Obs. Also vaunt(e)perler, vauntperlor, -parler, vantperlor, -parlar. [ad. AF. vaunt-parlour, obs. F. avant-parleur ‘forespeaker.’]
1. ‘One that is too forward to speak’ (Cotgr.).
a. 1529. Skelton, Sp. Parrot, 427. He tryhumfythe, he trumpythe, he turnythe all vp and downe, With, skyre-galyard, prowde palyard, vaunteperler, ye prate!
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VIII., 36. Then sodainly was ther in ye counsaill, a vauntparler, a botcher which heryng this, called a great number of his affinitie and went out of the counsayll.
1577. Holinshed, Chron., I. 408/1. This Prince … followed vpon a wilfull pretence … the councell and aduice of vauntperlors, and suche as (being aduanced from base degree vnto hygh authoritie) studyed more to keepe them-selues in fauoure than [etc.].
2. One who speaks for or on behalf of others; a spokesman.
1534. St. Papers, Hen. VIII. (1830), I. 424. It shuld be best bestowed … upon Frire Whitford, and upon Lache, whiche bee the vauntperlers, and heddes of thair faction.
1579. Fulke, Heskins’s Parl., 66. He doeth honestly confesse, that … Damascen [was] the first and chiefest of the lower house, he may make him Vantparlar if he will.
1586. J. Hooker, Hist. Irel., in Holinshed, II. 120/1. Their vantparler was sir Christopher Barnwell knight, who being somewhat learned, his credit was so much the more, and by them thought most … worthie to haue beene the speaker for that house.
