1532 (c1385) Usk's Test. Loue in Wks. G. Chaucer f. cccii^v/2 Wel deseruynge in to worship of a wight, without nedful compulsion, ought medefully to be rewarded.

1534 G. Joye in tr. Dauids Psalter xxxv. sig. f. viii Dauid maketh his inuocacion to god in his greuouse oppression of his enymes: which persecute vs for our wel deseruinge of them.

1609 Bible (Douay) I. 1 Kings vi. Contin. Ch. & Relig. 704 Booz..prayed God to render to Ruth a ful reward for her wel deserving.

1619 T. Gainsford Glory Eng. (rev. ed.) ii. xxviii. 331 Whether I flie with the wings of vaine-glorie, in the ampliation of our well deseruing.

1622 G. Wither Faire-virtue sig. K4^v Shall a Womans Virtues moue, Me, to perish for her loue? Or, her well-deseruing knowne, Make me quite forget mine owne?

1712 T. Ellwood Davideis ii. iv. 92 He special Care would of his Safety take, Both for his own, and for his Father's sake: Whose well-deservings of him, he should find, Were deeply graven in a grateful Mind.

1829 J. F. Cooper Borderers III. v. 137 While men were conscious of their well deserving, they were the most sensible of their dependance on a power they could neither influence nor comprehend.

1854 Christian Examiner & Relig. Misc. Mar. 219 If the mention of our well-deserving can bring but a troubled joy, what can the rehearsal of our ill-deservings awaken in us but an unmingled misery?

1545 G. Joye Expos. Daniel (vi.) f. 86^v Daniel was..well deseruinge and paynes takinge to profit euery man, so that worthely he might haue bene called pater patrie.

1576 A. Fleming tr. Cicero in Panoplie Epist. 117 How deepely the common wealth is growne in your debte, for your meritorious and wel deseruing behauiour.

1591 J. Harington Briefe Apol. Poetrie in tr. L. Ariosto Orlando Furioso sig. ¶iij^v Traitors that sell their princes fauours, and rob weldeseruing seruitors of their reward.

1614 W. Lithgow Most Delectable Disc. Peregrination ii. sig. E3 The..Generals diuided innumerable spoyles, to their well-deseruing Captaines.

1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 119 Now what avails his well-deserving Toil. View more context for this quotation

1789 World 5 Jan. 7/1 The play in which that great Actress, and well deserving favourite, Mrs. Abington, makes her first appearance.

1835 Farmer's Mag. Dec. 448/2 An act of justice towards a well-deserving class of society.

1908 Times 8 June 9/1 I prefer..to give my well-deserving filly a rest.

1990 Ebony May 20/1 I wish continued success to a well-deserving man.

1577 R. Smythe tr. M. Bandello Straunge, Lamentable, & Tragicall Hystories To Rdr. sig. A.iv Some [bookes] conduce to the aduauncement of vertue & commendation of the wel deseruing.

1634 T. Herbert Relation Some Yeares Trauaile 100 To defend and relieue the distrest and wel-deseruing.

1656 Earl of Monmouth tr. T. Boccalini Ragguagli di Parnasso i. v.11 Only the most vertuous and well-deserving commanded.

1747 W. Stith Hist. Virginia iv. 191 He regretted their present Inability..to recompence the great Pains and Merit of the well-deserving.

1860 Spectator 31 Mar. 307/2 By instituting these Examinations, Government would powerfully aid the employment of the well-deserving.

2001 G. Belter Vision from God 6 There's a lesson to be learned concerning the well deserving.

1631 J. Mabbe tr. F. de Rojas Spanish Bawd xii. 141 The gentlenesse and well-deservingnesse of Melibea.

1836 J. W. Semple tr. I. Kant Metaphysic of Ethics 191 The greater hindrance from without, and the less the hindrance to duty from within, so much the higher rises the..well-deservingness of the act.

1870 H. Martin Atonement viii. 207 His being made flesh did not cancel His well-deservingness, or make Him worthy of death and the curse.