[see -SHIP.]
1. The status and privileges of a burgess; the ‘freedom’ of a borough, citizenship.
1467. Eng. Gilds, 390. That no prentice haue his freedom of Burgesshippe.
1580. North, Plutarch, 971. To some [of the Towns] he gave the right of Burgesship of Rome.
1662. Pepys, Diary, 30 April. The Mayor and burgesses did desire my acceptance of a burgess-ship.
1752. Carte, Hist. Eng., III. 333. A right of burgessship in that place.
1873. Morley, Rousseau, I. 9. The position of burgess-ship.
b. fig. a rendering of πολίτευμα in Phil. iii. 20.
1612. R. Carpenter, Soules Sent., 91. Your Burgeship is in heauen.
1656. Trapp, Comm. Phil. iii. 20. Our civil conversation, or our burgess-ship, while we live by heaven’s laws.
† 2. ? The position of ‘burgess’ or member of parliament for a borough. Obs.
1673. Villiers (Dk. Buckhm.), Wks. (1705), II. 71. In the Election of his Lordship to the same Burgesship before.
1695. in Sir J. Picton, L’pool Munic. Rec. (1883), I. 261. A vacancy was then here in the said Burgesship.
