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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Sped(e, Speid, v. Also: speide, speyd, speed(e. P.p. also spedde, spad. [ME and e.m.E. spedenn (c1200), sped (c1250), spede (c1275), speed (Chaucer), spead (1545), speede (1553), OE (ᵹe)spédan.]

I. 1. intr. To meet with success, prosper, attain a purpose or desire; also, const. to spede to do (something); in(to), on, of (a purpose). Also in collocation with Spil(l v. and Spurn(e v. Cf. proverb., Sped(e n. I 1 d.(1) a1400 Leg. S. iii 1004.
Thane com a pylgrime … entre askand; And fore he sped nocht, … He knokit faste apon the ȝet a1400 Leg. S. xxxii 206.
I kene hale thi wil & the vnmycht of my compere, That to spede had na powere a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 336.
To assege yone castel … Euer quhill ye speid a1500 Henr. Fab. 125.
Quha hes this stane sall haue gude hap to speid a1500 Henr. Fab. 2438 (Ch.).
Quhair sic sproutis spreidis, the euill spreit thair not speidis c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 149/81. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 199/24.
Sum speidis [at law] for he in court hes menis 1560 Rolland Seven S. 8882.
It is ane prouerb … Let ane ȝoung man quhidder he speid or nocht Hane not his speich, but speik furth a1578 Pitsc. I 94/17.
The king sieing that he could nocht speid witht fairnes [etc.] a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 360 (L).
Quha speiddis bot sic as heych espyris? 1611-57 Mure Early Misc. P. ii 91.
Sall I liue off my hope to speid, And liue no more, cros'd with consuming cair?(2) a1400 Leg. S. xxx 97.
He hyr leit wit vtrely That othyr worthyt hym to sped Hyr wil to wyne, or [etc.] a1400 Leg. S. xl 508.
Ane alde coble … he fand, … & lap thare-one … In his purpos venand to spede c1475 Wall. v 640.
He that thinkis on his luff to speid, He may do weill c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 97/27.
The hale rejosing of my spreit Wald speid in to my erand than 1535 Stewart 31096.
Then war tha blyth all … And put away all dreddour and all dreid, In gude beleif of thair purpois to speid 1535 Stewart 39806.
I hald thé by thi mynd, To dreid the man the quhilk for thé is deid, And throw thi power oft of his purpois speid a1568 Bann. MS I p. 18/12.
Grantar and gevar of all grace … That we may speid spend on ws space To get of our gilt forgifnes(3) c1409-1436 Kingis Q. § 186.
Quho that will noght for this prayer turn, Quhen thai wald faynest speid, that thai may spurn 1460 Hay Alex. 2538.
[They] oftymes vnavisitlie dois thair deid That garris thame oftymes spurn quhan thai suld speid c1460 Thewis Wysmen 362. a1568 Bann. MS I p. 19/31.
Quhan we wald spill thow gart ws speid

