> as lemmas

c1400 (a1387) J. Trevisa Epist. to Ld. Berkeley in Medieval Eng. Stud. presented to G. Kane (1988) 294 (MED) Welthe and worschip to my worþy and worschypfol lord.

1440 in J. Raine Corr., Inventories, Acct. Rolls, & Law Proc. Priory of Coldingham (1841) 114 Wirshipfull sir I comend me to ȝowe.

1534 J. Fewterer tr. U. Pinder Myrrour Christes Passion iii. v. f. cli And he sayd, yea my worshipful mother all my sorowes and paynes be now past and gon.

1549 T. Chaloner tr. Erasmus Praise of Folie sig. Kiij These friers..upholde them in their sermons to the people callyng them worshipfull and venerande maisters.

1605 J. Marston Dutch Courtezan i. ii. sig. B My worshipfull rotten rough-bellide Baud..by the Lord, Aunt, Restitution is Catholique.

1674 A. Marvell Ballad Ld. Mayor & Aldermen xviii And now, worshipful sirs, Go fold up your furs, And Viners turn again, turn again.

1794 Phoenix 25 June 395 Worshipful Sirs, Your very pertinent and perspicuous advertisement happened fortuitously to fall within the sphere of my observation.

1843 E. Bulwer-Lytton Last of Barons I. i. i. 11 It shall not be my fault if I do not, though but a humble headman to your worshipful mastership, help to make them so.

1853 New Monthly Mag. 99 89 If, oh worshipful cadi, you desired to rob, you could not have chosen a more favourable time than this.

1922 Theatre Mag. July 43/3 Worshipful sir, we go back to the gold washing. Yet suffer us with all respect to ask, worshipful sir, what is to become of our lump of gold.

2001 J. Harvey Gimme Gimme Gimme (2002) 168/2 I really had no idea you were into this sort of thing, oh, worshipful master. But hey, I ain't complainin'.