a. (sb.) [ad. late L. lēgātīvus, f. lēgāre: see LEGATE v. and -ATIVE.]
A. adj. a. In legative bull, commission: Empowering as a representative, deputing; conferring the authority of a legate. b. Of or pertaining to a legate. c. rarely. Of or pertaining to an ambassador.
1537. Irish Act 28 Hen. VIII., c. 19 § 1. Appeales, jurisdictions legative,… and instruments of sundry natures.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VI., 100 b. By a Bull legatyve, which he purchased at Rome, he gathered so muche treasure, that [etc.].
1613. Shaks., Hen. VIII., III. ii. 339. All those things you haue done of late By your power Legatiue [mod. edd. legatine] within this kingdom.
1631. J. Burges, Answ. Rejoined, 86. If the Church haue a ministery to appoint … then must shee needs haue a commission legatiue.
1638. Sir R. Cotton, Abstr. Rec. Tower, 27. Thus did Cardinall Wolsey with Warcham the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and all other the Bishops of the Kingdome after hee had got his Legative power.
1886. Law Times, LXXX. 146/2. An attaché, not being a domestic servant of an ambassador, was not entitled to the legative privilege of exemption from process in the courts.
† B. sb. ? Something entrusted with a message.
1657. J. Pettus, in Loveday’s Lett. (1659), A iv. The latter Age hath even robb’d the poor of their raggs, torturing them with Mills and other Engines, till in paper they are made Legatives to most of our humane affairs.
