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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Mischance, n. Also: mischaunce, -chans, -chanche, myschance, -chaunce, -chans. [ME. and e.m.E. meschance (1297), -chaunce, mis-, myscha(u)nce (1362), OF. mesch(e)ance, -aunce.]

1. Misfortune, evil fate, calamity, disaster; also, wretched or unhappy condition, misery.Also in advb. phrases, as throw, be, etc., mischance, = by illfortune, unfortunately. Also const. of the deity or power (as the goddess Fortune etc.) causing or inflicting the misfortune.(1) 1375 Barb. i. 221.
That folk … Throw thar gret myschance and foly War tretyt than sa wykkytly [etc.] Ib. vii. 621 (E). Ib. ix. 272.
Fell neuir men sa foule myschance Eftre sa sturdy contenance Ib. xv. 251 c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1832 (D). c1460 Consail Vys Man 267.
Wary nocht God for thi mischans c1475 Wall. vi. 282.
How he had put his pepill to myschance a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 84.
I haue pietie thow suld [Thynne thé shulde] fall sic mischance a1500 Quare Jel. 354. 1490 Irland Mir. I. 21/15.
Deliuerance fra all euill and mischaunce a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 648.
How may thai chape mischans? a1500 Seven S. 391. 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. i. 636.
Mischance of ane suld be an utheris loir c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxii. 41.
Or I suld leif in sic mischance Id. lxxxi. 35.
My heavines opprest me with sic mischance 1513 Doug. ii. v. 67.
Quhat hard myschance fylyt so thi plesand face? Ib. iv. Prol. 222; etc. 1531 Bell. Boece I. 67.
Thocht thy ennimes rejose of the mischance falling to thy army 1533 Boece iv. ii. 126.
The last myschance happynnyt be inaduertence of werelie discipline 1535 Stewart 8633. Ib. 52801. 1540 Lynd. Sat. 569 (Ch.).
My name is Gude Counsall … , Lords for lack of my lair ar brocht to mischance 15.. Clar. i. 1240.
Then war thay wounder … sad, Deiming sum mischance him happinnit had c1552 Lynd. Mon. 857. c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus ii. 623.
Clym I ouir hie … I brek my neck and thair tak me mischance Ib. iii. 305.
Scho is the rute of all mischance, Grounder of euill Id. Seven S. 4068.
Ane mirrour of mischance 1558-66 Knox II. 38.
Upoun whiche mischance followed all the rest of oure troubles a1578 Pitsc. I. 134/9.
The wnhapie mischance … of the … tinsall of the boundis of France(2) a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 54.
In Inglis toung I think to mak remembrance … how man fell throu myschance a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xvii. 27.
His captanis of renoun Had tynt ane feild be hasarde and mischance 1602 Conv. Burghs II. 143.
Gif … the schip … be cast away throw ony ewill luk or mischance(3) 1531 Bell. Boece I. 49.
To prevene all calamite, gif ony war approcheand be mischance of fortoun 1549 Compl. 7/10.
The quhilk desolatione hes occurrit be the mischance of fureous Mars — 1533 Boece iv. xvi. 155.
The Romane army was deliuerit fra the tresonabill myschance of fortune

2. With indef. article and in plur.: A piece of ill-luck, a misfortune, calamity or disaster.Also b. in imprecations, espec. with ane mischance! =‘and bad luck go with you (it, etc.)’, ‘and curses upon you (it)’. c1500-c1512 Dunb. xc. 61.
That man is abill to fall ane gret mischance c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus ii. 295.
So terribill thay ar be apperance, Detestabill for to eik ane mischance 1629 Justiciary Cases I. 101.
The mischances hurtis and loisses sustenit … be the pannellis sorcerie and be … passing about widderschynnis thryse … in signe of the said mischancheb. (1) a1500 Peblis to Play 94.
Ane spak with wourdis wonder crous Adone [= have done], with ane mischance! 1540 Lynd. Sat. 4403.
Get vp, man, with ane mirrie mischance [B. mischans] ! c1550 Id. Meldrum 506.
Bot Talbartis hors with ane mischance He outterit and to ryn was laith(2) a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 511.
Fare on in to France, And cum thow newir agayn but a mischance