a person who slaughters cattle for the use of the table, or who cuts up and retails the same.

Among the ancient Romans, there were three kinds of established butchers, whose office was to furnish the city with the necessary cattle, and to take care of preparing and vending their flesh. The suarri provided hogs; the pecuarri or boarii, other cattle, especially oxen; and under these was a subordinate class, whose office was to kill, called lanii, and carnicres. To exercise the office of butcher among the Jews with dexterity, was of more reputation than to understand the liberal arts and sciences. They have a book concerning shambles-constitution; and in case of any difficulty, they apply to some learned rabbi for advice; nor was any allowed to practise this art, without a licence in form; which gave the man, upon evidence of his abilities, a power to kill meat, and others to eat what he killed; provided he carefully read every week for one year, and every month the next year, and once a quarter during his life, the constitution above mentioned. We have some very good laws for the better regulation and preventing the abuses committed by butchers. A butcher that sells swine's flesh mezzled, or dead of the murrain, for the first offence shall be amerced; for the second, have the pillory; for the third, be imprisoned and make fine; and for the fourth, abjure the town. Butchers not selling meat at reasonable prices, shall forfeit double the value, leviable by warrant of two justices of the peace. No butcher shall kill any flesh in his scalding-house, or within the walls of London, on pain to forfeit for every ox so killed, 12d. and for every other beast, 8d. to be divided betwixt the king and the prosecutor.

Butcher-bird, in ornithology. See Lanius.

Butcher's-broom, in botany. See Ruscus.

Bute, an island of Scotland, lying in the mouth of the frith of Clyde, south of Cowal in Argyleshire. It gives the title of earl to a branch of the Stuart family. Bute and Cathnes send only one member to parliament between them, each choosing in its turn, whereof Bute has the first.

BUCEO, in ornithology, the trivial name of a species of falco. See Falco.

Butler, the name anciently given to an officer in the court of France, being the same as the grand echançon, or great cup-bearer of the present times.

Butler, in the common acceptation of the word, is an officer in the houses of princes and great men, whose principal business is to look after the wine, plate, &c.

Butlerage of wine, is a duty of two shillings for every ton of wine imported by merchants strangers; being a composition in lieu of the liberties and freedoms granted to them, by king John and Edward I. by a charter called charta mercatoria.

Butlerage was originally the only custom that was payable upon the importation of wines, and was taken and received by virtue of the regal prerogative, for the proper use of the crown. But for many years past, there having been granted by parliament subsidies to the kings of England, and the duty of butlerage not repealed, but confirmed, they have been pleased to grant the same away to some nobleman, who, by virtue of such grant, is to enjoy the full benefit and advantage thereof, and may cause the same to be collected in the same manner that the kings themselves were formerly wont to do.