From a proclamation of Edward III of England in the year 1357:
whereas a grievous and great abomination is commonly inflicted upon all the great people, and all others, as well foreigners as natives, who repair to and go within the City, and the suburb thereof, by reason of dung, and other filth and nuisances, boxes, empty tuns, and other articles, lying and placed in the streets and lanes, before the doors of divers folks;—it is ordered, for avoiding such corruptions, and for the decency of the City, and of all who pass therein, that all manner of such nuisances shall be wholly and entirely removed; and that every time after, that such filth and nuisances shall be found, the person before whose door the same shall be, shall pay an amercement of two shillings to the City; and, that he may comply with the same, there shall be levied a good and sufficient distress upon any person so found in default; and further, such things shall be removed at his own proper costs.
"What's brown and sounds like a bell?"
The real fun here, though, is "amercement," a word which I've seen exactly once before in my entire life. (It's a fine, the amount of which is determined by a court.) I didn't check Webster, but I'd bet a- plus mercy figures into its etymology.
Posted by: CGHill | March 27, 2008 at 06:02 PM
Government ordered spring cleaning. Sometimes it has to be done.
Posted by: Miss Cellania | March 27, 2008 at 09:38 PM