> as lemmas

1573 J. Bridges Supremacie Christian Princes 1035 By your own confession, the power of the sworde, and putting to death, is not giuen to the Bishop.

1636 E. Reynolds Shieldes of Earth 19 Jurisdiction coercitive, or the power of the Sword.

1649 J. Milton Εικονοκλαστης x. 96 If the power of the Sword were any where separate and independing from the power of Law.

1702 J. Humfrey Free State of People of Eng. Maintained 14 It is possible for a King, having the sole Power of the Sword, and the making all Officers, to use these Two Rights, to Check-mate all other whatsoever they be, of the Lords and Commons both.

1772 S. Maese School III. xliii. 252 A Mohommedanism, to which they are very zealous of making proselytes, not by the force of argument, but by the power of the sword.

1838 H. W. Herbert Cromwell II. iii. i. 75 The Independents..were formidable from the talents of the leaders, the enthusiasm of the mass, the real justice of their cause, and, above all, from the fact that they possessed the power of the sword, the army being almost unanimously in their favour.

1863 Times 12 Feb. 8/6 In those days the management of the Militia meant simply the power of the sword, for the Militia represented the only military force of the state.

1926 F. W. Blackmar Hist. Human Society iv. xix. 304 Most of their conquests were accomplished by the power of the sword.

1999 Chron.-Telegram (Elyria, Ohio) 27 Mar. c5 The Chinese Communist Party derives its legitimacy not from the power of the sword (the tanks in Tiananmen Square were very ineffective).., but rather from the power of the purse.