arch. Forms as in CONTROL sb. and v. [f. CONTROL v. + -MENT: cf. mod.F. contrôlement.]
† 1. The controlling of accounts: see CONTROL v. 1.
1502. Privy Purse Exp. Eliz. York (1830), 66. Clerc of comptrolment of the Kinges houshold.
1539. Househ. Ord., in Thynne, Animadv., Introd. (1865), 35. The said Clerkes-Comptrollers shall yearly make the Booke of Comptrollment.
1647. Howard, Crown Rev., 5. Two deputy Chamberlaines to write the Comptrollment of the Pell.
1708. J. Chamberlayne, St. Gt. Brit., I. II. xii. (1743), 101. All bills of comptrolment … are allotted & allowed by the Clerks-Comptrollers.
transf. 1565. Jewel, Repl. Harding (1611), 355. Leaue to lay out our owne reckenings, as we thinke best, hauing himselfe the aduantage of controlement, if errour happen to fall out.
2. = CONTROL sb. 1.
1494. Act 11 Hen. VII., c. 15. Justices of Peace … appointed … to have the Oversight and Controlment of the said Sheriffs.
1577. Fenton, Gold. Epist., 127. In thy fayth I maye … repose the controlement of my life.
1604. Edmonds, Observ. Caesar’s Comm., 39. Otherwise the course of destinie were subiect to our controlement.
1766. Entick, London, IV. 191. One of the sorting houses, under the comptrolment of the general penny-post.
1879. W. G. Ward, Ess. (1884), I. 384. God has … abdicated the controlment of my acts.
3. Restraint, check = CONTROL sb. 2. Very common in 16–17th c. in phr. Without controlment.
1525. Ld. Berners, Froiss., II. clxxxiv. [clxxx.] 556. That the Englyshmen shulde go at their pleasure without any controlement.
1595. Shaks., John, I. i. 20. Heere haue we war for war, & bloud for bloud, Controlement for controlement.
1660. Jer. Taylor, Duct. Dubit., III. iv. § 14, note. He will enjoy his lust without controlment.
1764. Churchill, Indep. (R.). Happy the bard Who ’bove controlment, dares to speak his mind.
1778. Love Feast, 11. Kick against Controlment and Direction.
1855. Singleton, Virgil, II. 172. Not righteous by controlment, nor by laws, Themselves restraining of their free accord.
† 4. Calling to account, calling in question, censure: cf. CONTROL v. 3. Obs.
1546. Bp. Gardiner, Decl. Art. Joye, 95 b. Not dismaied, with your controlements.
1587. Turberv., Trag. T. (1837), 16. Controlements came from haughtie breast, for that I undertooke With English quill to turne the verse of learned Lucans booke.
a. 1600. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., VII. xvi. § 4. In controlment of this conceit.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., III. i. 106. He incurs the controlment of reason.
