AMERCEMENT, or Ammercement, in Law, a Penalty assessed by the Peers or Equals of the Party amerced, for an Offence done; or a pecuniary Punishment imposed upon Offenders, at the Mercy of the Court; and therefore in our Law frequently called 'Misericordia'. See PUNISHMENT, and MISERICORDIA. There is this stated Difference between Fines, and Amercements; that Fines are Punishments certain, and determined by some Statute; but Amercements are arbitrary Impositions, proportioned to the Fault, at the Discretion of the Court.
Manwood, in his Forest Law, makes another Difference: Fines are generally inflicted for the King's Benefit; but Amercements are for the Party wronged, or his Peers.
