Votum Solvit Libens Merito

[Anonymous]

What does Votum Solvit Libens Merito translate as?

 

[Chamaeleo]

It was a common phrase in inscriptions on altars, etc., dedicated to a particular god. It was commonly abbreviated to VSLM. There were several variations on it.

Here is one inscription on an altar to Vulcan, in northern Britain:

PRO • DOMV
DIVINA ET • NV
MINIBVS • AVG
VSTORVM • VOL[C]
ANO SACRVM
VICANI VINDOL
ANDE[N]SES • CV[RAM]
AGENTE [...]OI[...]
V[OTVM] S[OLVERVNT] L[IBENTES] M[ERITO]

For the Divine House and the Spirits of the Emperors.
This sacred offering to Vulcan
[was set up] by the villagers of Vindolanda
under the direction of the [...]
willingly and deservedly fulfilling their sacred pledge.

 

[Aurifex]

"He has fulfilled his vow, willingly, as it should."

"As it should" doesn't really make sense. Surely merito can only really mean "deservedly", i.e. to one who deserved whatever he gave in fulfilment of the vow.