gyffyn to the vicarage in Rypon. Ibid. (1505), 304. The said mese … goo to the vicarege of Ripon, they doynge therfor a yerely obbett.
3. The house or residence of a vicar; also, those who live in this.
1530. Palsgr., 285/1. Vycrage a preestes house, presbytoire.
1611. Cotgr., Presbitere, a Parsonage, Vicarage, or Priests house.
1612. Peacham, Gentl. Exerc., III. 157. The ancient coate of Bassingborne, which by chance I found in a window at the Vicaredge in Fulham.
1820. Praed, Poems (1864), II. 136. The traveller was to blame And not the Vicarage or the Vicar.
1891. ‘S. Mostyn,’ Curatica, 150. I had bidden the Vicarage farewell the night before.
† 4. Sc. A (or the) payment due to a vicar; vicarial tithes or other dues. Obs.
1579. Munim. de Melros (Bann. Cl.), 653. Þe teind schevis … with small teindis and Viccaragis pertenand to þe saming Kirk.
1595. in Maitland Club Misc., I. 73. The amount and quantitie of the vicarages of the said benefices, with the glebbis and mansis.
1684. Rec. Baron Crt. Stitchill (S.H.S.), 95. For not paying of Vicaradge at Mertimas, which … the Judge decerns them to pay punctually.
1762. in Nairne Peerage Evidence (1874), 92. The town and lands of Kinnaird and the lands of Tullybeagles with the tiends parsonage and vicarage of the saids haill lands.
1775. L. Shaw, Hist. Moray, 353. The Stipend is 80 Bolls of Victual, and about L. 50 of Vicarnge.
1818. Scott, Hrt. Midl., viii. What have I been paying stipend and teind, parsonage and vicarage, for?
† 5. The position, office or duties of a vicar or representative. Obs. rare.
1622. Donne, Serm., John xi. 35. My vicarage is to speak of his [Christ’s] compassion and his tears.
1642. Jer. Taylor, Episc., § 37. 264. This whole discourse showes … that they [the Bishops] have sole jurisdiction, and the Presbyters only in substitution and vicaridge.
1734. Bp. Petre, in E. H. Burton, Life Bp. Challoner (1909), I. 92–3. He gave up his pious spirit into the hands of God in the ninety second year of his age and forty sixth of his episcopate and Apostolic Vicarage.
6. attrib., as vicarage church, † duty, house, stipend, teind.
1731. Gentl. Mag., I. 118. From hence the Writer takes occasion to consider the State of *Vicarage Churches.
1597. Reg. Mag. Sig. Scot., 303/2. 50 pundis money as for the personage dewtie and 10 merkis for the *vicarage dewtie foirsaid.
a. 1550. Leland, Itin. (1769), IV. 118. From the which Water is conveyed to the Prebendaries Houses, to the *Vicarage Houses, and the Choristers.
1569. Bp. Parkhurst, Injunctions, A iv. Whether … your Parsonage and Vicaredge house be well … maintained.
1638. H. Spelman, in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden), 156. There is a reasonable Vicarage house upon it.
a. 1704. T. Brown, Two Oxford Scholars, Wks. 1730, I. 10. An old rotten Parsonage or Vicarage-house.
1785. J. Wesley, Serm., lvii. Wks. 1811, IX. 25. He removed into the Vicarage-House.
1837. Lockhart, Scott, II. xii. 373. An ornamental cottage in the style of the old English vicarage-house.
1867. J. Campbell, Balmerino & Abbey, III. ii. 170. He was also minister of Logie … and drew its *vicarage stipend.
1610. in T. Pont’s Topogr. Acc. Cunningham (Maitl. Cl.), 185. To Mr. Williame Birsbane, of *vicarege teynd the said yeir, aucht pund.
1640–1. Kircudbr. War-Comm. Min. Bk. (1855), 163. The halfe of the said gleib and vicarege teindes.
