Middle English Dictionary Entry
amerciment n.
Entry Info
| Forms | amerciment n. Also amercement, amerciament. |
| Etymology | AF amerciment & AL amerciamentum. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A penalty imposed upon an offender or defaulter, esp. one imposed 'at the mercy', i.e. at the discretion, of the court (as distinct from a statutory fine); amercement; (b) the income from such penalties; also, a record of such penalties; (c) a penalty or mulct inflicted, as upon a tenant.
Associated quotations
a
- [ (c1220) Chart.in Capes Hereford Cath.54 : Cum eorum..placitis, amerciamentis. ]
- (1414) Let.Coldingham in Sur.Soc.1286 : Fermes to rayse, courtys till hald, amercymentz to rayse, trespasours to punyse.
- (1432) RParl.4.403a : As is conteyned in ye Statut of the grete Chartre..yat non amercementes be sett ne put apon no person, but by the othes of worthy and lawefull persones.
- (1450) RParl.5.173b : All issues, fynes, amerciamentes to be assessed or forfeited uppon eny such processe.
- (1450) RParl.5.181b : Which Shirref of grete amerciamentez assessed uppon hym for the seid embesilyng, by your pardon therof hadde, is dischargeable in full evell ensample.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)101/35 : Yf the men..trespassed..so that they fille into amersyng or a-mercement, the same Aleyne..shold have a resonable amercement after the maner of the trepasse.
- a1475 Legal Gloss.Bokenham MAngl.(Hrl 4011)21 : Blood-wyte is a-mercyment or amendis for shedynge of bloode.
- ?a1475 Legal Gloss.Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)95 : Blodewitte: a merciamente for effusion of bloode.
b
- a1325 *Rwl.Statutes [OD col.] (Rwl B.520)lf.30b : Þat te schirreueue..ben i charged..of hoere foreine issues ant of þe amertiemens.
- (1447-8) Shillingford91 : The saide Bisshop..where he hath no suche power..the amerciamentes, issuys, and proffits therof comyng taketh to his awne use.
- (1463) GRed Bk.Bristolpt.2 p.66 : And that the seid amerciement be wryttyn weekely by the Towne Clerk and Steward of Bristow..to the sargeauntz of the Courts..to make thereof levy and accompt.
c
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.752 : And eek taken they of hire bonde men amercimentz [vrr. amerciament, amercementis, amersementes], whiche myghten moore resonably ben cleped extorcions than amercimentz. Of whiche amercimentz and raunsonynge of bonde men, somme lordes stywardes seyn that it is rightful.
- (1451) Paston2.215 : Extorcious amerciaments take of the Prior of Westacre..and hese man there set openly and shamefully..in stokks.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)59 : Þere is no mercy..with the riche, for thei takith amercymentz and pleyntz wrongfully vpon her nieghbours.