Obs. or arch. Also 5 enbassed, enbassade, 7 Sc. embassaid. [See AMBASSADE, of which this is a less frequent var.]
1. The mission or function of an ambassador; = AMBASSADE 1.
1593. Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., IV. iii. 32. When you disgrac’d me in my Embassade.
1601. Holland, Pliny, II. 491–2. P. Iunius and T. Coruncanus … were put to death, notwithstanding they came in embassade unto her.
2. A body of persons (or a single person) sent on a mission, or as a deputation, to or from a sovereign; an ambassador and his suite; = AMBASSADE 2.
1480. Caxton, Chron. Eng., ccliii. 325. Also this same yere cam a grete enbassade in to englond.
1494. Fabyan, IV. lxvi. 45. He sente to hym an enbassed. Ibid., IV. lxxv. 53. An Embassade shuld be made vnto the Kynge of lytell Brytayne.
1557. in Strype, Eccl. Mem., II. I. II. ix. 320. Upon coming of great embassades or foreign princes.
3. The message sent or delivered by an ambassador; = AMBASSADE 3.
1508. Fisher, Seven Ps., Ps. cxliii. II. (1529), R i b. They fered to shewe thyne enbassade.
1601. R. Johnson, Kingd. & Commw. (1603), 57. In this counsell … they consult of embassaids.
4. quasi-adv. On an embassy. rare.
1525. Ld. Berners, Froiss., II. ccxix. [ccxv.] 677. Howe the frenche kyng … had sente a knyght of honour embassade to hym.
1596. Spenser, Hymne Beautie, 252. But when her words embassade forth she sends.
