amercement

1) In the manorial system this was a payment imposed on an offender by his peers, after which he stood at the mercy of the lord: it differed from a fine in that it was imposed at the discretion of the court (TWH26/7n).

1250 ‘the said lady’s steward and reeves held courts … and received amercements from many people’, Stokesley

1674 the estreates of all such fines ... and amerciamentes forfeited at the Court Leet, Elmswell. It was occasionally abbreviated: 1582 two others for a mercyant 4d each, Beverley.

spellings amerciament mercyant
dates 1250 1582 1674

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