Penalty

Concept of Amerciament, Amercement

Traditional meaning of amerciament, amercement [1] in the English common law history: A penalty, like a fine, but imposed by a court not necessarily of record, and of uncertain amount. The defendant was said to be in the mercy of the king or lord whom he had offended; and the amount was assessed by the affeerors; see 3 Bl.Com. 376; PLEDGES TO PROSECUTE. [rtbs name=”history-of-english-law”]

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Notes and References

1. Based on A concise law dictionary of words, phrases and maxims, “Amerciament, Amercement”, Boston: Little, Brown, and Company, 1911, United States. This term and/or definition may be absolete. It is also called the Stimson’s Law dictionary, based on a glossary of terms, included Amerciament, Amercement.

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