a.1375, Gawain Poet, Sir Gawayn and þe Grene Knyȝt, page 118r, lines 2110–2117:
Forþy I ſay þe, as ſoþe as ȝe in ſadel ſitte, / Com ȝe þere, ȝe be kylled, may þe knyȝt rede, / Trawe ȝe me þat trwely, þaȝ ȝe had twenty lyues / to ſpende. / He hatz wonyd here ful ȝore / On bent much baret bende / Aȝayn his dyntez ſore / Ȝe may not yow defende
So I say to you, as sure as you sit in your saddle: / If you come there, you'll be killed if he wills, / trust me about that truly, like you had twenty lives / to spend. / He has lived here a long time; / when he pulls his bow, much conflict begins. / Against his powerful blows, / you won't be able to defend yourself.