Also 5–6 amercyament. [Refashioned from prec., after med.L. amerciāment-um, f. amerciāre: see AMERCIATE. More freq. than amercement as techn. term.]
1. = AMERCEMENT 1.
1543. Grafton, Contn. Harding’s Chron., 508. Euery thyng was haunsed above the measure; amercyamentes turned into fines, fines into raunsomes.
c. 1550. Sir J. Balfour, Practicks (1754), 18. Gif ony of thame cumis not, he sall be in the Kingis amerciament.
1576. Lambarde, Peramb. Kent (1826), 202. The amerciament of bloudshead.
1607. Cowell, Interpr. (1637), D j b. Amerciament … signifieth the pecuniarie punishment of an offendor against the King or other Lord in his Court.
1714. Scroggs, Courts-Leet (ed. 3), 119. He was amerced, and by the Amerciament affeered to 10s.
1776. Customs of Epworth, in Stonehouse, Axholme (1839), 145. All amerciaments made to be the usual and customary amerciaments.
1860. Forster, Grand Remonstr., 22. That such amerciaments … should be imposed by the oath of the good men of the neighbourhood.
2. = AMERCEMENT 2.
c. 1425. Chaucer, Pers. T. (Lansd. MS.), 678. Elles take þei of her bondemen amerciament.
1473–4. Act 12 & 13 Edw. IV., in Oxf. & Camb. Enactmts., 9. Fynes, amerciamentes and other profites.
1514. Fitzherb., Just. Peas (1538), 83. The parsons that shal be gatherers of the sayde amerciamentes.
1605. Play of Stucley (1878), 183. Theres your amerciaments. And give Jack Dudley this from me to pay his fees.
1783. Martyn, Geog. Mag., II. 400. He collects all public fines, distresses, and amerciaments.
1800. Colquhoun, Comm. & Pol. Thames, xi. 311. The emoluments … arise chiefly from fines and amerciaments.
