Surety

sb. Forms: 4–5 suretee, surte, seur(e)te, -tee, sewrte, 4–6 suerte, 5 seuerte, sewerte(e, (swer-, suyrte, -tee, -tie, surtey), 5–6 surete, suertee, -ty, sewertie, surtee, 5–7 sure-, suertie, (6 suer-, soertye, seurtie, sew(e)rtye, surtie, -ty, Sc. swir-, suirtie), 6–7 suretye, surtye, 6– surety. [a. OF. surte, -tey, seurte, later seurete (mod.F. sûreté):—L. sēcūritātem, -tās, f. sēcūrus SURE a.: see -TY¹.]

  I.  Condition of being (or something that is) sure.

  † 1.  Safety, security from danger, an enemy, etc.

13[?].  E. E. Allit. P., C. 58. Did not Ionas in Iude suche Iape sum-whyle, To sette hym to sewrte, vnsounde he hym feches?

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Former Age, 46. In surte they slepte.

c. 1425.  Cast. Persev., 1546, in Macro Plays, 123. I prey ȝou putte me In-to sum place of surete, þat þei may not harmyn me.

1432.  Paston Lett., I. 31. For the goode reule, demesnyng and seuretee of the Kynges persone.

a. 1450.  Knt. de la Tour (1868), 36. It is good that ye do so for the suerte of youre good name.

a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Huon, cxxi. 432. He sate downe to reste hym, and layd his sword by hym, thynkynge then to be in a suerty.

1571.  Form Com. Prayer, B iv b. That by thy ayde … we may obtayne suertie from our enimies.

1585.  T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., I. i. 1 b. That for the more suretie of his voyage, he shoulde returne by Sea.

1604.  E. G[rimstone], D’Acosta’s Hist. Indies, IV. ii. 206. For the conservation, reparation, suretie, ornament and exaltation of his workes.

1620.  [G. Brydges], Horæ Subs., 268. It much concerned the surety of Augustus his gouernment, to haue … them content.

  † b.  Security of contract, right or possession.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 641. I hoope þu will holde þat þu here said: More suerty, for sothe, yet I sue fore.

1422.  Yonge, trans. Secreta Secret., xxxiii. 186. For more grettyr Surte thay bounde ham in grete Somes by dyvers Instrumentes.

1442.  Rolls of Parlt., V. 57/2. Ye myght not have … the seide possessions in enheritance to youre availle and suerte.

a. 1475.  Ashby, Active Policy, 183. How may any estate be in seurtee Of his welthe … If couetous folke be in his favour?

1545.  Test. Ebor. (Surtees), VI. 227. For the more sewrtie I have setto my seal.

  † c.  transf. A means of safety, a safeguard. Obs.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Pard. T., 609. Looke which a seuretee is it to yow alle That I am in youre felaweshipe yfalle.

c. 1400.  trans. Secr. Secr., Gov. Lordsh., viii. 53. And y trist þat þis techinge shall be … surtee and sufficiante to þy gouernaille.

1540.  Act 32 Hen. VIII., c. 14 § 1. The nauy … is … a greate defence and suerty of this realme.

  † 2.  Trustworthiness, reliability. Obs. rare.

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, XIII. v. 617. For the suerte of this swerd I brought none with me.

c. 1530.  L. Cox, Rhet. (1899), 56. Cato was honored for his ernestnes and surete.

1591.  Troub. Raigne K. John, II. (1611), 90. I need not doubt the suretie of your wills.

  b.  Accuracy; = SURENESS 3. rare.

1422.  Yonge, trans. Secreta Secret., 132. Sotylte and Vndyrstondynge, seurte of connynge.

1799.  Stuart, in Owen, Wellesley’s Desp. (1877), 114. The enemy pierced through the jungles with such surety and expedition.

1892.  Sat. Rev., 17 Dec., 705/1. He [John Lemoinne] handled French, which is the small sword of languages, with neatness of movement and surety of touch.

  3.  † a. Freedom from care or anxiety; feeling of safety; confidence; = SECURITY 3. Obs.

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Troylus, II. 833. Myn lif to lede In al Ioyȝe & seurte out of drede.

c. 1450.  trans. De Imitatione, I. xx. 24. Þe surete of holy men was neuere wiþoute drede of god…. The surete of shrewes growiþ of pride & presumpcion.

1481.  Caxton, Godfrey, xxvi. 58. His vyctorye brought Solyman in in grete pryde, and in grete sewrte he smote in to the lodgis of the Cristen men.

