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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.

Gud(e) will, Guid will, n. Also: wil, vil, wyl, wyll(e; guide, gwid will. [e.m.E. and ME. good wyll(e, ME. gode wille (north. gude will), OE. gód willa. Sometimes written as one word.]

1. Willingness to be obliging or helpful; ready consent; friendly or generous disposition.(a) a1400 Leg. S. v. 282.
Thai went furth in ful gud vyl, And al his bydynge can fuifill Ib. xxix. 78.
He … gud wil had to do gud Til ap man that ned bestud 1399 Chart. Holyrood 112.
The said Davi wil & grantis … til the said religious men … freli of his gift & of his gud wil to the vphald & to the werk of thair abbai [etc.] c1420 Wynt. v. 3860.
The Empryowre … oblysyd hym to fulfill All thir statutis wyth gud wyll 1432 Lamont P. 13.
Quhat tym … the said Robert … may … opten the Kyngis grace … and gudwyl … tharto c1475 Wall. iv. 190.
The bodelye ayth that maid him with gud will Before the erle c1500 Rowll Cursing 83 (M).
Than gud will and contritioun Salbe thar saulis remissioun 1513 Doug. viii. iv. 200.
Call on our patron comnmon God dyvyne is, And with gud will do skynk and birl the wynys 1584 Waus Corr. I. 304.
Gaif I haif your lo. gudwill I fors the les 1596 Dalr. II. 44/27.
Throuch the kingis fauour and gudwil he was … weil instructed(b) 1389 Wemyss Chart. 23.
The forsayde Doncane … frely and wyd gude wyl, has gyfyn and grawntyt [etc.] 1405 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 200.
For the qwilk suppouale, gude wil, and kindenes sa schawin … the saide Schir Dauid has grantit [etc.] 1456 Hay I. 152/27.
War thai hale, thai wald serve with gude will, quhilk gude will … is repute till a persone for gude dede c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxx. 17.
Sanct Francis, loving be thé till, And thankit mot thow be of thy gude will To nne 1549 Compl. 7/25.
Persauand the gude vil … of this pure man, he resauit that litil quantite of cleen vattir 1581 Cath. Tr. 95/23.
Obtening your hienes gudeuill and consent of the nobilitie thairto 1608 Edinb. B. Rec. VI. 38.
With sic other dewtie in the ministrie … as he upoun his awin gudewill may dopl. 1513 Doug. xiii. xi. 49.
All this I grant with gude willis perfay 1560 Rolland Seven S. 349.
Sen I find ȝow sa kynd, And with gude willis hes schawin me ȝour mynd(c) a1578 Pitsc. II. 51/17.
He feirit … that thay buire him na guidwill for the causes foirsaid a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. clxxix. 74.
Stowpe thane wnder his michtie hand, And be content of his guid will 1593 Misc. Spald. C. I. 7.
To offer to nobilmen aind vtheris particular freindschip and gwidwill quha will profes gwidwill in this our … ado

b. In the phrases to give or do gude will.(1) 1405 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 200.
The said Erle of Mar hase gifin his gude wil and ful consent that [etc.] c1420 Wynt. vii. 679.
[Alexander] At Sanctandrewys religiowne Fra thine to be gave his gud will 1456 Hay I. 185/26.
Suppos he wald geve leve and gude will, it is wele to wit [etc.] 1485 Liber Colleg. Glasg. 197.
The Prior aind conuente has geffyn … thair leyff, tholynge, and gudwyil to the saidis Robert [etc.] 1513 Reg. Privy S. I. 377/2.
David has of his awn fre motive consentit … and has gevin his consent and gude will thairto 1637 Banff Ann. I. 76.
The bailyie ordanit that na persone tack wpoine hand to … giwe guidwill of thair horses for that effect(2) 1590 Reg. Morton I. 169.
I sall do gudwill my self to braik the back of all questiouns 1610 Breadalbane Lett. (Reg. H.) 10 Feb.
Send me ane of thir men and I sall do gud will to lat him sie the meir

c. With ane: A willing grant. 1564 Glasgow Prot. III. 55.
Williame Craig … hes purchest and gottin fra Williame Schankis … ane gud will of sex schilling aucht pennye land

2. Willingness, readiness. 1375 Barb. iii. 539.
Thai eyt it with full gud will Ib. v. 99.
Thai that war in-to gud will To wenge the anger and the ill c1420 Wynt. viii. 5242.
Wyth a gud will and a stowte He sayd, that he wald ayl na thyng 1456 Hay I. 3/3.
I have had mony smale thouchtis and gude will to malk sum buke a1500 Rauf C. 822.
Thai … renkis … Kest thame with gude will to do vther skaith 1596 Dalr. I. 89/19.
With sik drink … thay vset gladlie, and with gulde wil