OE (Corpus Cambr.) lxi. 384 And we forbeodað on Godes forbode, þæt nan man na ma wifa næbbe buton I.
1334–5 ( Writ of Edward the Confessor, Ramsey (Sawyer 1109) in F. E. Harmer (1952) 259 Ic forbeode Godes forbode & min þæt nan man þis geofe ne lytlige ne awende.]
c1380 (1879) l. 4753 (MED) Godes forbode..þat ich assentede to such a dede!
c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer (Hengwrt) (2003) §92 And goddes forbode þt it so were.
c1454 R. Pecock 57 Goddis forbode be it if a man haue..þe ouerer parti of methafisik..but þat..he be clepid not oonli ‘a wise methafisicien’..but also..‘a wise man’.
a1500 (a1460) (1994) I. ii. 13 I fend, Godys forbot, that euer thou thrife!
c1525 J. Rastell sig. Avv Ells godds forbod She hath equall power of my lyff vnder god.
1581 ii. 39 God sworbote [version c 1550 God forbid], that euer wee shoulde haue any such Tyrauntes come among vs.
1598 R. Bernard tr. Terence Phormio v. ix, in 453 Marrie God swarbout.
1598 J. Florio Diácene, god forbid, gods forbode.
1611 R. Cotgrave A dieu ne plaise, God forbid, God shield, God sware-bot.
1641 (new ed.) sig. M4 One tels strange newes, tother Godsworbet cries, The third shakes head, alack replies.