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

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Gudely, Gudly, Guidly, adv. Also: gudelie, -li, gud-, guidlye, -lie, -li, gwd(e)-, gwidlie, goodly, -lie. [Northern ME. gudely (14th c.), midl. and south. good(e)ly, godely, godly, early gud-, godliche (c 1205).]

1. In a goodly or becoming manner.(a) 1399 Chart. Holyrood 113.
The qwilk hundir ponde the said religious men … sal redili resafe and gudlie qwat tyme that it be redi to be payd c1460 Thewis Wysmen 245.
Wysmen with pwre has neuer debait, … Bot fair and gudly with thaim spekis c1475 Wall. v. 974.
Rycht gudlye he with humylnes him gret a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 148.
Than right gudly that grome ansuerit agane 1535 Stewart 45050.
Quhairfoir his lordis gudlie till advance, For ȝoung Lues … Rycht sone tha send Ib. 56179.
He … in armour bricht Enarmit thame richt gudlie to commend 15.. Clar. v. 1871.
Ane goune of gudlie hewit cramosie 1561 Bk. Univ. Kirk I. 12.
If remeid in tyme be not gudlie provydeit(b) 1456 Hay I. 67/18.
Him thinkis it … may nocht ellis be gudely governyt Ib. 145/11.
Wage is gevin anerly for service gudely maid a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 838.
That gome gudely furth gais, and graithit his geir

2. Conveniently, fitly, readily, well.(a) 14.. Acts I. 387/2.
The nail off the tong [of the balk] sal be set als ner the balk as it may be set gudly 1425 Ib. II. 9.
That all merchandis … bring hame, as he may gudly thole efter the quantity of his merchandice, harnes and armouris c1460 Thewis Wysmen 113.
Efter as it may gudly bee, In sobyrnes suetly takis he 1490 Irland Mir. foi. 345 b.
All nouelte we suld enchew als fere as we may gudlie 1521 Grant Chart. 66.
Gife it hapinis at the said Alexander may gudlyest cum to the said land 1560 Carte Northberwic 78.
To help hym … vytht all proffettis that thai may do gudly to hym, vnhurtand thaim selffis owr mekyll 1574 Breadalbane Ct. Bk. (Reg. H.) 6 b.
To bring his cornis … to the mylne of Finlarg … or ellis to appoint with the millaris as he may gudlie 1586 Grant Chart. 163.
Wyth sic diligens as thae gwdlie may(b) 1405 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 172.
The said Erle … sal further … the said Schir Dauid … in als fer as he gudeli may 1409 Exch. R. IV. p. ccx.
Gif he may nocht cum at sic tyme … he sal cum alsoune as he gudely may tharaftir 1456 Hay I. 143/16.
He aw to do all that he may gudely but schame do Ib. 243/5.
[There] is na clerk that may gudely sustene that opynioun 1483 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. 336.
His said bote ful of lyme als meikle as scho may gudely fuyr 1544 Corr. M. Lorraine 59.
I wald desyre youre gracis supporte in that mater gif ye may gudelie 1562 Reg. Privy C. I. 233.
Hir Grace hes grantit … licence to us … to wirk and wyn in the leid mynis … samekill leid ure as we may gudelie 1575 Conv. Burghs I. 38.
Gif ȝe may gudelie, we pray ȝow be with us(c) 1502 Orkney Rentals i. 15.
The tennentis … to lay alsmekill guid thairon … as the ground may guidlie bear 1564 Bk. Univ. Kirk I. 49.
[The] Clerk Register to extract the samein [act] … how soone guidlie he may doe the samein 1571 Waus Corr. I. 77.
I wald ye coim and spak with me, giff ye may guidle onewayis 1590 Edinb. Test. XXI. 208.
He … ordanis his spous, the said Gilbert and Margaret, … to duell and remane togidder sua lang as thai can guidlie agrie 1622-6 Bisset I. 148/18, 20.
The samin [mater] salbe than ended, gif it may guidlie be, or … the dout thairof to be put to ane poynt be the lordis, gif they may guidlie sa do

b. Frequent in negative clauses in this sense.(a) a1400 Leg. S. xxx. 118.
Ane ald wyf, [that] mycht nocht for elde Hyr awne self gudly weld 1416 Liber Melros 539.
Be cause of hee and grete besines … we might noth gudli dresse vs to melle that … with a1500 Doug. K. Hart 746.
The king wes sore addrede, For hir disdane he culd nocht gudlie beir 1531 Reg. Soltre 104.
Giwe … Johne may nocht gudlie pleneis the said ground with his awin geir 1552 Reg. Privy C. I. 129.
The quhilk men of weir can nocht gudlie be reasit without the realme be stentit 1569 Fam. Rose 250.
Our forster … can nocht gwdlie await daylie vpon the cwttaris, westaris, and distroyaris of our saidis wodis 1602 Crim. Trials II. 387.
The said Capitan Johne Rig being vpoune the poynt of his voyage … can nocht gudlie attend vpoune the samin dyett(b) 1456 Hay I. 154/33.
The hors … and myn othir gere … , that I may nocht forga gudely Ib. 291/27.
He may nocht gudely na lefully be callit be twa namys, bot he deserve thame 1509 Coll. Aberd. & B. 473.
For the quhilk [cause] he may nocht gudely cum to gif sute and presence for his landis 1550 Reg. Privy S. MS. XXIII. 59.
Becaus hir hienes can nocht gudely be tennent nor hald the saidis landis of the said erle 1578 Edinb. Test. VI. 178 b.
In cais my executouris … can nocht gudelie recouer & obtene all my dettis 1647 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 84.
The toun … cannot gudelie be manteined for lack of money(c) 1546 Misc. Spald. C. II. 275.
Failȝeing twa of thir … personis cane nocht guidly be couvenit, it sall be lesum [etc.] 1570 Leslie 192.
The castell … wes so well furneshed with all necessares … that it culd nocht be guidlie won 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 223.
The saids men of wearre … culd not guidlie land for feir of the said erle of Mortoun 1603 Moysie 20.
The erle of Atholl … being diseasit be a sair leg could not guidlie trauell 1641 Acts V. 337/1.
Nather can I guidlie without preiudice of my place & dignitie appeir … in parliament(d) a1578 Pitsc. I. 40/13.
Without him … the realme culd nocht be goodlie rewllit 1644 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 32.
Sic vther necessaris … quhilk for the tyme they sie cannot be goodlie vndone 1686 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIII. 26.
I wes very much importuned by some persons of quaiitie (who … could not goodlie be refuised)