b. With adverbials expressing the manner, etc. of succeeding in(to), intil, of (a purpose, etc.), also, to do something; specif. to fare or progress well, ill, etc. (in something).(1) 1375 Barb. xvii 898.
Thai sped on sic maner, That thai thar fayis discomfyt hade a1400 Leg. S. xxvii 847.
Dewenik can to Catnes pas, … And sped sa weile in schort tym thare, That [etc.] a1400 Leg. S. xxvii 851.
Sanct Machor Furth preichit … & swa sped that he Gert mast part of thaim cristnit be a1400 Leg. S. xlix 33.
Quhen he saw he sped nathing For his enculȝe or entysing ?1438 Alex. ii 6520.
He sa graithly sped had thare Of all his erand and weil-fare 1456 Hay I 13/34.
Quhen he sawe that he mycht nocht in that maner spede, he sett him in ane othir maner fassoun to procede(2) a1400 Leg. S. x 27.
Mathew … of appostil & ewangelyste … in-to that wark sa wel spede, That [etc.] a1400 Leg. S. xxv 500.
In til leteratoure sa wel he sped, That [etc.] a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi 870.
Quhen scho lang sic lyf had lede, & thare-in [had] nathing spede [etc.] 1531 Bell. Boece II 104.
Thir preistis returnit, evill doung, and na thing sped of thair purpos(3) 14.. Burgh Laws c. 89 (A).
Leff is to him that mistar has to be doand with his land quhar that he may best speide 14.. Acts I 29/2.
It sall be leifful til hym the forsaid lande as he best may speid to sell(4) c1475 Wall. v 856.
Thai … tald thair lord how ewill the formest sped 1535 Stewart 16844.
In till all haist than hamewart is he gone, And schew this king that tyme how he had sped 1560 Rolland Seven S. 9617.
How haue ȝe done, and sped in ȝour jornay: Or quhat kin end that ȝe haue brocht it to a1578 Pitsc. I 347/2.
The bischope com hame and schew the king the maner and how he had spede in this commissioun a1578 Pitsc. I 239/23. 1601 Crim. Trials II 355.
Ye mett the Guidman of Johnstouneburne and tauld him how ye sped(5) 1375 Barb. vii 83.
Schir Amer, that fra the chas With his men than reparit was, That litill sped in [E. sped lytill [in]] thair chassing a1400 Leg. S. xxx 341.
Theodora, that had il spede, Ȝed til hyr husband [etc.] ?1438 Alex. ii 390.
Quha is hated in his feid, Weill na may he neuer speid ?1438 Alex. ii 3094.
Trewly … he dois ill. Ȝit, quhen he had serued hir lelely … Me think than had he sped richt wele 1460 Hay Alex. 1196.
To supple the wingis … And gif the vangard hapnit weill to speid Reconfort thame … And gif thame hapnit in feild to win the flour, Lat thame allane with thair conquest honour c1460 Consail Vys Man 354.
Al thing has tyme wald men tak heid, Quhai dois nocht swa the were sal sped c1475 Wall. viii 1115.
Weill born scho was … Scho trowit weill tharfor to speid the erar a1500 Sir Eger 555 (L).
I might have thold he had done well, And better sped in his journey a1500 Sir Eger 870.
As for my work I have no dread, I trust in God right well to speed a1500 Seven S. 338.
Quhen all the branchis sa war sned The ȝoung tre na better sped a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. 427/11.
For lack of iustice sum gettis vrang … Sum in the cessione lyis our lange And hulie speiddis 1629 Dalyell Darker Superst. 33.
[She] sat doun befoir the dure, and said ‘ill might they all thryve, and ill might they speid’ 1604-31 Craig v 10.
For hee that loues lightliest Bee sure hee shall speede best ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. III 150.
If the graunting of ane assembly … prove the advancement of ther designe, it may be thought that they have spedde weall in ther wicked designe

c. impers. It is well sped, it spedis to, it is a good thing for, it is better for (a person, etc.). a1500 Sir Eger 528 (L).
And though the deed he sought on him, It is well sped to all his kin c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. v 30.
For it spedis to thee that aan of thi membris perise, than that al thi bodi ga into helle

d. To be profitable or useful (to). c1420 Wynt. i 992.
Wytht thame wes Natyownys duelland sere That spedys noucht to be reknyd here c1420 Wynt. ii 816. c1409-1436 Kingis Q. § 28.
I suffer allone … Ane wofull wrecche that to no wight may spede

2. tr. To assist, help (a person), to cause (him) to succeed or prosper. Also absol. a1400 Leg. S. xviii 1366.
That haly thinge [sc. receiving the Sacrament] had spad hir sa c1420 Wynt. v 5091.
He spurnyd offtyr than he spede That blyslys bryde c1420 Ratis R. 1399.
Quhen thow has ned … nane bot grace thane may thé sped c1450-2 Howlat 879 (A).
It sall be done as ȝe deme dreid ȝe richt nocht … Ȝe sall be specialy sped a1500 Henr. III 147/54.
The hie God of his gracis Him self dispisit ws to speid c1475 Wall. ii 199.
All worthi Scottis, all mychty God yow leid, Sen I no mor in wyage may you speid! a1500 Bk. Chess 1667.
Logik will him speid Be argvment ?a1500 Obsecro 78.
Thow help me with gude consall … in all neid … thou me speidabsol. c1420 Ratis R. 1095.
With luf is langsum lyf to led Quhar thai twa [sc. Reason and Hope] can nocht help na sped c1420 Ratis R. 1100.
Here ar vrytin … Sum thingis that may help & sped To knaw the cours of thi ȝouthede 1567 G. Ball. 175.
Jesus, our King, is gaine in hunting Quha lykis to speid thay may

