earst

Frenche and Italien tonge, had not thought skorne to bestowe their time aboute the translacion therof, and that the Emperours Maiestie that now is, vouched saulfe to receiue the presentacion therof, at the Frenche translatours hande, as well appereth in his booke: it kindled me againe, vpon regard of mine owne profite, and other mennes moe, to bring that to some good pointe, that earst I had begonne.

The Fardle of Facions, conteining the aunciente maners, customes and lawes, of the peoples enhabiting the two partes of the earth, called Affricke and Asie 2004

Of masts both long, and large; with mosse put in betweene, To keepe the force of weather out, I neuer earst haue seene A grosse deuise so good, and on the roofe they lay The burthen barke, to rid the raine, and sudden showres away.

The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation 2003

Sigismundus booke repaire, who all the trueth can tell: For he long earst in message went vnto that sauage King.

The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation 2003

Nowðer  {105} deouel ne mon. for mi lif q {uo} ð hire feader þe schal laðin his luue. for þu schalt habbe þrof hearm ⁊ scheome baðe ⁊ nu þu schalt on alre earst. as on ernesse swa beon ibeaten wið bittere besmen. þ̵ tu were wummon of wu {m} mone bosum to wraðerheale eau {er} iboren iþe worlde.

Selections from early Middle English, 1130-1250 Part I: Texts Joseph Hall

But had he beene, where earst his armes were lent,

The Faerie Queene — Volume 01 Edmund Spenser

This thing being put in execution (according to his commandement) the Britains were not a little astonied at the strange sight of those gallies, for that they were driuen with ores, which earst they had not séene, and shrewdlie were they galled also with the artillerie which the Romans discharged vpon them, so that they began to shrinke and

Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (3 of 8) Raphael Holinshed

Galles that looked earst for gold, and not for battell, were easilie ouercome, such as stood to the brunt were slaine, and the rest by flight constreined to depart the citie.

Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (3 of 8) Raphael Holinshed

Instead of preferring to dwell on the unutterable ecstasy, contentment, and bliss of the experience, he is far more anxious to emphasise the fact that "all that pleased earst now seemes to paine."

Mysticism in English Literature Caroline F. E. Spurgeon 1905

That earst [95] was sought to deck both bed and bowre

From Chaucer to Tennyson 1886

But all that earst seemd sweet seemes now offense,

Fowre Hymnes 1596