> as lemmas

a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vii. 2065 (MED) Ther was a worthi povere kniht, Which cam..forto sein His cause..Wher Julius was in presence.

c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) 982 (MED) He..Makis a crie þat all þe curte, kniȝtis & erles, Suld put þaim in-to presens [a1500 Trin. Dub. come & be present] his precep to here.

1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) i. 20 For auld storys..Representis..ye dedys Of stalwart folk yat lywyt ar Rycht as yai yan in presence war.

?1518 A. Barclay Fyfte Eglog sig. Avii Thus all the chyldren, than beynge in presence He set in honour, and rowme of excellence.

1568 A. Scott Poems (1896) 14 And preis ȝow ay in presens to repair.

1597 W. Shakespeare Richard II iv. i. 53 Tis very true you were in presence then, And you can witnes with me this is true. View more context for this quotation

1656 R. Vines Treat. Inst. Lords-Supper xxx. 339 So we would say of one whose carriage is wanton and loose in the presence of his fathers corpse lying in presence in a coffin or beer, you doe not minde, you consider not who lies there.

1754 E. Burt Lett. N. Scotl. I. ix. 214 They would not have done it in the Presence at St. James's.

1904 H. James Golden Bowl II. xxx. 104 She had not again, for weeks, had Mrs. Assingham so effectually in presence as on the afternoon of that lady's return.