b. As a wish for success, etc. invoking the help of God, the Devil, etc. In 1662 quot. some form of greeting or incantation may be intended; cf. d below. 1375 Barb. xviii 389.
Do than, quhar mychty [C. and] God thé speid c1475 Wall. ii 93.
Go hens … the mekill dewill thé speid c1475 Wall. ix 120.
Wallace ansuerd … ‘Go wndyr loft; Sanct Androw mot ws speid’ a1540 Freiris Berw. 64 (B).
I pray grit [M. to] God him speid Him haill & sound in to his travell 1662 Crim. Trials III 611.
Quhan on of vs or mor ar in the shap of catis, and meitt with ony vtheris owr neightbouris, we will say ‘Divell speid thé, goe thow with me!' And immediatlie they will turne in the shape of an catt, and goe with ws

c. As an adjuration: Sa (greit) God (mot) me speid, (may) God help me. ?1438 Alex. i 788.
I am traistar, sa God me speid, Than I into ane castell ware a1500 Henr. Fab. 1010.
‘I can not spell,’ quod he, ‘sa God me speid’ 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2746.
Thairfoir gude lord sa greit God mot me speid The inwart lufe that I vnto ȝow beir, Sa causis me remaine still with ȝow heir

d. absol. As a greeting: God speid, also an instance of this. a1500 Henr. Fab. 262.
Withowt God speid thair herberie wes tane a1500 Henr. Fab. 327.
In come Gib Hunter, our iolie cat, And bad God speid a1500 Henr. Fab. 1363.
God speid, my sone 1576 Crim. Trials I ii 52.
Thom mett hir be the way … and said, ‘Gude day, Bessie;’ and sche said, ‘God speid yow, gudeman.’ ‘Sancta Marie,’ said he, ‘Bessie, quhy makis thow sa grit dule and fair greting for ony wardlie thing?’

3. To promote, further, expedite (a cause, matter, etc.); to bring or urge (a matter) to a conclusion; to accomplish or carry out (an intention, task); to deal with, put into effect (a (legal, etc.) matter). Also, const., upoun (= with regard to) a legal transaction.(1) pres. a1400 Leg. S. xxx 155.
[I can] … helpe thé for to sped thi thing, Gyf thi cause be of luffyng c1420 Wynt. iii Prol. 37.
This [sc. telling history] in fourme to sped and hast The wertu of the Haly Gast … I call devotly to helpe me c1420 Wynt. viii 1593.
Hys breyffe he gert spede … Till swmmound this Ballyoll bodyly 1451 Reg. Episc. Brechin. II 88.
Yhe haue set the morne efter the fest of the purificacioun … to spede that mater and to present a persoune to the said vicarage a1500 Henr. Fab. 1240.
Lowrence the actis and the proces wrait, And thus the pley vnto the end thay speid 1513 Doug. iv vi 30.
At hys command thai … bissely begouth speid hys entent ?1549 Corr. M. Lorraine 302.
Quhill I maye furnis an grot to speid your servis sall I nocht leif huisand me … to your auin weillp.t. c1420 Wynt. vii 1928.
This pape Schyr Luci, The quhilk ressaywyd thame thare rycht welle, And sped thare erandys ilke dele c1420 Wynt. viii 5687.
Than Wate has tane his leve to ga That sped had wondyr welle his nede [C. at neyde] a1568 Bann. MS 256b/9.
Quhen I wes pege, I did vaslege, and sped my erand sonep.p. a1400 Leg. S. xiii 74.
I se wele that myn gat is sped Na Sathanas sal nocht mare me … God richt wele has sped myn wa c1390 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 19.
Syn owr request mycht nocht be spedde anens yhow 1398 Acts I 212/1.
The message & the treteis to be send in France & in Ingland … to the qwhilkis to be sped the clergie … has grantit [etc.] c1400 Troy-bk. i 437.
Scho wald ger in prosperyte That thing be sped, forout lattyng Or incombrance of ony thing 14.. Reg. Maj. c. 135.
Ciuil mutis the quhilk ar put in the court hidd[er]tillis ar sped in part [Skene Reg. Maj. i 65b, partlie are exponed] 1456 Hay II 93/32.
He suld never be sene bot anys in the ȝere … And alsa thare, gif ony gracis remissiounis or legitimaciounis was to be done, was sped c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 207/28.
Na thing is gottin but wordis sum; Nocht sped but diligence we se c1522 Doug. in Doug. (Sm.) I p. ci.
[He] has brocht wyt hym wrytyngis and dyrectyones fra thaim bayth to be sped in Frans, Flandris, and Rome 1525 Douglas Corr. 99.
The materis was sped … or Crystmaesse last bypassit 1538 Stirlings of Keir 358.
[He] sal do his diligence to get the samin sped and done betuix and Mychalmes nixttocum 1560 Rolland Seven S. 4412.
As God wald sic thing was na thing sped(2) 1535 Renfrew Arch. Coll. I 171.
Sesing of … land may nocht be takin … quhill our said soverane lordis confirmatioun be optenit and sped vpoun the said infeftment 1558 Waus Corr. 12.
The preve sell is speid upoun my gyf[t] of the personage of Douglace 1566 Reg. Privy C. I 466.
The Lordis of Secreit Counsall … ordanis the Lordis Commissioneris … nocht to compone nor speid ony confirmatioun upoun the few abonewrittin

