Obs. Also 5 ambacyat, -assite, -assat(e, -asset, 5–6 -axat, -assiat; also embassiate, embasset, imbasset. [ad. med.L. ambassiata, also -asciata, -asiata, -asseata, -axiata, -assata, -axata, for *ambactiāta: see AMBASSADE, a doublet of this word through Sp. and Fr., with which the later forms of this were at length blended; also AMBASSY from the cognate Fr. form.]

1

  1.  The business or message of an ambassador.

2

a. 1400.  Cov. Myst., 77. Now myn imbasset I have seyd to yow thus.

3

1417.  Hen. V., in Ellis, Orig. Lett., III. 26, I. 61. Thambassiatours of oure Brothir the Duc of Baire have been here with us and doon theire Ambassiat.

4

1419.  Assheton, ibid., II. 22, I. 73. When that he comes on his Ambassate.

5

1430.  Lydg., Chron. Troy, II. xvi. Of one assent to make ambassyat. Ibid. (c. 1430), Bochas, V. xv. (1554), 133 a. In this Ambasset … had none audience.

6

1440.  Shirley, Dethe K. James (1818), 23. Beyng in Scotteland, upon his ambassite.

7

1447.  Bokenham, Lyvys of Seyntys, 52 b. Whan the aungel thus his ambacyat Had brefly doon.

8

1461.  Wyndesore, in Paston Lett., 416, II. 52. Goyng uppon an ambassate to the Frenshe Kyng.

9

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, VIII. iii. 108. Nowthir by ambassiat, message, nor writingis.

10

1548.  Hall, Chron., 847. Ambassiates, excuses, allegacions.

11

  2.  A body of men sent on a message by a sovereign or other authority; an embassy.

12

1461.  Paston Lett., 416, II. 52. We shall have a gret ambassate out of Scotland.

13

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, XI. lvi. 27. The ambassiat that was returnit agane.

14

1529.  Rastell, Pastyme (1811), 101. They sende an embasset to Aecias.

15

1535.  Stewart, Cron. Scotl., II. 221. Ane greit ambaxat suddantlie he send.

16

1580.  North, Plutarch (1676), 140. Twenty persons of this Ambassiate.

17

  3.  A single envoy or ambassador. [Fr. ambassade (masc.), Pr. ambaissat. Cf. -ADE 3.]

18

1470.  Harding, Chron., lxxxi. He … sent his letters with his Ambassatis.

19

c. 1520.  State Let., in Burnet, Hist. Ref., II. 95. The French king hath sent hither an Ambassiate, Monsieur de Langes.

20

1535.  Stewart, Cron. Scotl., I. 55. The ambaxat tuke leve and passit hame.

21