Obs. Also 3 lei, 3–4 lai(e, 5 ley, 5–6 laye. [a. OF. lei, mod.F. loi law = Pr. ley, lei, Cat. lley, Sp. ley, Pg. lei, It. legge:—L. lēgem, lēx law.] Law; esp. religious law; hence, a religion, a faith.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 166. Þæt cristene weren & leaffule in godes lei. Ibid., 832. Sone se ich awei warp ower witlese lei.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 1201. Ðor-of holden ðe ieuwes lay.
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., I. 457/18. Formest he wende to Orlians to prechie godes lay.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 1428. Fra abraham … Til moyses þat gaf þe lai. Ibid., 1474. To fight al for þe cristen lay. Ibid., 13593. ‘A prophet,’ said he, ‘be mi lai.’
13[?]. Sir Beues (A.), 1053. Þow schelt swere vpon þe lay.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, ii. (Paulus), 983. All þat euire war of Iowis lay.
c. 1385. Chaucer, Sqr.’s T., 10.
c. 1400. Sowdone Bab., 764. If he will Baptised be And lefe his fals laye.
c. 1400. trans. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh., 105. My fey, My byleue, and my ley, er þes.
c. 1440. York Myst., xi. 44. Now are they like to lose our layse. Ibid., xxxviii. 445. It is gretely against oure lay.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, VI. xiv. 8. Numa Pompilius, quhilk sall … Begyn and statut with lawis and haly layis The cheif cetie of Rome.
1534. Tindale, Acts xxvi. 5. After the most straytest secte of oure laye [1526 lawe], lyved I a pharisaye.
1593. Peele, Chron. Edw. I., B 3. ’Tis Churchmans laie and veritie To liue in loue and charitie.
1599. ? Kyd, Soliman & Pers., I. A 4 b. Welcome vnto thee renowned Turke, Not for thy lay, but for thy worth in armes.
