Forms: 5 vichaunceller, 6 vychancellour, vyschancelar; 6 vice-chauncelour, -ellor, -chancelor, 6– vice-chancellor (7 -our); Sc. 6 vicechancellair, 7 -ellar, -eler. [a. OF. vi(s)chancelier (F. vice-chancelier), or ad. med.L. vicecancellarius: see VICE- and CHANCELLOR sb. So It. vicecancelliere, Sp. vicecanciller, Pg. vicechanceller.]
1. The deputy or substitute of an ecclesiastical chancellor; spec. the cardinal at the head of the Papal Chancery.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), VII. 297. This bischop induede the prior of Dirhem firste with his honoure that he is decan in that bischopryche and as vichaunceller.
1670. G. H., Hist. Cardinals, I. III. 85. Six of the Abbreviators places are in the Gift of the Cardinal Vice-Chancellor.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 18 Feb. 1645. Belonging to Cardinal Francesco Barberini as Vice-chancelor of the Church of Rome.
1845. Sarah Austin, Ranke’s Hist. Ref., V. v. We have already alluded to the proceedings of his vice-chancellor, Waldkirch.
1884. Cath. Dict. (1897), 263. The more pressing, weighty, public, and solemn affairs of the Apostolic See … pass through the hands of the Vice-Chancellor.
2. The acting representative of the Chancellor of a university, usually the head of a college specially appointed to the office for a limited time, or the principal of the university.
1530. Act 22 Hen. VIII., c. 12. Scolers of the Universites of Oxford & Cambrydge that goo about beggyng, not beyng aucthorysed … by the Commyssary, Chauncelloure, or vichauncelloure of the same.
a. 1540. Barnes, Wks. (1573), 222/2. Because I had once submitted my selfe to the Uicechauncelour, and I was thereby circunuented.
1577. Harrison, England, II. iii. (1877), I. 82. Ouer each vniuersitie also there is a seuerall chancelor, whose offices are perpetuall, howbeit their substitutes, whom we call vicechancelors, are changed euerie yeare.
1629. Wadsworth, Pilgr., Ded. A iij. The Reuerend Vice-Chancellor, Doctors, Procters, Gouernors of Colledges and Hals.
1681. Lond. Gaz., No. 1656/3. Afterwards several of the Nobility were admitted Doctors of Law, His Majesty allowing the Vice-Chancellor to be Covered in His Presence, while the Orator presented them. Ibid. (1705), No. 4114/1. Mr. Vice-Chancellor, and the other Members of the University, waited … upon the Prince.
1763–5. Churchill, Author, Poems, 1767, II. 128. Vice Chancellors, whose knowledge is but small,… Ill-brook’d the gen’rous Spirit, in those days When Learning was the certain road to praise.
1836. Penny Cycl., VI. 482/1. In both the English Universities the duties of the Chancellor are in nearly all cases discharged by a Vice-Chancellor.
1864. J. H. Newman, Apol., 235. The late Vice-Chancellor threatens to take his own children away from the church.
3. A deputy or subordinate of one or other state official bearing the title of Chancellor.
1587. Reg. Privy Council Scot., IV. 167. Schir Johnne Maitland of Thirlstane, knycht, his Majesteis secretare and vice-chancellair.
1612. Maitland Club Misc., III. 113. Appoynting him [sc. the archbishop] to be Vicechanceler in the Parlement, if my Lord Chancelar thoght not the Chancelarie and Commissionarie compatible.
c. 1653. Baillie, in Z. Boyd, Zion’s Flowers (1855), Introd. 53. The Vice-Chancellar was dead.
1694. Luttrell, Brief Rel. (1857), III. 272. Mr. Hambden, vicechancellor of the exchequer, has laid down that place.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Chancellor, Sometimes the Lord Chancellor [of England] had a Vice-Chancellor, who was Keeper of the Seal.
1777. R. Watson, Philip II., II. 217. She was offended at their artifice, and immediately despatched her vice-chancellor to complain of their conduct.
1876. Bancroft, Hist. U.S., V. l. 94. The vice-chancellor [at Moscow], therefore, calmly explained the impossibility of conceding the request for troops.
1889. Dict. Nat. Biog., XVIII. 49. Eustace (d. 1215), bishop of Ely,… became vice-chancellor and keeper of the royal seal, and ultimately chancellor.
b. spec. One of the higher judges in the former Court of Chancery.
1813. Act 53 Geo. III., c. 24. To nominate and appoint from time to time … a fit Person,… to be an additional Judge Assistant to the Lord High Chancellor,… and to be called Vice Chancellor of England.
1823. Egan, Grose’s Dict. Vulg. T., Vice Chancellor’s court, creditor’s last shift.
1835. Tomlins, Law Dict., I. s.v. Chancellor, In his judicial capacity, he hath divers assistants and officers, viz. the Vice-Chancellor of England,… the Masters in Chancery, &c.
1876. Encycl. Brit., V. 390/1. Previous to being merged in the New Supreme Court of Judicature, the Court of Chancery consisted of the Lord Chancellor,… and three Vice-Chancellors.
Hence Vice-chancellorship, the office or dignity of a vice-chancellor; the period during which this is held.
1579. Fenton, Guicciard., I. 4. He made the Pope promise him … the office of vicechancellorshippe (the principallest place in the Court of Rome).
1589. [? Nashe], Almond for Parrat, 29. T. C. in Cambridge first inuented this violent innouation, when as his mounting ambition went through euery kinde of Ambitus, to compasse the Office of the Vicechauncelour-ship.
1655. T. Baily, Life Bp. Fisher, 10. But now Vicechancellour-ship, Mastership and all must be laid downe.
1691. Wood, Ath. Oxon., I. 593. He did undergo with great honor the Vicechancellourship of this University.
1761. T. Warton, Life Bathurst, 94. The spirited orations which he spoke in his Vice-chancellorship.
1813. Sir S. Romilly, Parl. Deb., 15 Feb. The Vice-Chancellorship might in a short time become a sinecure.
1889. W. Wilson, State, § 426 (1893), 266. [The German chancellor] is … ultimately responsible in every case—even for the non-exercise of his office. The vice-chancellorship is only a convenience.