1523.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. cclvi. 380. Sir Perducas Dallreth … turned … Englisshe … whereof the duke of Aniou … thought than the lasse surete in the sayd Sir Perducas.

c. 1598.  Deloney, Thomas of Reading, Wks. (1912), 222. Pouerty with suretie, is better than honour mixed with feare.

  b.  Certain knowledge; = SECURITY 2, SURENESS 2 b. arch.

1599.  Fisher, Funeral Serm. C’tess Richmond, Wks. (1876), 307. Veray suerte can not be had but only by the reuelacyon of god almighty.

1577.  St. Aug. Manual (Longman), 29. So as I might reioice in suretie of the incorruptiblenesse of the everlastyng immortalitie.

1870.  Ruskin, Lect. Art, iii. (1875), 81. Doing what the hand finds to do, in surety that … whatsoever is right the Master will give.

  4.  † a. Certainty of an end or result aimed at; certainty of obtaining something. For surety (of), in order to make sure (of) or ensure. Obs.

1387–8.  T. Usk, Test. Love, I. v. (Skeat), l. 9. Acrisius shette Dane his doughter in a tour, for suertee that no wight shulde of her have no maistry.

1454.  Rolls of Parlt., V. 263/2. If he … myght be putte in suerte of payment therof.

1509–10.  Act 1 Hen. VIII., c. 16. Preamble, Divers actis of Parliament have been made for suerty of Payment of the expensez.

1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 26. Whiche putteth hym in surety of as moche lawfull money to be delyuered to hym in an other countre.

1607.  Markham, Caval., II. xiv. 139. You must obserue that his head and necke stand streight … for suretie wherof you shal euer carry the outmost reine euer a litle straiter then the inmoste.

  † b.  Certainty of a fact or event. Obs.

1412–20.  Lydg., Chron. Troy, II. 2253. It is wel bet by-tymes to abstene Þan put in doute þat stant in surete.

c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., I. xiv. 78. Probabilite a this side suerte [i.e., short of certainty].

1594.  Plat, Jewell-ho., II. 5. For the most parte you shall have all the oiles of your hearbs … to ascend with the first pottle of water, neverthelesse for the more surety you may draw of a gallon, and prove what you can gather out of the last pottle.

1604.  Shaks., Oth., I. iii. 396. I know not if ’t be true, But I … Will do, as if for Surety.

  c.  A certainty, fact: esp. in phr. for or of a surety = for certain. arch.

c. 1460.  Sir R. Ros, La Belle Dame, 675. But þis is the seurte, I must suffre, which way þat euer hit go!

c. 1475.  Harl. Contin. Higden (Rolls), VIII. 446. A man wolde have thouȝhte as for a suerte that he scholde have spedde welle.

1523.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. clvii. 190. The kyng … rode to Charters to have the better of surety what thenglysshmen dyd.

1535.  Coverdale, Gen. xv. 13. Knowe this of a suertye, that thy sede shalbe a straunger, in a londe that is not theirs.

1598.  R. Bernard, trans. Terence, Andria, Argt. 2. As soone as hee knewe for a suretie his loue.

1816.  Scott, Old Mort., xxx. He was of a surety lawfully redeemed from death.

1886.  Stevenson, Kidnapped, i. ‘Nay,’ said Mr. Campbell, ‘who can tell that for a surety?’

  II.  Means of being sure. (See also I c.)

  5.  A formal engagement entered into, a pledge, bond, guarantee or security given for the fulfilment of an undertaking. Chiefly in phr. to do, make, find, give, put in, take surety or sureties; in, to, under, upon surety. Now superseded by SECURITY 8.

13[?].  Sir Beues (A.), 73. Maseger, do me surte Þat þow nelt nouȝt discure me To no wiȝt.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 746. I defye the seurete and the bond Which that thou seist þat I haue maad to thee. Ibid., Man of Law’s T., 145. He shal han Custance in mariage, And certein gold,… And heer to founden sufficient suretee. Ibid., Wife’s T., 55. And suretee wol I han er þat thou pace Thy body for to yelden in this place. Ibid., Frankl. T., 853. But wolde ye vouche sauf vp on seuretee Two yeer or thre for to respiten me.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 11494. Þai depely desyret … To haue suertie full sad of a syker pes.

1424.  Cov. Leet Bk., 83. The Costis that John Leeder spendithe … in getyng Suertie of C li. þat was lent vnto kyng Henry the vj^te.

c. 1440.  Engl. Conq. Irel., 75. Thay toke Surtey, and othis Sware.

