Also 2–7 legat, (6 lyget). [a. OF. legat, ad. L. lēgātus, pa. pple. of lēgāre to send as a deputy (also, to bequeath).]
1. An ecclesiastic deputed to represent the Pope and armed with his authority. † Legate of the cross: one entitled to have a cross borne before him, as an emblem of dignity.
1154. O. E. Chron., an. 1123 (Laud MS.). On þa ilca tyma com an Legat of Rome Henri was ʓehaten.
c. 1205. Lay., 24501. Of Rome he wes legat and of þan hirede prelat.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 29358. Alle þaa lais hand on clerk behouis ga to þe pape or his legate, to soilled be.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), II. 115. Bonefas, archebisshop of Canterbury, þat was legat of þe croys.
1516. Plumpton Corr. (Camden), 217. Ther comes a lyget from Rome to my lord Cartdenall.
1595. Shaks., John, V. ii. 65. Looke where the holy Legate comes apace.
1638. Penit. Conf., xii. (1657), 323. In his dayes there entred this Kingdom a Legat from Rome.
a. 1745. Swift, Hist. Stephen, in Lett. (1768), IV. 291. Henry the youngest was bishop of Winchester, and the pope’s legate in England.
1754. Hume, Hist. Eng. (1762), I. 244. The Pope … made the archbishop of Canterbury his legate.
1875. Tennyson, Q. Mary, III. i. I hear this Legate’s coming To bring us absolution from the Pope.
b. The ruler of a legation, i.e., one of the provinces of the Papal States.
1653. H. Cogan, Scarlet Gown, 85. Urban … sent him Legate to the City of Ferrara.
1670. G. H., trans. Hist. Cardinals, II. III. 188. At present he is Legat of Ferrara, a considerable Legation.
1756–7. trans. Keysler’s Trav. (1766), III. 243. The most illustrious Domenico Maria Cursi being legate … of Ravenna.
c. Legate a (or † de) latere († also in semi-English or English form, of latere, of the side): the designation of a legate of the highest class, one whose acts are regarded as virtually those of the Pope himself.
1521. Abp. Warham, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. III. I. 239. Which wer forboden by your Graces auctoritie as Legate de latere of the See apostolique.
1528. Roy, Rede me (Arb.), 50. He hath a tytle of S. Cecile, And is a Legate of latere.
a. 1550. Image Ipocr., IV. 28, in Skelton’s Wks. (1843), II. 439. And then the Cardinall With tytles all of pride, As legates of the side.
1554. Act 1 & 2 Ph. & Mary, c. 8 § 1. The Pope’s Holiness … sent hither … the Lord Cardinal Pool, Legate de latere.
1670. G. H., trans. Hist. Cardinals, I. III. 77. Any Cardinal that goes Legat a latere to any Foreign State.
1708. Lond. Gaz., No. 4444/2. The Pope chang’d his design of sending a Legate Latere to her Majesty.
1839. Keightley, Hist. Eng., I. 133. A further hardship was the sending of special ministers, legates ‘a latere.’
trans. 1618. T. Adams, Heaven made sure, Wks. (1629), 904. These [God’s ministers] are Legati a latere—Dispencers of the Mysteries of Heauen.
2. gen. An ambassador, delegate, messenger.
1382. Wyclif, Isa. lvii. 9. Thou … sentist thi legates aferr.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 5038. The dishonour ye did to my dere legat.
c. 1450. St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 2732. Legates with letters aftir him went.
1579. Lyly, Euphues (Arb.). 146. A certeine Gentleman heere in Athens invited the kings Legats to a costly and sumptuous feast.
1671. L. Addison, W. Barbary, 119. We gave also to your Legates two special horses.
1692. S. Patrick, Answ. Touchstone, 18. The Apostles were the Legats and Interpreters of Christ.
1784. Cowper, Task, ii. 338. There stands The legate of the skies.
1855. Motley, Dutch Rep., III. v. II. 291. He suffered the legates from Utrecht to return … with their heads upon their shoulders.
3. Rom. Hist. The deputy or lieutenant of a general, or of the governor of a province; under the empire, the governor himself. Also transf.
1474. Caxton, Chesse, 45. The rookes ben vycayrs and legates of the kynge.
1577–87. Harrison, Descr. Brit., x. in Holinshed, Chron., I. 31. It [Wight] was … wonne from the Britons by Vespasian the legat.
1601. R. Johnson, Kingd. & Commw. (1603), 120. With the armie they sende divers of their gentlemen as Legats or providitors, who never stirre from the side of the captaine Generall.
1869. Rawlinson, Anc. Hist., 483. The legates who commanded legions upon the frontiers.
