Green’s Dictionary of Slang

the fingers of both hands; thus excl. by these ten bones! a mild oath.

c.1485		Digby Myst. (1882) 4 note: By thes bonys ten thei be to you untrue [F&H].
c.1485		‘Herods Killing of Children’ Digby Mysteries (1882) 4: By thes bonys ten thei be to you vntrue.
1512		Hickscorner Aiii: Where laye I last beshrewe your herte Jone Now by these bones she hath begyled me.
c.1538		Thersytes (1550) D iiii: By this tenne bones / She served me ones / A touch for the nones / I was sicke and laye in my bedde.
c.1540		J. Heywood Four P.P. in Farmer Dramatic Writings (1905) 58: Yet, by these ten bones, I could right well, Ten times sooner all that believed.
1562		Jacke Juggler Biiii: I am a seruaunt of this house by thes x bons. [Ibid.] Ciii: By these tene bones myne is the same.
1589		Lyly Pappe with an Hatchet C3: Take away this beard, and giue me a pikedevaunt, Martin sweares by his ten bones.
1592		Shakespeare Henry VI Pt 2 I iii: By these ten bones, my lords, he did speak to me in the garret one night.
1603		Dekker Wonderfull Yeare 82: An Angell he wanted to be his guide, and vnder ten shillings (by his ten bones) he would not put his finger into the fire.
1613		Beaumont & Fletcher Coxcomb II ii: By these ten bones, I’ll turn she-ape, and untile / A house, but I’ll have it.
1621		Jonson Masque of the Gipsies in Q. Horatius Flaccus (1640) 64: I sweare by these ten / You shall have it agen.
1648		R. Herrick ‘Upon Skurffe’ Hesperides I 251: Skurffe by his Nine-bones sweares, and well he may, All know a Fellon eate the Tenth away.
1682		T. Shadwell Lancashire Witches Act IV: I shall have thee to Morrow in these Arms! by these ten bones.