> as lemmas

1607 J. Cowell Interpreter sig. A1^v/2 Those that were mitred, were exempted from the iurisdiction of the diocesan, hauing in themselues episcopal authoritie within their precincts, and being also Lords of the Parlament... These were called Abbots soueraigne..and Abbots generals.

1695 T. Tanner Notitia Monastica Pref. sig. b2 The Priory was a Cell, subordinate to some great Abby, and the Prior placed and removed at the will of the Abbat Soveraign.

1730 R. Grey Syst. Eng. Eccl. Law lii. 443 There was a third Sort termed Priors, namely, they who presided over Cells subordinate to some great Abby, and who were placed and displaced at the Pleasure of the Abbot Soveraign.

1789 J. Throsby Select Views Leics. 64 Those that were mitres, or Lords of Parliament, were exempted from the jurisdiction of the diocesian, having within themselves Episcopal Authority, within their precincts, and were called Abbots Sovereign.

1829 J. Wainwright Yorks. Introd. p. clxviii Some were addressed ‘My Lord Abbot’, and assumed the titles of ‘universal abbots, abbots sovereign’, &c.

1879 J. Brent Canterbury in Olden Time (ed. 2) 265 The Abbot of St. Augustine's might indeed be called, as he was considered, an Abbot Sovereign, exempt from the jurisdiction of the Archbishop, and holding in Parliament and in general councils his place as a Spiritual Peer.

1988 M. Jansson Proc. Parl. 1614 356 (note) Mitred abbots, as had episcopal authority within their limits, were ‘abbots sovereign’ and consequently Lords in parliament until the dissolution of the monasteries.