A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Surance, n. [ME and e.m.E. surance (c1300), suranse (c1400), suraunce (Lydgate), sewraunce (c1450), OF seurance, surance (1160 and 12th c. in Greimas); cf. also Assurance n. and Soverance n.] a. Safe-conduct, or the state of immunity procured by a safe-conduct. b. A document of safe-conduct. c. In surance, as a pledge or hostage. —a. 1535 Stewart 39923.
The king, … Gart tak thame all that same da in the toun, Quhometo he aucht no surance for to geve, For-quhy tha come without his traist or leve 1577 Douglas Corr. 224.
For in the tyme of surance that the Lard of Bun Jedw[orthe] took betwyxt vs, his brother resett a shepheard —b. 1460 Hay Alex. 15283.
For quhan a prince biddis a man cum him till … He has his surance in his hand all than —c. 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 40.
And the laird of Langtoun tane in surance for suffering of the Inglismen
