Obs. [f. tale’s, genitive of TALE sb. + MAN sb.1] The teller of a tale, the author of a story; a relater, a narrator.
a. 1568. Henryson’s Credence of Titlaris, 12 (Bann. MS.). Ane worthy lord sowld wey ane taill wyslie … gif the tailisman [Maitl. MS. tellar] abyd at It he wald.
1570–6. W. Lambarde, Peramb. Kent (1826), 358. Polydore might well have spared to magnifie Becket with this lie,… unlesse he had brought his Talesman with him.
1613. Purchas, Pilgrimage, I. ix. 44. Yet the Tales-man shall be Set by the Tale, the Authors name annexed to his Historie.
a. 1700. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, I tell you my Tale, and my Talesman, or Author.
1768. Ross, Helenore, 29. Baith tale an’ tales-man I to you shall tell.
So † Tales-master, in the same sense: cf. tale-master, s.v. TALE sb. 10.
1656. Heylin, Extraneus Vapulans, 53. Without producing his Tales-master to make it good, he only says that he hath been told.
