> as lemmas

1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. f. lxiii^v The kyng lept on a hobby with a whyte rodde in his hand, one of his marshals on the one hande, and the other on the other hand: he rode fro reuke to reuke desyringe euery man to take hede that day to his right and honour.

?1530 J. Rastell Pastyme of People sig. *D.v^v Thomas Percye erle of worcester stewarde of the kynges house contrary to his alegeaunce, brake his whyte rodde openly in the kynges hall.

1655 H. L'Estrange Reign King Charles 115 The huisher of the Black rod kneeling down to the Lord High Steward, presented him with a white rod, the staffe of his Office.

1682 P. Walsh Prospect State Ireland vi. 421 The place both of his Election or Inauguration or Investiture was Cill-mhic-Creunain; and the chief Officers at it were O Fiorghaill, who carried before him and solemnly put into his hand the White Rod, which was his Scepter.

a1707 G. Farquhar Beaux Stratagem 90 in Comedies (1728) White Rods are no Trifles, I'm sure, Whatever their Bearers may be.

1834 G. Bancroft Hist. U.S. I. x. 464 A chancery court and a court-leet, sergeants and white rods.

1842 Christian Lady's Mag. Mar. 233 The ceremony of the white rod at the coronation, was always observed until the coming of the English.

1926 E. Hull Hist. Ireland & her People i. 23 Some of the rites, such as that of handing to the newly elected chief a white rod as a symbol of the justice that ought to attend his rule, are of a solemn and suggestive character.

2000 A. Campbell Hist. Clan Campbell I. 250 Charles's descendant was Sir James Campbell of Inverneill, Hereditary Usher of the White Rod for Scotland, Member of Parliament for Stirling.

2005 D. H. Akenson Irish Hist. of Civilization I. i. 163 A white rod, emblematic of the purity of his [sc. Hugh O'Neill's] election and of the character of his future rule, is waved over his head. Then he sits on the throne and is given the white rod.