1535 Bible (Coverdale) 2 Kings x. 22 Then sayde he vnto him that had the rule of the vestrye: Brynge forth rayment for all Baals mynisters.

1584 B. R. tr. Herodotus Famous Hyst. i. f. 57 In this sacred house or vestry no image is erected.

1610 Bible (Douay) II. Ezek. xliv. 19 They shal put of from them their vestiments..and shal lay them up in the vesterie of the sanctuarie.

1641 J. Milton Of Reformation 3 In Palls, and Miters, gold, and guegaw's fetcht from Arons old wardrope, or the Flamins vestry.

1574 E. Hellowes tr. A. de Guevara Familiar Epist. 419 Also they make report of your Ladyship here, that you entred y^e vestorie or treasure house of Toledo, to fetch the plate that was there.

1600 P. Holland tr. Livy Rom. Hist. xxix. xxi. 725 For all the holy money which they found..they bestowed againe in the privie vestries where the treasure was kept.

1614 T. Godwin Romanæ Historiæ Anthologia ii. iii. ii. 72 By the Scene in this place, I vnderstand the partition betweene the players vestry, and the stage or scaffold.

1684 J. Bunyan Pilgrim's Progress 2nd Pt. 52 Then said the Interpreter again to the Damsel that waited upon these Women, Go into the Vestry and fetch out Garments for these People. View more context for this quotation

1891 G. Gissing New Grub St. I. 198 Where are your out-of-door things? I think there is a ladies' vestry somewhere isn't there?

a1672 M. Wren in J. Gutch Collectanea Curiosa (1781) I. 229 It was very difficult to find a man, who..followed the persuasion of Calvin, who had not also strong propensions to the Elder~ship and Vestry.

a1684 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1662 (1955) III. 317 Being of the vestery,..we ordered that the Communion Table should be set (as usualy) Altarwise.

1698 MSS. House of Lords (1905) III. 261 Dec. 9. Poor Relief (Select Vestries) Bill.—Draft of an Act for preventing the Poor's being cheated.

?1710 Squire Bickerstaff Detected 6 Had I not used my utmost Interest with the Vestry.

1766 J. Entick Surv. London in New Hist. London IV. 45 The vestry is select, pursuant to the will of William Tudman, who, hoping thereby to prevent the inconveniences which usually arise from a general vestry [etc.].

1792 A. Young Trav. France 549 The first attempt towards a democracy in England would be the common people demanding an admission and voice in the vestries.

1820 R. Southey Life Wesley II. 402 As the vestry would not be persuaded to erect a gallery, he built one at his own expense.

a1836 Encycl. Metrop. (1845) XXIII. 486/2 In other Parishes,..the rate-payers place the powers intrusted to them in the hands of a small Body, chosen by them from their own number, called sometimes the Select Vestry, and sometimes the Guardians of the Poor.

1882 W. Besant Revolt of Man (1883) iv. 78 The Lower House..had degenerated into something noisier than a vestry.

1882 Encycl. Brit. XIV. 820/1 The vestries and district boards are entrusted with the management of local sewers, the lighting, paving, and cleaning of their own thoroughfares, and the removal of nuisances.

1906 S. Webb & B. Webb Parish & County i. v. 173 The Close or..Select Vestry…consisted of a body of one or two dozen persons, or occasionally more, serving for life and filling vacancies among themselves by co-option.

1921 Parochial Church Councils (Powers) Measure 4 From the commencement of this Measure there shall be transferred to the Council of every parish—(i) All powers, duties and liabilities of the Vestry of such parish relating to the affairs of the Church, except as regard the election of churchwardens and sidesmen and as regards the administration of ecclesiastical charities.

1959 Earl Jowitt & C. Walsh Dict. Eng. Law II. 1610/1 The Select Vestries Bill is the title of a Bill always formally read a first time in the House of Lords at the beginning of a new session before the House proceeds to debate the king's or queen's speech, as an assertion of its independence.

1891 Cent. Dict.