c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), vii. 25. Þe preste. lays þerapon diuerse spiceries and sulphure viue [ed. 1839, v. 48 Sulphur vif].
1471. Ripley, Comp. Alch., IV. vi. in Ashm. (1652), 145. Mercury and Sulphure vive.
1540. trans. Vigos Lyt. Pract., A viij b. Take a quantytie of Sulpher vyfe.
1601. Holland, Pliny, II. 556. The sulphur-vif is digged out of the mine such as we see, that is to say, transparent cleere, and greenish.
1683. Digbys Chym. Secr., 5. Sulphur-vive, which is clear and transparent in pieces.