b. To achieve, accomplish (an aim or objective); to procure, obtain (a licence, permission, etc.). Also const. to (= for) (a person).(1) 1513 Doug. viii iii 162.
To hym I went desyrus of frendschip, And sped that sammyn so in falloschip 1518 Renfrew Arch. Coll. I 113.
The … procurator … producit ane appunctment … for the hamebringing of the … twa dispensationis for the said sovme of l^lib, of the quhilk thair was xxv^lib payit, berand that thai [sc. the remainder] suld be spedd and raisit within ane certane tyme 1535 St. P. Henry VIII V 15.
Praying ȝow … to speid ane licence as is forsaid [sc. to allow James V to buy horses in England], and to send it with all deligence to this realme a1585 Maitland Maitl. Q. 44/60.
Fyve hundreth theiffis strang At anis will thair remissioun speid(2) 1515 Doug. in Doug. (Sm.) I p. xxxvi.
Becaus yon euyll myndyt Byschop of Murray … hes sped Sanct Andris to hymself … my self and frendis thinkis nedful I be promouit to that seyt quhilk now is vacand 1515 Doug. in Doug. (Sm.) I p. xxxviii.
Remember my salve conduct and sped the sammyne to me [sc. his promotion] as I wrat to yow latly

4. a. absol. To kill (a person) ? in a particular way. b. To bring (something) to an end.a. c1420 Wynt. vii 98 (W).
The knycht … fell on kneis askand mercy At the king … And said the king mycht be the law As a tratour him hang and draw; and thare he put him in his will, To hang or heid, or speid or spill. And thare the king … Forgaif himb. a1497, 15.. Gray MS iv 35.
This is Goddis awne complaint … With my wo thi neid I sped Quhy arttow to thi freind vnkynd?

