Now dial. Also 3–4, 6 spens, 3–7, 9 dial. spence. [ad. OF. espense, = AF. expense EXPENSE.]
† 1. Expense, expenditure; cost. Obs.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 3486. He nadde noȝt wel war-wiþ such menie up to holde, Ac … he þoȝte of þe saxons is spense vp arere.
a. 1350. St. Cecilia, 459., in Horstm., Altengl. Leg. (1881), 164. Þe bischop … made a kirk of ful grete spens.
1382. Wyclif, 1 Cor. ix. 18. That I preching the gospel, putte the gospel with oute spence takynge, or sustenaunce therfore.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 233. I shall spare for no spence & þu spede wele.
c. 1460. Reg. Oseney Abbey, 50. To þe Burgeys spense to such a parlement i-chose.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. ccvi. 243. So that they demaunde no wages, nor for losse of horse nor spence.
1566. Drant, Horace, Sat., I. ii. A viij. And fearyng such lyke blame That doth ensue outragiouse spence, he will not geue nor lende One crosse of coyne.
b. pl. Charges, costs, items of expense or expenditure; esp. in later use = EXPENSE 3 c.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XIV. 197. But owre spences and spendynge sprynge of a trewe wille.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 347. How shulde not þis suffice now for fewer clerkis and lesse of spensis?
c. 1400. Brut, 328. This tretys lasted twey ȝer, wiþ grete costes & houge spences of boþe parties.
1720. in Jrnl. Derbysh. Archæol. Soc. (1905), XXVII. 215. For spenses at Chappell fair … 1 0 0.
1888. Elworthy, W. Somerset Word-bk., s.v. Overdrow.… To pay all ’spences.
2. concr. That which may be or is spent; money, supplies; dial. pocket-money. Also pl.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 350. Ne he ne bereð no garsum bute gnedeliche his spense.
c. 1290. Beket, 1365, in S. Eng. Leg., 145. Þe king him fond spence i-novȝ to him and alle his.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 6857. To þe cyte he was com late, And of spensys had he non.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VII. 127. Þe duke was prayed of þe emperour for to take costage and spence for the way.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., xxii. 249. I wold spende all my spence To se hym ones skelpt.
1886. H. Cunliffe, Rochdale Gloss., Spence, pocket-money.
† 3. The expenditure or spending of goods, income, etc. Obs.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 13692. So he sped hym by spies, & spense of his gode.
1538. Starkey, England, II. iii. 201. Wych … ys the occasyon of the grete spens of the intrat of the monastery.
1567. Drant, Horace, Ep., I. xv. E vj b. When as with spence of parentes goddes Sir Meui once began, Mongst lustie laddes for to be cawld a iolly gentleman.
† b. The employing, expending, consuming, or using up of something. Obs.
1555. J. Proctor, Hist. Wyat’s Rebellion, 54 b. To aduenture the spense of her royall bloude in defense of them.
1563. Foxe, A. & M., 745. Many hote argumentes were betwene them,… with muche spence of language.
1594. Lodge, Wounds Civil War, A iv b. The spence of yeares that Marius hath ore-past … Hath taught him this.
