Forms: 6 val(l)iauncie, 6–7 (9) valiancie (7 vall-), 7 valiansie, 7– valiancy (7 valiantcy), 6–7 valiencie. [Cf. prec. and -ANCY.]
1. The quality or attribute of being valiant or courageous; bravery, valiantness, valor.
Freq. from c. 1575 to c. 1600.
1574. J. Jones, Beg. Growing & Living Things, 32. Feeblenesse of spirit, want of strength, and lacke of valiauncie.
1590. Sir J. Smyth, Disc. Weapons, 23. More to the effect of our Archers, than to anie extraordinarie valiancie of our Nation.
1605. 1st Pt. Jeronimo, II. i. That which they lost by base Captiuitie, We may redeeme with honored valiansie.
1654. E. Johnson, Wonder-wrkg. Provid., 30. Yet was he not minded to make triall of his peoples valiantcy in fight at this time.
1661. Morgan, Sph. Gentry, III. v. 45. Those prizes and Crownes they had gained by their Valiancy in war.
1795. Southey, Joan of Arc, VI. 392. Though Talbot with vain valiancy Yet urged the war, and stemm’d alone the tide Of battle.
1827. Scott, Chron. Canongate, ii. Cincinnatus and the like, who fought not the common enemy with the less valiancy that their arms had been exercised in halding the stilts of the pleugh.
1850. T. H. Gill, Golden Chain of Praise (1894), CXXXVI. viii. Turn our darkness into light; Give us valiancy for fear.
1893. F. Adams, New Egypt, 164. Would that gay valiancy be with him so long as it was with Henri IV., of whom it is so recorded, and even Henri wearied of it all at last?
b. Const. of (the mind, heart, spirit, etc.).
1579. Twyne, Phis. agst. Fortune, I. Ep. Ded. 3. Her flatteries haue ouercome that valiencie of mans minde.
c. 1650. Don Bellianis, 18. Truly Prince Don Gallaneo you have plainly expressed the valiancy of your mind.
1813. Coleridge, Lect. Shaks., in Rem. (1836), II. 143. This happy valiancy of style is but the representative and result of all the material excellencies so expressed.
1846. Prowett, Prometh. Bd., 12. Or force of hands, or valiancy of heart.
c. arch. Used with possessive as an honorific.
1828. Scott, Fair Maid, xxiv. His blood … will flow as temperately as your valiancie’s, when you stand up in your stirrups to view a field of battle.
† 2. A valiant act or feat. Obs.–1
1627. Lisander & Cal., VIII. 138. Acting in the fury wherein hee was … such valiancies, that thereby he did lessen all those which heretofore hee had done.
