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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.

Summarly, -lie, adv. Also: summairlie, summerly, -lie, sumarly, sumerly, -lie, sumeirlie, sommerly, summarily, -lie, sumerarlie. [e.m.E. sommarily (1528), -yly (1530), summarily (1540); Summar adj.]

1. Of arguing or stating a case, telling a story, etc.: In a brief, concise or concentrated manner; with emphasis on the essential features or gist. 1543 Reg. Morton II 285.
Ane act quhair that all wrangis done be the Kingis grace … suld be callit summerlie for the wele of his grace saule 1588 King Cat. Sig. g viib.
I sall pen summairlie the occasion and ressones quhilk hes moveit the Catholik kirk to take in hand and performe this præsent reformation of the kallendar 1586 Gray Lett. & P. 114.
I had vrottin by him a long letter … Yet I shall sommerly set something doun 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 245.
He sheweth … the greatness of the benefit, and he taketh it up summarlie under two words, efter this manner 1597 James VI Dæmonol. (STS) 7/4.
That is over large an fielde ye giue mee: yet I shall doe good-will, the most summarlie that I can, to runne through the principal points thereof 1630 Gordon Geneal. Hist. xii.
Iff sometymes I doe summarlie relate the historie wherein I find mentioun maid of any thing touching your familie [etc.] 1640 Maister George Blacke His Masterlesse Men 5.
In the next place I summerly refute his grose errour and antichristian tenet

2. Of a, chiefly legal, process: With the minimum amount of (legal) formality or procedure; swiftly, expeditiously, without delay.(a) 1540 Acts II 358/2.
That all schireffis and temporale jugis sall … sett thare court peremptourlie vpoun xv dais and direct thare preceptis therupoun and at the said day proceid summerly et de plano 1550 Reg. Privy C. I 101.
To compere befoir my Lord Governouris Grace … and ansuer summarlie and but delay to ane supplicatioun and complaynt [etc.] c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus iii 119.
Thairfoir schortlie lat vs to purpos wend, Mair summarlie we sall cum to the end Of our mater 1564 Reg. Privy C. I 291.
To ansuer uther befoir the Lordis of Counsall and Sessioun, summarlie, but diet or tabill, upoun summondis c1575 Balfour Pract. 270.
All actiounis and causis concerning the commoun weill sould be summarlie decidit be way of supplicatioun and not be lang proces 1579 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 107.
That … ye faill nocht … to bear Hammiltoun and fra thyne to sic vther pairt … as ye salbe certefeit be thame quhome we sall direct to lat you knaw forther of our mynd thair to assist this our awin caus tuicheing our selff sumeirlie 1584 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. I 193.
The fault being summarlie tryit befoir the prowest and bailȝeis … but modificatioun of ony bailȝie or vthir man of the pane les nor is heir statute 1592–3 Misc. Maitl. C. I 54.
Everie minister … to proceid summarlie in thair kirkis be the sentence of excommunicatioun the nixt Sonday … aganis … Archibald Hegat 1598–9 Crim. Trials II 81.
In respect of the crymes set doun in the Dittay, quhilkis, in thift allanerlie, may be tryit summerlie without ony delay according to the practik 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i 20b.
Ane ordinar judge may be ane arbitratour, or amicabill compositor; for he may (be consent of parties, without ane ordinar processe of law) be amicable composition (summarlie) decide and dissolue sic debaits as are in question betwix parties 1643 Baillie II 88.
One Abercrummie being delate of clear murther, was ordained to be excommunicate summarlie a1650 Row 93.
All these under the paine of excommunication, to be pronunced summarlie, without any processe upon the notorietie of the transgression 1656 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. III 61.
The saids Donald Robertson Jhon Mitchell [etc.] … war content to bee condemned summarlie to death 1672 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 144.
And therfor ought not only to be severly punished … but also ordeaned sumerly … to be repossessed in there houses goods and geare 1676 Glasgow Chart. II 190.
The samyne might be sumerlie seazed upon and secured as guids esheit in maner forsaid 1683 Inverness Rec. II 314.
The laird of M^cIntoshe … caused sumarly apprehend the petitioner & count him prisoner within the tolbuith of Inverness 1689 Acts XII 61/1.
Many of the leidges were put to death summarlie without legall tryall jury or record 1692 Acts Sederunt ii 197.
That the processes for sale of bankrupts estates, … requires more speedy dispatch than any other adjudications, which pass summarly, unless the debitor appear 1696 Acts Sederunt ii 219.
All causes coming in to be called in presence summarly, without abiding the course of the roll(b) 1629 Annandale Corr. 29.
I thoght yow and yours were all saiffe so farr as he had power, and therfore I wonderd how Gawen of Ridhall came to be so sommerly handled(c) 1572–3 Reg. Privy C. II 195.
That letters be direct be the Lordis of Counsale and Sessioun summarilie without ony calling 1680 Fountainhall Decis. I 81.
Whether a master upon his servant's malversations might summarily remove his servant from his office(d) 1690 Falkirk Par. Rec. II 8.
Am sumerarlie required to desist from exercising any part of the ministrie at Falkirk