| 1H4 IV.iv.10 | [Archbishop to Sir Michael] Tomorrow ... is a day / Wherein the fortune of ten thousand men / Must bide the touch [i.e. have their quality tested] |
| E3 III.iii.141 | [King John to the French] your intended force must bide the touch [i.e. test its quality - as gold is tested using a touchstone] |
| R3 IV.ii.8 | [King Richard to Buckingham] now do I play the touch, / To try if thou be current gold [i.e. act as a touchstone] |
| Tim IV.iii.391 | [Timon as if to the gold] O thou touch of hearts! |