“Thou hast dronke so much hony of swete temporal richesses, and delices, and honours of this world.”
It seems evident, then, that this word was originally construed as a substantive singular, and even admitted a plural form. The orthography varying, and the noun singular assuming a plural termination, it came in time to be considered by some as a noun plural.
In our translation of the Bible, it is construed sometimes as a singular, but generally as a plural noun.
“In one hour is so great riches come to nought.”—Bible.
“Riches take to themselves wings, and fly away.”—Ibid.
Modern usage, in like manner, inclines to the plural construction; there are a few authorities, however, on the other side, as,
“Was ever riches gotten by your golden mediocrities?”—Cowley.
“The envy and jealousy which great riches is always attended with.”—Moyle.
Alms was also originally a noun singular, being a contraction of the old Norman French almesse, the plural of which was almesses.
“This almesse shouldst thou do of thy proper things.”—Chaucer.