sb. See ENVOY sb.1 1.
1430–40. Lydg., Bochas, VIII. xxv. (1494), E iij b/1. Make a Lenuoy that men all may it rede. [The ‘Lenuoye’ follows.]
1570. Barclay’s Ship of Fooles, 2 b. The Lenuoy of Alexander Barclay Translatour. [Also in other passages; but ed. 1509 has always The Envoy or Thenuoy.]
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., III. i. 81. Pag. Is not lenuoy a salue? Ar. No, Page, it is an epilogue.
a. 1625. Beaum. & Fl., Wit without M., II. iv. After these, a Lenvoy to the Citty for their sinnes?
1636. Massinger, Bashf. Lover, IV. i. Do I know my self? I kept that for the Lenvoy.
a. 1656. Ussher, Annals, VI. (1658), 276. Of 10 thousand talents brought forth, there were, 130 left all paid, with this lenuoy [printed lennoy] over and above of Curtius [Latin: a Curtio etiam hoc adjecto epiphonemate], So that, saith he, that army, conqueror of so many nations, brought yet more honour and glory, then spoil and riches out of Asia.
Hence † Lenvoy v. trans., to give (a person) his lenvoy; to say farewell to him.
1596. Nashe, Saffron Walden, 134. Wee shall lenuoy him, and trumpe and poope him well enough if … he will needes fall a Comedizing it.
