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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Forspekar(e, Foir-, Forespekar(e, n. Also: forspecar, -speccar, -spekkare, -speikar; forspeker(e, -spekir, -speiker, -speaker; foirspeikar, -speker(e, -spekir, -speiker; forespakar, -speiker, -speaker. [Early southern ME. vorspeker(e, OE. for(e)speca, -spreca, corresp. to L. prōlocūtor.] One who speaks for another; an advocate.(a) c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 116.
That he be not the forspekare … Inne the tyme of turbacions 14.. Acts I. 111/2.
That na defens sal be enchesonit … als lang as the defendour or his forspekar defendis torte and na reson 1455 Ib. II. 43/2.
That all men of lawe that ar forspekaris for the cost haif habitis of grene 1478 Acta Aud. 66/2.
The bourghe fundin be Alexr. Spens aduocate and forspekare for Johne Dischintoun 1504 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. I. 48.
Thomas Leslie, forspekar for the said persoms, protestit for thair costs; skaithts, and expensis 1548 Lanark Sheriff Ct. 7.
The saidis Andro … & Katherine Hamilton … comperit personalie in jugement with thair forspekar c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus iii. 140.
I ȝow protest ȝe wald me licentiat … That I may cheis to me ane forspeikar(b) 1428 Bk. Carlaverock II. 429.
Schir Herbert of Maxwile … and hys forspecarris Ib. 430.
Eftir mony argumentis … made … be thair forspeccaris 1536 Carnwath Barony Ct. 200.
The lord requirit his frendis & forspecaris for hym to caus lawborowis to be funding(c) 1434 Ayr B. Ct. 19th July.
Saule Kenedy, forspeker to the said Thom 1472–3 Prestwick B. Rec. 20.
Johne Blak, forspekir to James Brown 1476 Acts II. 114/2.
Dauid Balfour, … forspekere for Archibald of Dundas 1533 Gau 50/19.
He is now ane mediatur and forspeker to God … for our sinnis a1578 Pitsc. I. 169/1.
All men … come to Couchrin and maid him forspeiker for them 1643 Strathbogie Presb. 38.
He sould gett a better forspeaker against the nixt day(d) 1497 Acta Conc. II. 87.
Maister Gawane of Dunbar, forespakar for … the Duc of Ros 1520 Fife Sheriff Ct. 170.
The said James & his forespeiker exceptit agane the precept of summondis maid upon thame 1533 Bell. Livy I. 214/15.
The hous of Fabis … made Ceso Fabius, consul, to be forespekare for thame 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Actornaius.
Prolocutor is he quha speaks for the persewer as his forespeaker 1611 Crim. Trials III. 169.
Libertie to name those whom thay desyred to be forespeakeris for thame in thair defence(e) 1529 Red. Bk. Grandtully I. 68.
Jhone, … and Patrik Correour dempstaris, Robert Lesley his foirspekar 1544 Acts II. 450/1.
Maister Thomas Maccalȝeane thair foirspekere 1575 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 41.
The craftismen be James Young and Jhon Murdow thair foirspekaris refusit to haif ony melling with the saidis petitionis 1622-6 Bisset I. 280/6.
The domes that A. of B. foirspekir to C. falsed in the said courte