with the manner

Corruption of "with the mainer", from French main (“hand”).

with the manner

1. (archaic, idiomatic) in the very act; red-handed.
   • 1597, William Shakespeare, Henry IV, part I:

     O villain, thou stolest a cup of sack eighteen years ago, and wert taken with the manner, and ever since thou hast blush'd extempore.

   • 1680, ‎Sir Edward Coke, The Great Charter of the Forest, Declaring the Liberties of it:

     Replevy any Man imprisoned for the Forest, being taken with the Manner, or lndicted: But this Statute reaches not to that of de Homine Repligiando, directed Castodi Forestae.

   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), imprinted at London: By Robert Barker, […], OCLC 964384981, Num 5:13:

     And a man lie with her carnally, and it be hid from the eyes of her husband, and be kept close, and she be defiled, and there be no witness against her, neither she be taken with the manner;

   • 1894, Lucian of Samosata (Francis Hickes - translator), Lucian's True History:

     This coming to my perusal, I could not condemn ordinary men for lying, whin I saw it in request amongst them that would be counted philosophical persons; yet could not but wonder at them, that, writing so manifest lies, they should not think to be be taken with the manner;