> as lemmas

1535 Bible (Coverdale) 2 Macc. xii. F Iudas called vpon the Lorde that he wolde be their helper, & captayne of the felde.

a1555 J. Philpot Let. to Lady Vane 10 Dec. in J. Foxe Actes & Monuments (1570) 2009/1 You haue so armed me to the Lords battell both inwardly and outwardly... You haue appointed me to so good and gracious a Generall of the field,..that [etc.].

1588 J. Aske Elizabetha Triumphans 16 (side note) The names of the Officers of the field belonging to the Campe.

1590 ‘Pasquil’ First Pt. Pasquils Apol. sig. D3 Equal, in respect of theyr fight in..battailes, as the Generall of the fielde and the common Souldiours are.

1650 M. Carter Most True Relation Exped. Kent, Essex, & Colchester 164 No Gunner should fire a Cannon without the Command of a Field Officer of his Post, or a General Officer of the Field.

1703 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion II. vii. 269 There were..above twenty Officers of the Field..slain upon the place.

1795 W. W. Seward Topographia Hibernica at Drogheda The three last, though they had been officers of the field, yet out of their zeal to the service, went on this occasion as private captains.

1841 Jrnl. Royal Asiatic Soc. 6 91 After the king, came his lieutenant-general of the field, and all his bow-men in rank, like a half moon.

1904 20th Cent. Biogr. Dict. Notable Americans X. at Webb, Alexander Stewart Meade mentions it as an act of bravery not surpassed by any general of the field.

1918 L. Perry Our Navy in War xiv. 261 A brief speech by Major-General George Barnett..to the officers of the field and staff of the overseas outfit.