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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Merciment, n. Also: mercy-, merciy-, mercie-, mersy-, mersay-, merchy-, marcyment. [ME. (1303) and e.m.E. mercy-, merciment. Cf. Mercement and Merciament.Aphetic f. Amerciment, prob. partly by analysis of the latter as a (taken as the indefin. art.) or ane merciment.Also in the mod. dial.]

1. The condition of being subject to a pecuniary penalty at the ‘mercy’ or discretion of a court or judge.(1) 1459 Rep. Hist. MSS., Var. Coll. V. 82.
[He] is in a marcyment of this curt … for [etc.] 1489 Acts II. 221/2.
At the scheref at distroyis nocht the said cruffis … to be in a mercyment of twenty li. to the King 1605 Inverurie B. Ct. 10 July.
Thomas Johnsoun officiar is decernit in ane merciyment of this court for strubling of the samyne(2) 14.. Acts I. 69/2.
The lorde that borowis thaim sal be in the kingis mercyment becaus that sic gift is forbodyn 1670 Ars Quatuor Coronatorum XXIV. 42.
Gif thay shall transgres … they shall be layabell to pay 10 pund scots munay with the mersayment of the companay

b. transf. or fig. The judgement, discretion, disposal or mercy of (someone or something other than a court of law or judge). c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus Prol. 316.
I may weill thole … That this small wark stand to the mercyment Of gentilmen, and byde at thair subiectioun 1558-66 Knox I. 361.
Thay … committed the hole to the merciment of fyre 1598 Edinb. Test. XXXI. 334.
I leif my saull in the merciment of Jesus Chryst

2. A fine imposed by a court of law. 14.. Burgh Laws c. 113 (B).
And he be thar of convikkyt he sal pay viii s. to mersyment 14.. Acts I. 33/2.
Scho sall gif till her mercyment viii s. or [etc.] 1450 Coll. Aberd. & B. V. 428.
Our landis to sett … mercymentis and eschaettis to raisse 1489 Acts II. 221/2.
To pay for ilk cruf five li. for a mercyment 1550 Reg. Cupar A. II. 75.
Vnder the pane of ane merchyment 1662 Forbes Baron Ct. 234.
Vnder the pain of ane merciement