seniory

Position as lord, lordship; primacy.

c. 1506, Margaret Beaufort (translator), The mirroure of golde for the synfull soule by Denis the Carthusian, London: Richard Pynson, “Of the vayne Ioye might dignite honours and riches of the worlde,” Beholde where is nowe the glorye of kynge assurey: whiche behelde vnder his seignorie and dominacion: the nombre of .xxvi. prouincis

If ancient sorrow be most reverend, Give mine the benefit of seniory, And let my woes frown on the upper hand.

The territory of a lord, dominion.

[…] Charles kynge of Fraunce surnamed the great, toke Desiderius laste kinge of Lombardes prisoner and annexed his seniory to the dominion of Fraunce.

The seigniorie also and principality of this part (which the Persians call a Satrapy, that is, a Dutchy or Countey) doth in great measure exceede all other prouinces that are vnder the protection of the great King.

Collectively, the lords of a region.

[…] if any man bring a letter vnto him, hee may not open it, but in the presence of the Seigniorie, and they are to see it first, which being read, perhaps they will deliuer it to him, perhaps not.

The Seniory of that Prouince (for they had no particular Lord) sent Messengers that they expected mee in peace, and would giue mee what I would […]