1447.  Rolls of Parlt., V. 129/2. Money by hir receyved, and in suretees remaynyng in the kepyng of the saide Katerine.

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, XV. ii. 657. Thenne was there pees betwyxe the Erle and this Aguarus, & grete seurte that the erle shold neuer werre ageynst hym.

1495.  Cov. Leet Bk., 569. Þat they be putte vnder suertie … vnto such tyme þat þe Maire … may be suerly acerteyned of their good behauyng.

1530–1.  Act 22 Hen. VIII., c. 12 § 3. He shall be kepte in the Stockes till he hathe founde suertie to goo to servyce or ellse to laboure.

1536.  Cromwell, in Merriman, Life & Lett. (1902), II. 7. Ye shall … put hym to Sewrtye to appere before the kinges Cownsayle.

1588.  Shaks., L. L. L., II. i. 135. There remaines vnpaid A hundred thousand [crowns] more: in surety of the which, One part of Aquitaine is bound to vs.

a. 1628.  F. Grevil, Cælica, lxxi. Find suerties, or at Honour’s Sessions dye.

1632.  Lithgow, Trav., VIII. 358. Hauing obtayned my pasport … and surety taken for my life and moneyes.

1752.  Hume, Ess. & Treat. (1777), I. 338. A man may find surely nearly to the amount of his substance. Ibid. (1762), Hist. Eng., I. viii. 282. He agreed to pay the sum; and immediately gave sureties for it.

1848.  Mrs. Jameson, Sacr. & Leg. Art (1850), 469. [He] prevailed upon the jailer by large bribes, and by giving sureties for his return, to permit him to visit his wife.

  † b.  A document embodying such an agreement or pledge. Obs.

1425.  Rolls of Parlt., IV. 289/1. For as muche as the seurtees of yis said somme … may not have beene engrossed.

1430–40.  Lydg., Bochas, I. vi. (MS. Bodl. 263), 23/2. Atween the which bi surete off hond In mariage there was maad a bond.

c. 1500.  Three Kings’ Sons, 187. The trews was taken bytwene them … and whan the surtees were made, sworne, and ensealed [etc.].

  c.  Surety of (the) peace, a bond entered into for the maintenance of peace between parties; spec. in Law, a security entered into to the king by the offending party and taken by a justice for keeping the peace. Now only in Sc. Law; so surety for (the) good behavior: see quot. 1808.

c. 1400.  Maundev. (Roxb.), xxxii. 145. He graunt þam suertee of peess.

1444.  Rolls of Parlt., V. 110/1. Persons that be … in thair Wardes by condempnation, execution,… suertee of pees.

1479.  in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 313. What so ever parson … be bounde in suertie of the peace.

1507.  in Leadam, Sel. Cases Star Chamber (Selden), 259. Suertie of peas was taken afore the Justice of peas … ayenst John Sawyer.

1581.  Lambarde, Eiren., II. ii. (1588), 82. I will (at this day) call Suertie of the Peace, an acknowledging of a bond to the Prince, taken by a competent Iudge of Record, for the keeping of the Peace.

1769.  Blackstone, Comm., IV. 252. Wherever any private man hath just cause to fear, that another will burn his house, or do him a corporal injury,… he may demand surety of the peace against such person.

1808.  Hutcheson, Treat. Just. Peace Scot., II. ii. § 3. I. 391. Any justice of peace may command this surety of the peace, and grant his warrant for it upon the complaint of any person ‘threatened, or fearing to be wronged.’ Ibid., § 4. 399. Surety for good behaviour, is a recognizance entered into to the king for being of good behaviour. The good behaviour including the peace, he that is bound to the former, is therein bound to the latter also.

  6.  gen. Ground of certainty or safety, guarantee: = SECURITY 7. Now rare.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 9241. Þou shall … say hym vpon sewertie thy-seluyn with mouthe,… I shall filsyn þis forward, in faith, þat I can.

c. 1500.  Lancelot, 2388. What suerte schal I have for to gone At libertee out of this danger free?

a. 1548.  Hall, Chron., Edw. V., 6. On the suretie of his owne conscience he determined to goo to them.

1556.  Aurelio & Isab. (1608), D viij. The Quene with suche suerties and with many other thinges,… withoute fearinge more daenger nor the deathe of hir doughter she confortede hir.

