There are a few synonyms you can use for the phrase "spoken of earlier." One option might be "previously mentioned," which is a clear and concise way to indicate that a subject has already been discussed. Another similar phrase could be "previously discussed," which again clearly communicates that a topic has already been explored. You could also use the phrase "earlier noted," although this might be slightly less common than the other two options. Regardless of which synonym you choose, the goal is to make it clear to your reader that you're referencing something that has already been talked about in the past.