handsel

Aleman, Cervantes, Lesage, Defoe and Fielding were inspired to imitation, and today Lazarillo is acclaimed as the prototype of the picaresque novel, as a handsel of the arriving era of realism in European literature.

From Time Magazine Archive

Then on the 2'd of January 1671 being hansell   Monday I gave my wife to give out to people   who expected handsel, 4 dollars.

From Publications of the Scottish History Society, Volume 36 Journals of Sir John Lauder Lord Fountainhall with His Observations on Public Affairs and Other Memoranda 1665-1676 by Lord John Lauder Fountainhall

They sang a doggerel rhyme, and the form in which money was asked was, "Please to handsel the Lord and Lady's purse."

From Miscellanea by Juliana Horatia Gatty Ewing

“Buy a hair-line, or a line for Jacke, If you any hair or hemp-cord lack, Mistris, here’s good as you need use; Bid fair for handsel, I’ll not refuse.”

From A History of the Cries of London Ancient and Modern by Charles Hindley

The disguised ladies take the handsel from them, without knowing that they are bound by it, until the sheriff arrives to confirm the bargain.

From The Standard Operaglass Detailed Plots of One Hundred and Fifty-one Celebrated Operas by Charles Annesley

"Liberty has always been bought with life, and the glory of the greatest nations handseled with the blood of their founders."

From Remember the Alamo by Amelia Edith Huddleston Barr

Their son handselled them together, and gave the mother to his sire.

From French Mediaeval Romances from the Lays of Marie de France by Marie de France

The full moon handselled with the stars the teeth, like grains of      pearl, That on the laughing face of wine now dance, now      stirless lie.

From The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Volume III by John Payne

‘Yea, even so let it be,’ quoth Folk-might; and stepped forward and took Bristler by the hand, and handselled him self-doom. 

From The Roots of the Mountains; Wherein Is Told Somewhat of the Lives of the Men of Burgdale by William Morris

"Ah," he exclaimed, "I have handselled this time at any rate."

From Marguerite de Valois by Alexandre Dumas père

Holy peace at length they handselled, Eric must in bonds be laid!

From Eric Brighteyes by Henry Rider Haggard

Mary, who is handselling her new aerial perspectives upon a pair of old worsted stockings trod out in Cheshunt lanes, sends love.

From The Works of Charles and Mary Lamb — Volume 6 Letters 1821-1842 by Mary Lamb

So now he gave forth the handselling grandly with open mouth, and this is the beginning thereof.

From The Story of Grettir the Strong by William Morris