II. 5. reflex. To go with speed, to go quickly from one place to another, freq. with adverbial expressing direction or speed; to hasten to, etc. (a person, place, etc.), in (a place), also, to do (something). Also proverb.(1) 1375 Barb. iii 617.
We sall swa row and speid ws sua That we sall weill eschaip thaim fra 1375 Barb. viii 205.
He thocht to sped him sua that he Suld at the dyk befor thaim be ?1438 Alex. ii 1818.
‘Schir but ȝe speid ȝow hastelly, Ȝour seruandis halely will be slane. Speid ȝow, or thay will de ilkane!' c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 177/37.
Speid thé, man, and thé confes With humill hart a1568 Bann. MS 79a/39.
Of thi cuming we haif rycht grit dispair … Speid thé, thairfoir, in dreid we all forfair(2) 1375 Barb. vii 583.
Thai saw Thar fayis … cummand … That sped thaim full enforcely 1375 Barb. xii 106.
Thai thaim defendyt manlely Quhill that the Douglas come ner That sped him on gret maner 1375 Barb. xv 463.
He … bad thaim sone agayne thaim sped Swa that [etc] a1400 Leg. S. xviii 856.
The remaynynge thane of that day I sped me faste one myn way ?1438 Alex. ii 1816 (see (1) above). a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 112.
Hyit hym hard throu the hall to his haiknay And sped hym on spedely on the spare mure a1500 K. Hart 779.
Mak reddie sone, he sayis, and speid ȝow fast 15.. Clar. iii 1941. 1584 Sempill Sat. P. xlv 370.
For oght the kirk culd him forbid, He sped him sone(3) 1375 Barb. iii 602.
He sped him efter thaim in hy 1375 Barb. x 582.
Giff a man on the wall may get He sall defend & it be ned Quhill the remanand wp thaim sped 1375 Barb. xvii 180.
He … sped him thidderwart swith c1420 Wynt. iv 1677.
Thai … sowne gert send Till Hanyball, and bad hym spede Hym hame, and help thame in thare nede a1500 Rauf C. 654.
He sped him in [sc. to the hall] spedely c1475 Wall. xi 867.
In agayn [sc. to the fighting] full fast thai can thaim sped 1513 Doug. ii x 125.
Furth of that sted I went, and throu the rowt Of ennemyis and flambis I me sped 1513 Doug. vi x 5.
Speid ws fordwart 1535 Stewart 9203.
He … sped him hyne in all the haist he mocht 1535 Stewart 52242.
Richt bissalie thame sped Amang the laif … Innumerabill sleipand that tyme tha slew 1540 Lynd. Sat. Proclam. 81.
Speid thé hame speidaly, Incontinent, and milk the ky, And mvk the byre or I cum hame 1549 Corr. M. Lorraine 296.
I pra your grace caus the leutenand wyth the garisonis to sped tham our(4) 1375 Barb. iv 279.
He … Sped him in hy to the fechting 1375 Barb. v 137. a1400 Leg. S. xli 382.
The pape … bad hyme that he suld nocht irke Bot sped hyme hame til his kirk c1420 Wynt. viii 4352.
Speyd [C. speide] a1500 Seven S. 468.
He sped him fast in to the hall 1513 Doug. iii ii 121.
The noys … of mony marynar … Thar feris exorting … To speid tham fast towart … Crete 1513 Doug. viii iv 91.
Swyft as the wynd he fled … And to his cave hym sped 1533 Boece 188b.
The Morave with haisty iournais sped him to the king 1540 Lynd. Sat. 935 (Ch.).
Speid ȝow agane to me, my iois 1545 Douglas Corr. 160.
They al consalit my lord to speid him to the said conwention with al deligens a1568 Bann. MS 143b/3.
A squyar and ane madin bricht Vn till a chalmer fast thame sped 16.. Sanny Briggs in Sempill P. 46/22.
Wha'll bid me when the kaill-bell's rung To board me speed?(5) 1375 Barb. x 309.
He sped him to the wer Till help his eyme in his myster(6) a1400 Leg. S. xxxvii 47.
Thai sped thame to the ton … In hope of Vincent for to wyne … thai sped thaim bath, in wil Martirdome to cume til(7) c1420 Wynt. viii 1626.
Efftyr that all this wes dwne In Scotland hame he sped hym swne(8) proverb. a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1387.
Speid yow ben and the litle pan in your hand a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1389.
Speid yow with the keyis, the cat hes the kinkhoste

b. intr. To go quickly to, till (a person or place); to move with speed.(1) 1375 Barb. iv 276.
Scho … bad him till the batell sped [C. spede] c1475 Wall. iv 775.
‘To the chawmer … Speid fast,' he said 1513 Doug. ii viii heading.
Quhou to the kyngis palyce speid Ene, That syne was take 1533 Boece 182b.
Eftir plegeis war askit and ressauit he departit speding to his moder and broder 1533 Boece 384b.
At sound of trumpett Danys sped haistelie to the ionyng(2) a1500 Henr. Fab. 895.
The anteloip, the sparth furth couth speid c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 176/11.
Speid home, for quhy anone cummis the nicht 1513 Doug. iv xii 56.
Hir systir An … Herand sa feirful confluens thyddir speid ?1549 Corr. M. Lorraine 319.
I haiff gottin … ane writing fra my lord gowernour to sped furthe my schippis upone thir Inglismen that lyis in the Fyrthe with diligence possible 1562-3 Winȝet I 3/17.
Sum … fleing fra the sanddy beddis, speidis baith with airis and erect salis

