bespeak

To speak about; tell of; relate; discuss.

[They] bespoke dangers […] in order to scare the allies.

To speak for beforehand; engage in advance; make arrangements for; order or reserve in advance.

concluding, naturally, that to gratify his avarice was to bespeak his favour

I walked on into the village, with the desertion of this house upon my mind, and I found the landlord of the little inn, sanding his door-step. I bespoke breakfast, and broached the subject of the house.

To stipulate, solicit, ask for, or request, as in a favour.

to bespeak a calm hearing

I bespeak your patience in advance.

To forbode; foretell.

To speak to; address.

Then ſtaring on her with a ghaſtly Look, / And hollow Voice, he thus the Queen beſpoke.

Spurring his horse, he galloped down to the shore and bespoke them.

A request for a specific performance; a benefit performance, by a patron.

"By the bye, I've been thinking of bringing out that piece of yours on her bespeak night." "When?" asked Nicholas. "The night of her bespeak. Her benefit night. When her friends and patrons bespeak the play." "Oh! I understand," replied Nicholas.