What is "to cry you mercy"

Cry \Cry\ (kr[imac]), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Cried (kr[imac]d); p. pr. & vb. n. Crying.] [F. crier, cf. L. quiritare to raise a plaintive cry, scream, shriek, perh. fr. queri to complain; cf. Skr. cvas to pant, hiss, sigh. Cf. Quarrel a brawl, Querulous.]

1. To make a loud call or cry; to call or exclaim vehemently or earnestly; to shout; to vociferate; to proclaim; to pray; to implore.

   And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice. -- Matt. xxvii. 46.

   Clapping their hands, and crying with loud voice.
   --Shak.

   Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry unto thee. -- Ps. xxviii.

2. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord.
   --Is. xl.

3. Some cried after him to return.
   --Bunyan.

   2. To utter lamentations; to lament audibly; to express pain, grief, or distress, by weeping and sobbing; to shed tears; to bawl, as a child.

   Ye shall cry for sorrow of heart.
   --Is. lxv. 1

4. I could find it in my heart to disgrace my man's apparel and to cry like a woman. --Shak. 3. To utter inarticulate sounds, as animals. The young ravens which cry. --Ps. cxlvii. 9. In a cowslip's bell I lie There I couch when owls do cry. --Shak. To cry on or To cry upon, to call upon the name of; to beseech. ``No longer on Saint Denis will we cry.'' --Shak. To cry out.

   1. To exclaim; to vociferate; to scream; to clamor.

   2. To complain loudly; to lament.

      To cry out against, to complain loudly of; to censure; to blame.

      To cry out on or To cry out upon, to denounce; to censure. ``Cries out upon abuses.''
      --Shak.

      To cry to, to call on in prayer; to implore.

      To cry you mercy, to beg your pardon. ``I cry you mercy, madam; was it you?''
      --Shak.