A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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About this entry:
First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1375-1650
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Frely, Frelie, adv. Also: freli, freilie, frielie, -ly, frilie, fryley. [ME. frely, fre-, freoliche, OE. fréolíce.]
1. In or with freedom; without restraint or restriction; unconditionally. In various contexts.(1) 1375 Barb. i. 161.
I sall als frely in all thing Hald it, as it afferis to king 1375 Ib. 228.
He levys at es that frely levys c1420 Wynt. viii. 65.
It suld joys all fredomys, Frawnchis, profyt, and customys, Alsa frely as before 1431 Reg. Great S. 45/2.
Till hald … als frely … and in pese as ony pensioun or annuale is giffyn 1507 Edinb. Chart. 192.
To begyn and hald the dais and placis forsaid … als frelie … as is aboue writtin 1542 Reg. Privy S. II. 720/2.
Archibald sall succeid to him in all his landis, … als frelie in all thingis as [etc.] 1555 Reg. Cupar A. II. 125.
Haldand … the saidis teind schawis and vicarage, … frelie, quietlie, wele, and in pace a1570-86 Maitland Folio MS clxxx. 36.
That thow may vs frilie Thy awin leifing(2) 1385 Red Bk. Grandtully I. 139*.
I ordaynyt the forsayde Syr Robert frely to delyvyr … to the forsayde John al the landys of Logy 1399 Holyrood Chart. 113.
The defesance … sal be qwit of it selfe and be giffin to thame freli 1415 Reg. Great S. 39/1.
Thair ayris sal frely delyver and upgif to … Villiam … the sayd landis of Bowntacte 1491 Acts Lords of Council 225/2.
To pref … that the said Gilbert deferrit frely to deliuer to the said Fergus the saidis landis 1554 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 196.
Quhill the saidis prouest … gif freilie to ane of the said Androis sonis … ane benefice of ane lawit patronage 1598 Black Bk. Taymouth 13.
Sir Colone … frelie dimittit unto him the superiorite of the hail lordschip of Lorne 1613 St. A. Baxter Bks. 79.
I … be thir presentis freilie renunces and owergiffis all rycht and title … as eldest sone(3) a1400 Legends of the Saints i. 134.
I sall gyf gud leif hym till To pas frely at his awne will 1386 Rotuli Sc. II. 85/2.
That thai may freli … entre and … isse … intil Ingland 1456 Hay I. 176/27.
Gif a man of were assuris ane othir frely to cum 1456 Ib. 186/2.
Frely to have passage throu all realmes 15.. Clariodus i. 647.
As ȝe came alse frelie sall ȝe wend a1540 Freiris Berw. 536.
In thy depairting … frely pas thy way(4) 1385 Rotuli Sc. II. 73/2.
That all prisoners taken on bothe the sidis sall be frely deliverid c1420 Wynt. v. 5550.
Fra that the saule frely Departyd wes fra the body c1420 Ib. 5662.
Heraclius … delyveryde all frely Hys captywys 1456 Hay I. 74/2.
The juge may … frely delyver thame fra my clame for evermare 1596 Dalr. II. 174/17.
Seing a possest persone with the deuil … rinn throuch gaites … and streits frilie c1650 Spalding II. 292.
The erll escaipit and wan frielie away
2. Without compulsion; voluntarily, of free will; liberally.1389 Wemyss Chart. II. 23.
Nocht trocht dwt na awe led, bot frely and wyd gude wyl c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace v. 550.
Syluer and gold thai gaiff him for to spend; Sa dyde he thaim frely, quhen God it send c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 33/14.
The first [condicioun] is hilaritas, that thow geve blythlye and frely a1570-86 Kennedy Maitland Folio MS cxxxi. 19.
Gold and syluer … Frelie to giff I wald not lett To pleis thai mwlis 1562-3 Winȝet I. 36/7.
This we promit maist frelie, nocht doutand bot [etc.] 1596 Dalr. II. 236/9.
I suirlie war vngrate and vnthankful gif I frilie gaue him nocht my dauchter
3. With full liberty of action.a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 477.
Be na thing arche; tak frelie vpon hand c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxv. 78.
Quhen flude and fyre sall our it frak, And frelie frustir feild and fure 1562-3 Winȝet I. 13/12.
We speikand frelie in the cause of our God 1572 Diurnal of Occurrents 309.
That during the said abstinence all the subjectis … , may frielie and liberallie traphick, hant [etc.] 1596 Dalr. I. 226/4.
That the curetis of the Kirk mychte the frilier … vse thair office 1610 Breadalbane Lett. (Reg. H.) 21 July.
That ȝour maister … frelie proseid and end that langsome turne betuix ȝour M. and Weime
4. a. Excellently. b. Completely; fully.a1500 Henr. Orph. 72.
Of statur large, and frely fair of face a1500 Golagros and Gawane 421.
Our seymly souerane … will noght cese, Quhill he haue frely fangit your frendschip