c. tr. To cause to move quickly or at speed; to cause to pass quickly from one place to another or to a person. Also absol. and reflex. Also to speid one's feit.(1) 1456 Hay II 46/19.
Rycht as spuris spedis the horse to ryn fast 1460 Hay Alex. 3892.
With his spurris his coursoure he gart spede 1515 Doug. in Doug. (Sm.) I p. xxxvii.
I pray yow at a word sped thir lettyris to Flandris … and sped wyth thaim the kingis wrytyngis c1522 Doug. in Doug. (Sm.) I p. ci.
Gif your hye prudens thynkis spedfull at salue conduct be sped her at the instance and subscriptyon of the said duk 1526 Treas. Acc. V 265.
Ane clois lettre … to be speid to my lord of Sanctandrois with uthir writingis 1542 Milne-Home MSS 37.
Speid to him ane signatour thairof in the best forme that can be devisit c1590 Fowler I 271/12.
O you parkes and faites, to succour sloue, From you nothing to better me is sped! … from yow no helps aryseabsol. a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 25.
Farand on thair stedis … With spurris spedely thai speid Our fellis, in fanereflex. 1460 Hay Alex. 3637.
Emenedus was brym as ony bare, And with the spurris he sped him, and nocht to spare(2) 1460 Hay Alex. 2381.
Als fast as Alexander mycht speid his feit Ane vther message be the way he met 1533 Boece 333b.
Sum … swam the flude … vtheris … sped thare fete, quhil thai war fra danger

6. reflex. To act with speed; to hasten to do, in doing (something) or to (an activity or purpose); to prepare oneself quickly.There is some overlap with 5 above.(1) 1375 Barb. ii 296.
We sall speid ws swagat that we Sall be all redy till assembill a1400 Leg. S. iii 741.
Thar-for sped thé … Fore dred, quhene thu wald thou ma nocht To state of grace thane be brocht ?1438 Alex. i 2121.
Nane laser mair to carpe haue we. Bot speid ȝow in all that ȝe may! 1547 Corr. M. Lorraine 188.
My lord sec[r]etar hes send ane writen to me sayand that he wes to gett his anser about mydsomer. I dreid and we speid ws nocht hestele we sall [etc.](2) 1375 Barb. x 411.
Ledehous that the ledder maid Sped him to clymb fyrst to the wall 1375 Barb. xi 645.
I will me speid To help him, for he has ned ?1438 Alex. i 242.
Alexander … Wald speid him sone in thare helping 1513 Doug. i iv 29.
With gret desyre and thocht Tobe on grund, Troianys sped thame to land 1513 Doug. i iv 96.
[They] Sped thame with fude to recover thar strenth 1513 Doug. vi ix 82.
Tysyphone … With quhip in hand al reddy fast hir spedis Thame to assail(3) c1420 Wynt. iv 1708 (W).
And sa behuffit thaim o neid To fecht and thaim to batall speid [R. to fecht and batalle spede, C. to batal and to feycht spede] c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 163/79.
The sparhalk to the spring him sped Als fers as fyre of flynt 1513 Doug. ii iv 63.
Onto that wark al sped thame bissely [L. accingunt omnes operi] 1535 Stewart 39808.
To thi purpois se thow speid thé sone c1578 Reid Swire 62.
Some yeid to drink & some stood still And some to cairds & dyce them speid

b. absol. or intr. To hasten, hurry, be quick in an activity. c. tr. To urge (someone) to do something.b. c1420 Wynt. ix 2511.
He bad sped wythoutyn let, And his hors sone till hym get a1568 Bann. MS 159b/37.
Twenty clyantes to on man of law … praying at on instant to speid As all attanis wald haif speid to proceid a1568 Jok & Jynny 76.
The wyfe said Speid, the kaill ar soddin a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xxxii 46.
Thoght ȝe be ȝong, ȝit once ȝe may be ald: Tyd will not tarie; speid or it be spentc. a1400 Leg. S. x 446.
The clergy … sped thame [sc. the people] to make His [sc. Matthew's] sepulture

d. In imperative: Speid hand!, hurry up!, make haste! (Hand n. 12). In early use in collocation with have done (Do v. B l c) but later appar. including within itself the notion of completing an activity. Also, once, to speid one's hand, to prepare quickly for something.(1) 1513 Doug. iv x 91 (see Hand n. 12). 1535 Stewart 39807.
Now tarie nocht thairfoir; speid hand, haif done 1540 Lynd. Sat. Proclam. 88.
Speid hand, or I sall paik thy cote 1540 Lynd. Sat. 4012.
Speid hand, man, with thy clittir clatter; For Goddis saik, man, latt me mak watter 15.. Clar. iii 850.
At ȝour lyking, To saill or go ather be land or sea. Speid hand, the gudwyfe said, for cheritie(2) 1513 Doug. xii v 91.
The Rutilianys … Syne sped thar hand [L. expediuntque manus], and maid thame for the fight