Lawfully

adv. [f. LAWFUL + -LY².] In a lawful manner.

  1.  In accordance with law.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 26111. Scrift es opin scheuing o breist Laufulli mad be-for þe preist.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 74. Þes false men seye in here doyinge þat crist was lafully don to the deþ.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 3512. Qwyle ye lawfully lefe may & your lyf haue.

c. 1430.  Freemasonry, 300. Ȝet most the mayster, by good resone, Warne hem lawfully by-fore none.

c. 1470.  Henryson, Tale of Dog, 66. This exceptioun Wes of na strenth, nor lauchfullie mycht stand.

a. 1500[?].  Chester Pl. (Shaks. Soc.), I. 208. This woman … Was wedded lawfullye this other yeaire.

1512.  Act 4 Hen. VIII., c. 9. Preamble, The heires males of his body laufully begoten.

1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 165 b. Thus … we may perceyue what thoughtes … we may lawfully admyt … in y^e tyme of the seruyce of god.

a. 1548.  Hall, Chron., Hen. VIII., 242 b. That the kyng might lawfully mary where he would.

1552.  Abp. Hamilton, Catech. (1884), 5. General counsallis lauchfully gaderit in the halye spreit.

c. 1560.  A. Scott, Poems (S.T.S.), xxxiv. 58. Ȝit thair is lesum lufe That law^tfully suld lest.

1588.  A. King, trans. Canisius’ Catech., Confess., 9. Adulterie lauchefullie prouen.

1609.  Skene, Reg. Maj., Table 74. The defender being lawfullie summoned, may vse his lawfull essonzeis.

1638.  R. Baker, trans. Balzac’s Lett., III. 102. There are certain bounds … which neither you nor we can lawfully passe.

1651.  Hobbes, Leviath., I. xiv. 69. What I lawfully Covenant, I cannot lawfully break.

1765.  Blackstone, Comm., I. xvi. (1793), 573. He may lawfully correct his child, being under age, in a reasonable manner.

1817.  W. Selwyn, Law Nisi Prius (ed. 4), II. 1116. The declaration ought to have stated, that the mare was lawfully on the common.

1818.  Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), VI. 316. Without having issue on her body lawfully begotten.

1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., ii. I. 159. Each provincial assembly might lawfully have a permanent president.

1885.  Dunckley, in Manch. Weekly Times, 24 Feb., 5/5. I cannot pray for those who are engaged, however lawfully as men may think, in shedding blood.

  † 2.  Loyally, faithfully. Obs.

c. 1500.  Melusine, vi. 32. And indide I lawfully [Fr. leaulment] promytte you that so shal I doo.