(Forms: see LEDGER.) Now Hist. A book containing records; a register; a cartulary; a book of accounts; = LEDGER 1 b, c, d.
1553. Edw. VI., Lett. to Ridley, in Strype, Eccl. Mem., II. xxii. 421. To subscribe the same [articles] in one ledger-book to be formed for that purpose.
1599. Hakluyt, Voy., II. I. 96. All which particulars doe most evidently appeare out of certaine auncient Ligier bookes of the R. W. Sir William Locke Mercer of London.
1611. Speed, Hist. Gt. Brit., VII. xxiii. 305. The Liger booke of the Monastery of Peterborow.
1643. Prynne, Open. Gt. Seal, 1. Sundry ancient Charters of our English Saxon Kings, yet extant in old Leger Books of Abbeys.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett. (1688), IV. 484. When I look over my leger Book of accounts, I do not find that God-Almighty is indebted to me one Penny. Ibid. (1659), Lex. Tetragl., Proverbs. To the knowingest kind of Philologers, Touching the Method of perusing these Proverbs or Adages … the Reder shall do well to have his Leger-Book about him when he falls upon Them, to Register therein such that Quadrat with his Conceit and Genius.
1665. Wood, Life, 27 May. The registers leiger-books and statutes of Oryell College.
1727–41. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Book, Every transaction must be entered in the ledger-book, with a balance of debt and credit.
1759. Sterne, Tr. Shandy, III. x. The ledger-book of the church of Rochester.
c. 1820. S. Rogers, Italy (1839), 100. Among the debtors in his leger-book Entered in full.
fig. 1599. Sir J. Davies, Nosce Teipsum, 47. Such formes as she doth cease to see To Memories large volume she commends. This Lidger Booke lyes in the braine behind.
