chance-medley

The killing of another in self-defence upon a sudden and unpremeditated encounter.

Manſlaughter, otherwiſe called Chancemedley, is when two do fight together upon the ſudden, and by meer Chance, without any Malice precedent, and one of them doth kill the other; this alſo is Felony of Death.

Luck; chance; accident.

This is true in the general right of marriage, but not in the chance-medley of every particular match.

Though much depends on what thy choice shall be, / Is all chance-medley, and unknown to me.