Forms: 3 bailli, -ie, 3–4 baili, 3–7 bayly, 4 bayli, bayely, 4–5 baylle, 4–6 bayle, bailye, 4–8 bailly, 5 bailȝhey, 5–6 baly, 5–7 bayley, 6 baylay, bailȝie, 7 baylie, 7–8 baillie, bailey, 4–9 baily, 6– bailie. [ME. bailli, a. OF. bailli (13th c.), later form of baillis, baillif, BAILIFF, q.v.] Another form of the word BAILIFF, with which it was formerly interchangeable; now obsolete in England, but retained in a special sense in Scotland.
† 1. = BAILIFF 1. Obs.
1297. R. Glouc., 129. To þe baylys of þe toun hastiliche heo wende.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 5008. Þar vs tok þe hei baili [v.r. bailly, bayli, baily]. Ibid., 9558. He ne had neuer sa gret envie, Als þis man for to be baillie [v.r. bayly].
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 306/1. Mayres, Shereues, baylles, and suche other lasse offyces.
1494. Fabyan, Hen. III., an. 1266 (R.). Ye baylly of the castell of Wyndesore.
1501. Plumpton Corr., 159. The baylay of Byngham Vapentake.
1527. Gardiner, in Pocock, Rec. Ref., I. 75. Being advised by the baly of Dover so to do.
1530. Proper Dyaloge (1863), 39. Euery secular lorde … is Gods bayly.
1598. Hakluyt, Voy., I. 129. Sent to the Sherife of Sudsex, to the Maior and Communaltie of the Citie of Winchester, to the Baily of Southampton, the Baily of Lenne, the Baily of Kent.
1662. Fuller, Worthies, II. 129. At Ashby De La Zouch … where his Father under the Earl of Huntington, was Governour or Baly of the Town.
humorously. 1652. Brome, Jov. Crew, I. 364. Then up rise Randal, Bayley of the Beggars.
2. In Scotland. † a. formerly, The chief magistrate of a barony or part of a county, having functions equivalent to those of a sheriff. Obs.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, I. 190. Schyrreffys and bailȝheys maid he then.
1425. Acts Jas. I. (1597), § 63. The Kingis Baillie, or a Depute of the towne.
1634–46. Row, Hist. Kirk (1842), 87. For other civill and criminali jurisdictions, the heretable baillies might supplie that part.
1754. Erskine, Princ. Sc. Law (1809), 38. Where lands, not erected into a regality, fell into the King’s hands, he appointed a bailie over them, whose jurisdiction was equal to that of a sheriff.
b. now. A municipal magistrate corresponding to the English alderman.
1484. Caxton, Chyualry, 33. Kynges and prynces which make prouostes and baillyes of other persones than of knyȝtes.
1558. Instr. of Sasine, in Annals of Hawick, 331. In the hands of Adam Cessfurde, ane of ye bailȝies of Hawick.
1609. Skene, Reg. Mag., 128. At the first head Court after Michaelmes, the Baillies sould be chosen.
1796. Morse, Amer. Geog., II. 162. Edinburgh is governed by a lord provost, four baillies.
1818. Scott, Rob Roy, xxix. I am a free burgess and a magistrate o’ Glasgow; Nicol Jarvie is my name, I am a bailie, be praised for the honour.
† 3. = BAILIFF 2. Obs. (or dial.)
c. 1340. Cursor M. (Trin.). 12914. As baily [Cott. bedel] goþ bifore Iustise.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Freres T., 92. ‘Artow than a bayely?’ ‘Ye,’ quod he.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., 17. A mekille myschaunce And the bayles us take.
1542. Brinklow, Complaynt, vii. (1874), 21. Euery man is a bayly to attache a felon.
c. 1600. Norden, Spec. Brit., Cornw. (1728), 73. A libertye when the Shirifes Baylye can not areste.
1668. Shadwell, Sullen Lov., III. Wks. 1720, I. 63. Worse than a Bayley, that arrests in the Inns of Court. [In Scotland, constables specially employed in carrying out the Tweed Fisheries’ Acts are called Water-bailies.]
fig. 1621. Quarles, Argalus & P. (1678), 120. Natures pale-fac’d Bailey now distrains His blood.
† 4. = BAILIFF 3. Obs.
c. 1375. Wyclif, Serm., Sel. Wks. 1869, I. 24. Þis bailly [Luke xvi. 1] was worldly wyse.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 41/3. That Eleazar the sone of my baily be myn heyr.
1523. Fitzherb., Husb., § 134. If thou haue any wode to sell … cause thy bayly … to do it for the.
1602. Fulbecke, 2nd Pt. Parall., 45. A bailie is he to whom a speciall charge of procuring a mans profite, and the valuable increase of his wealth is committed.
1661. Pepys, Diary, 19 July. Agreeing with Hauker to have a care of my business in my absence … to be our bayly.
1688. Shadwell, Sqr. Alsatia, II. i. 43. A very pretty fellow for a gentleman’s bailey.
1730. Swift, Panegyr. Dean, Misc. (1735), V. 137. You merit new Employments daily: Our Thatcher, Ditcher, Gard’ner, Baily.
5. Bailie-errant = bailiff-errant: see BAILIFF 4.
1528. Tindale, Obed. Chr. Man, Wks. I. 204. The sheriffs, baily-errants, constables, and such like officers.
