c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Parson's Tale (Ellesmere) (1877) §805 The Auaricious man..deliteth hym in the kepynge of his tresor and nat in the rescowynge ne releeuynge of his euene cristene.

c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) iv. 4062 (MED) Many knyȝt of þis noble kyng I-slayn was at his reskwyng.

1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) v. 419 He na hop had of reskewing [1489 Adv. reskewyng].

1545 (title) The rescuynge of the Romishe fox.

1621 M. Wroth Countesse of Mountgomeries Urania 367 He..assured her, that nothing was more comfort to him, then the rescuing of her.

1711 Ld. Shaftesbury Characteristicks I. i. 20 The Crusades, the rescuing of Holy Lands, and such devout Gallantrys are in less request than formerly.

1822 Times 9 Sept. 3/1 Thus he had obtained his principal object, which was the rescuing of the brave men shut up in the University of Cervera, who had been without water and provisions, and were in the greatest distress.

1867 A. J. Evans St. Elmo viii. 101 If it be thy will, make her the instrument of rescuing.

1902 R. H. Davis Ranson's Folly i. 21 She had heard..of a yachting cruise which apparently had encountered every form of adventure, from the rescuing of a stranded opera company to the ramming of a slaver's dhow.

1955 Amer. Lit. 27 119 The rescuing of American seamen from French prisons.

2005 St. Louis (Missouri) Post-Dispatch (Nexis) 29 July e3 Her character is reduced to that hoary stereotype, the damsel in distress who requires rescuing.

1574 T. Tymme tr. J. de Serres Three Partes Comm. Ciuill Warres Fraunce v. 185 At Montpellier beside the ordinarie and accustomed Garrison of the Towne, there were certayne rescuing armies belonging to the churches.

1635 J. Hayward tr. G. F. Biondi Donzella Desterrada iii. 197 The rescuing Knight having the edge of his valour sharpned with revenge and anger against those men.

1655 T. Manton Sibbes' Learned Commentary 178 Let God withdraw..his rescuing deliverance.

1748 A. Philips Pastorals 93 The rescuing muse shall save His precious name.

1754 Psalms of David lxxviii. 198 They remember'd not his rescuing hand.

1835 Times 17 Dec. 2/6 A ringleader of the rescuing party cried out to his accomplices.

1893 Athenæum 4 Nov. 631/3 The vessels..are drawn with..just feeling for the buoyancy of the rescuing craft.

1968 Sci. News 94 446/2 A rescuing astronaut might maneuver to within 5 or 10 feet,..and pull himself close enough to extricate the victim from the tumbling craft.

1996 C. Bateman Of Wee Sweetie Mice & Men xl. 318 ‘Maybe this is the time to call the police.’ ‘Now that we've done the rescuing hero bit.’