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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Vice, n.³ Also: wice, vyce. [e.m.E. vice (1598), L. vice.]

1. Place, stead. a. With reference to property: (To succede) in (under) (the) vice … (of a person), etc. to take over a tenancy by collusion and without the consent of the owner. b. To succede in (a person's) vice, to follow in a person's footsteps. c. In (a person's) (awin) vice (and place), in vice of, in a person's place, in place of.a. 1541 Ex. Processes (Reg. H.) No. i. (Boithwell v. Hamiltoune).
The saidis personis … to compeir befor the lordis of our said counsale to her our lettres be gevin aganis thame as succedand in the vice of Robert Dalȝell 1570–1 Reg. Privy S. VI 205.
For … entering of the said Jonet and hir … spous thairto … and defending of thame thairintill aganis William Kennedy of Brunstoun and all uthiris intendand or that pretendit to intruise thameselfis in the samin or succeidand in his vice c1572 Chart. Coupar A. II 215.
This summondis execute aganis Walter Leslie and Jonett Boyd for succeiding under the vice of thame quha wer of befor decernit to remove c1575 Balfour Pract. 395.
Decrete of removing beand obtenit aganis ony persoun, quha … flittis and removis … and thairefter sum uther persounis intrudis thameselfis in the possessioun of the landis, he in quhais favouris the said decrete is obtenit, aucht and sould have letteris of the Lordis aganis the intruderis, charging thame as succedand in the vice of the persoun aganis quhom the decrete was gevin, to desist and ceis fra all farder occupatioun 1622-6 Bisset I 128/30.
All actionis of violent proffettis eftir geving of decreittis of removing as alsua all actionis anent [the] succeding in the vyce of utheris a1633 Hope Major Pract. II 93.
Ane actione of succeiding in the vice persewit be Margaret Watson … contra Jon Law taylyor, as succeiding in vice and place of William Craige a1633 Hope Major Pract. II 105.
That whoever enteres into ane wther man's possession, efter wairneing made to him, may be persewed for succeiding in the vice, if decreit be recovered upon the wairneing 1642 Douglas Corr. 250.
To persew Fentrie in ȝour court as succeding in the vice and violent occupatioun of David Douglas 1681 Stair Inst. ii ix § 45.
Succeeding in the vice is a kind of intrusion, whereby, after warning, any person comes in possession … by consent of the parties warned … but if the possession be taken without the master's consent any other way, it is an ordinary intrusionb. 1609 Hume 178/442.
One of the quhilk byschopes … repented with teares at his departing this lyffe, that he … socht preheminence above his brethrene. If suche a man, then, indewed with so gryte giftis, did so; who are ye litle ones to succede wittinglie in his vice? — 1692 Kirkwall Council Rec. in Mackintosh Glimpses of Kirkwall & its People in the Olden Time (1887) 20.
To pay yeirly to him & his successors in vice ane annuall payment for what houses he has builtc. 1578 Prot. Bk. A. Gibson 41.
The said Dauid … sall repone the said Johne agan in his awin vice and place 1586 Montrose Baillie Ct. 28 July.
In cais the saidis Walter mak nocht payment of the forsaid soume … his cautionar be compellit to mak payment of the said soume in his vice and place 1649 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV 689.
John Forbes of Leslie now is becume in vice and place of the said Alexander … of the landis … abowe wodset … be disposicioune thairof maid to him be Thomas Mackenzie of Pluscarden 1651 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 121.
The said Sir Robert substitutis … [the] dean of the said brughe … in his vice and place of the said gift of Admiralitie for the behove of the said towne 1664 Inverness Rec. II 220.
That the captane be present each night he beis in towne and in health, and in his absence that he be supplied with ane prettie man in his wice 1665 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. II 58.
Being informed that some of the commissioners of excyse … are dead and others of them departed aff the kingdome in whose vice and place the saids lords have appointed 1666 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 230.
All persones sall giue ther personall appearance and attendance therat [sc. the watch], except … old men of three-scoire yeires of age, who are incace of inabilitie of meanes permittit to send out able men in ther vice 1666 Alford Rec. 81.
Mr. William Burnet at Cullen in vice of Mr. William Stevensone 1672 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 283.
The councell considering that delay in nominating and setleing ane postmaster … in the deceist John Wells his vice 1682 Inverness Rec. II 303.
Considering that be the dimission of Mr. George Dunbar, Schoolmaster, it is necessar there be ane fitt & qualified person chosen in his wice

2. One's turn or place in a rota or sequence. b. A period of time or term of office in a rota or sequence. a1568 Scott v 23.
Abbotis by rewll and lordis but ressone Sic senȝeouris tymis ourweill this sessone, Vpoun thair vyce war lang to waik, Quhais falsatt fibilnes and tressone Hes rung thryis oure this zodiak a1650 Row 356.
It was Mr. Thomas Sydserf his vice to have sermon that day in the Grayfrier kirk 1672 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 279.
Ane constant watch of the inhabitants be setled, of about thretie men ilk night … and no person to be absent in their vice without sicknes … or vther lawfull excuse 1677 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 315.
Wee … declair to any whom it may concerne that … Mr. Georg Mill … hath been, dureing the tyme of his residence among us … off a pious, sober, orderly, and unblameable deportment … and that … he hath, in his vice, given publick specimen of his proficiencie in the studie of divinitieb. 1648 Comm. Univ. IV (Aberd.) App. 207.
[The nomination of the bursars is in the heirs-male of the mortifier, lairds of Leys, provided it is exercised at the usual time. If not, the College is] for that vice allenarly [allowed to name] 1685 Glasg. Univ. Mun. I 427.
[Act of Parliament concerning Vacant Stipends] If he fails therin he shall lose his right of presentation for the next vice