> as lemmas

c1450 (?a1422) J. Lydgate Life Our Lady (Durh.) (1961) vi. l. 89 Þouȝ þat sche bar of golde no keye, To by a lombe.

1567 G. Fenton tr. M. Bandello Certaine Tragicall Disc. f. 215^v No dore so stronge, but a golden keye myghte open his locke, nor fortresse of such strength but he wolde yelde to thoffer of monye.

1580 T. Churchyard Warning for Wise sig. C.vi^v The siluer key now opens euery gate.

1613 F. Mason Of Consecration Bishops i. v. 28 A Key of gold can open Saint Peters locke.

1679 tr. Trag. Hist. Jetzer 2 The Silver Key will open the strongest Gates of the strictest Monastery.

1705 E. Hickeringill Priest-craft 54 Will Council open their Mouths without a Golden Key?

1798 W. Hutton Life 41 I was given to understand that the door, contrary to other doors, would not open with a silver key.

1842 Ld. Tennyson Locksley Hall in Poems (new ed.) II. 102 Every door is barr'd with gold, and opens but to golden keys.

1845 R. Ford Handbk. Travellers Spain II. xi. 737/2 There are also three rooms not shown to the public, which should be inspected: a silver key unlocks the doors.

1901 Macmillan's Mag. Sept. 396/2 Men who required the door to favour, and even to justice, to be opened with a golden key.

1956 J. Brodrick St. Ignatius Loyola v. 140 It is most extraordinary..this power of his by the mere appeal of his eyes to open doors barred to others unless they brought a key of gold.

2001 D. M. Gershten Kissing Virgin's Mouth (2002) 112 A key of gold can open any door, they say.