Obs. [f. as prec. + -NESS.]
1. The quality of being cruel; cruelty.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 28739 (Cott.). Resun to yield well better is o merci þan of cruelnes [v.r. crowelnes].
1426. Audelay, Poems, 60. Scorgid with creuelnes.
1541. Paynell, Catiline, vi. 10. Consideryng the great cruelnesse of the dede.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., VI. i. 41. The reproch of pride and cruelnesse.
2. Fierceness, savageness.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), I. 153. Amazones … the cruellenes of whom Hercules did mitigate firste.
1575. Recorde, Ground of Arts, Pref. to Edw. VI. To conuerte wylde people to a myldenesse, and chaunge their furious cruelnesse into gentle curtesye.
1631. Mabbe, Celestina, IV. 53. Your dogge, for all his fiercenesse, and cruelnesse of nature [etc.].
3. Severity, rigor.
1537. Inst. Chr. Man, L v b. A good iudge … although he shewe outwardely cruelnesse and rygour, yet inwardly he ought to loue the personne.
a. 1625. Boys, Wks. (1629), 415. Wise men inuented the game of Chesse to mitigate the cruelnesse of Gouernours, in which it is insinuated, that the King hath need of his Bishops, of his Knights, yea of the meanest pezant that toyleth in his land.
