an officer ordained for the security and preservation of the privileges of some cities and communities, having a commission to judge of and determine the differences among them.

In most catholic universities there are two conservators; the conservator of royal privileges, or those granted by kings; and the conservator of apostolical privileges, or those granted by the pope. The first takes cognizance of personal and mixed causes between the regents, students, &c., and the latter of spiritual matters between ecclesiastics. Anciently there were appointed conservators of treaties of peace between princes; which conservators became judges of the infractions made on a treaty, and were charged with procuring satisfaction to be made. These were usually the feudatories of the several powers. In lieu of conservators, princes now have recourse to other indifferent princes to guarantee their treaties.

Conservator of Scots Privileges, at Campvere, is an officer belonging to the royal boroughs of Scotland, who takes care of the mercantile affairs of Scotland, agreeable to the staple contract between them and the States-General.