saufly

Middle English

Adverb

saufly

1. Alternative form of savely
   • late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Wife of Bath's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 878-881:

     Wommen may go saufly up and doun,
     In every bush, or under every tree;
     Ther is noon other incubus but he,
     And he ne wol doon hem but dishonour.

     Women may go safely up and down,
     In every bush or under every tree;
     There is no other evil spirit but he,
     And he will not do them any harm except dishonor.

   • late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Nun's Priest's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 4396-4399:

     God woot that worldly Ioye is sone ago;
     And if a rethor coude faire endyte,
     He in a cronique saufly mighte it wryte,
     As for a sovereyn notabilitee.

     God knows that worldly joy is soon gone;
     And if a rhetorician could fairly compose,
     He in a chronicle confidently could write it,
     As a supremely important fact.