1589, George Puttenham, The Arte of English Poesie Chapter , And in this resembling the learning of an euill man to the seedes sowen in barren ground.
1590, w, Spenser's The Faerie Queene, Book I Chapter , XLII And to augment the glorie of his guile, 370 His dearest love, the faire Fidessa, loe Is there possessed of the traytour vile, Who reapes the harvest sowen by his foe, Sowen in bloudy field, and bought with woe: That brothers hand shall dearely well requight, 375 So be, O Queene, you equall favour showe.
1753, Theophilus Cibber, The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland Chapter , He that has his hand well put in this mittaine; He shall have multiplying of his graine, When he hath sowen, be it wheat or otes; So that he offer good pens or grotes!
