> C. 1300 Harrow. Hell 131 ― Were thou among men.
1535 Coverdale 2 Esdras v. 30 ― Though thou werest enemye.
Coverdale Ezek. xxviii. 6 ― As though thou werst God.
1611 Bible Rev. iii. 15, ― I would thou wert cold or hote [Wyclif, Coverd., Cranmer, Rhem. were, Genev. werest].
A. 1796 Burns ― Oh, wert thou in the cauld blast.