1667.  Milton, P. L., V. 538. My self and all th’ Angelic Host … our happie state Hold, as you yours, while our obedience holds; On other surety none.

1838.  Lytton, Leila, II. i. Thou didst ask me for a surety of my faith.

1855.  Prescott, Philip II., II. x. I. 254. Their character and position … were sufficient sureties that they meditated no violence to the state.

  7.  A person who undertakes some specific responsibility on behalf of another who remains primarily liable; one who makes himself liable for the default or miscarriage of another, or for the performance of some act on his part (e.g., payment of a debt, appearance in court for trial, etc.); a bail: = SECURITY 9.

  Formerly also applied collectively to a number of persons.

1428.  in Surtees Misc. (1888), 3. Yt was awarded yat John Lyllyng suld fynd seurte of v^e marke … and apon yis John Gascoigne and William Bedale become pleges and seurte for ye sayd John Lyllyng.

1451.  Paston Lett., I. 194. He proferyd me suerte, men of the seid town of Routon.

1535.  Coverdale, Ecclus. xxix. 14. A good honest man is suertye for his neghboure.

1538.  in R. G. Marsden, Sel. Pleas Crt. Adm. (Selden), II. 67. And for your more suertye I have geven youe for my soertye in this case William Parkar merchaunt.

1596.  Shaks., Merch. V., V. i. 254. Then you shall be his suretie.

1660.  Jer. Taylor, Duct. Dubit., III. ii. rule 7. § 2. Persons conjunct in Contract; such as are Pledges in War, Sureties for Debt, Undertakers for appearance, and the like.

1765.  Blackstone, Comm., I. Introd. iv. 110. Ten freeholders … were sureties or free pledges to the king for the good behaviour of each other.

1805.  C. James, Milit. Dict. (ed. 2), s.v., Every paymaster in the British service is obliged to find two sureties, who bind themselves in given sums, for the security of monies entrusted to him by government.

1847.  Tennyson, Princess, V. 24. King, you are free! We did but keep you surety for our son.

1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), V. 525. When a man becomes surety, let him give the security in a distinct form.

  Comb.  c. 1600.  Shaks., Sonn., cxxxiv. 7. He learnd but suretie-like to write for me, Vnder that bond that him as fast doth binde.

  b.  A sponsor at baptism. Obs. or arch.

1548–9.  (Mar.) Bk. Com. Prayer, Public Baptism. These infantes muste … promise by you, that be theyr suerties.

1575.  Reg. St. Olave’s Ch., Hart St., 14 April. Baptism of Henry Deaveraux third Sonne to the Earle of Essex…. The Earle of Northumberland and the Lord Burrowes and the Lady Rich weare Sewerties.

1704.  Nelson, Fest. & Fasts, ix. (1739), 585. Those who promised by their Sureties in Baptism do renew … that Contract.

1803.  Gilpin, Serm., III. xxiii. 259. You know … how many come as sureties for children, who are themselves … ignorant of all the duties of religion.

  c.  fig. Applied to Christ (after Heb. vii. 22).

[1535.  Coverdale, Ps. cxviii[i]. 122. Be thou suertie for thy seruaunt to do him good, that the proude do me no wronge.]

1557.  N. T. (Genev.), Heb. vii. 22. By so muche is Iesus made a suretie of a better Couenant.

1709.  Watts, Hymns, I. cl. 7. To this dear Surety’s Hand Will I commit my Cause.

1781.  Cowper, Convers., 506. Soon after He that was our Surety died.

1869.  Spurgeon, Treas. David, Ps. xv. 4. Our blessed Surety swore to his own hurt, but how gloriously he stood to his suretyship.

  attrib.  1645.  Rutherford, Tryal & Tri. Faith (1845), 235. It is only the cautionary, the surety-righteousness of Christ-God, that is made ours.

1782.  J. Brown, Nat. & Rev. Relig., III. ii. (1796), 222. What … reward of his surety-service, Christ should have from God the Father.

1868.  H. Law, Beacons of Bible, 77. The sin-bearer, and His surety-agony.

  † d.  phr. To call to surety.

1601.  Shaks., All’s Well, V. iii. 108. She call’d the Saints to suretie, That [etc.].

  Hence † Surety v. trans., to be surety for.

1601.  Shaks., All’s Well, V. iii. 298. Good mother fetch my bayle. Stay Royall sir, The Ieweller that owes the Ring is sent for, And he shall surety me. Ibid. (1607), Cor., III. i. 178. Wee’l Surety him.