mainpernor Law. Obs. exc. Hist. or arch.
Forms: 3–4 meynpernour, 4 mein-, menepernour, 4, 7, 8 mainpernor, 5 maynpernour, meynpurnour, 5–7, 9 mainpernour, 6 mayneperner, 6–7 mainperner, 7 mainepernour, manipernor.
[a. AF. mainpernour = OF. *mainprenor, -preneur, agent-n. f. mainprendre: see mainprize n. Cf. manucaptor.]
A surety for a prisoner's appearance in court on a specified day; one who gives mainprize for another. (Also fig.)
For the alleged distinction between mainpernor and bail see quot. 1768. With regard to the etymological misapprehensions in quots. 1607 and 1768, see mainprize 2.
| [1292 Britton i. ii. §6 Les nouns des meynpernours, solom ceo qe il troverunt par le verdit, face enrouler. 1326–7 Act 1 Edw. III, Stat. i. c. 8, & le nouns des meinpernours face liverer a mesmes les verders, a respoundre en eir devant Justices.] 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. iv. 99 That Meede moste be meynpernour Reson heo bi-souȝte. c 1412 Hoccleve De Reg. Princ. 2399 And to prison he gooth; he gette no bettre, Til his mainpernour his arrest vnfettre. 1459 Rolls of Parlt. V. 368/1 Unto the tyme that they have founde suerte of iiii Meynpurnours. a 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. IV 12 b, Thou knowest wel enough that I am thy pledge borowe and mayneperner, body for body, and land for goodes in open parliament. 1586 J. Hooker Hist. Irel. in Holinshed II. 72/1 [They] became mainpernours for the said earle of Desmond, that he should come into England, and abide such triall as the law would award. 1607 Cowell Interpr. s.v. Mainprise, They that do thus vndertake for any, are called Mainpernours, because they do receiue him into their hands. 1647 N. Bacon Disc. Govt. Eng. i. liii. (1739) 94 Mainperners are not to be punished as Principals, unless they be parties or privies to the failing of the Principal. 1768 Blackstone Comm. III. 128 Mainpernors differ from bail, in that a man's bail may imprison or surrender him up before the stipulated day of appearance; mainpernors can do neither, but are barely sureties for his appearance at the day: bail are only sureties, that the party be answerable for the special matter for which they stipulate; mainpernors are bound to produce him to answer all charges whatsoever. 1857 Sir F. Palgrave Norm. & Eng. II. 691 If any friend had pledged himself to the assurance that..the fine young Duke had always conducted himself with strictly edifying propriety we should say..a bold mainpernour was he. |
¶ See quot. (Prob. some error.)
| 1631 Weever Anc. Funeral Mon. 342 Officers belonging to these Staples, were Maiors, Constables, Manipernors. |