And then hurl down their indignation

On thee, the troubler of the poor world's peace!
Richard III. Act 1 Scene 3.

God of his justice hath sent upon us, ever sithence this ungodly purpose was first begun and practised: but also seeing evidently before our eyes, that unless so great an injustice as this hath been and yet continueth, be redubbed, and that the said false and wrongful process, judgment and sentence, with their dependencies be repealed and revoked, nothing is less to be doubted, than that greater plagues and strokes are likely to increase and continue daily more and more within this realm: do beseech your most excellent Majesty, as well in respect of your own honour, dignity and just title, as for truth's sake, where with (we doubt not) but your Highness also will be specially moved in conscience, and also for the entire love, favour, and affection, which your Majesty beareth to the commonwealth of this realm, and for the good peace, unity, and rest of us your most bounden subjects, and our, posterity, that it may be enacted, etc. (1. Mariae (portions of) cap. I.)

In most humble wise sheweth unto your Majesty, your true and faithful subjects and liege men, the president of the corporation of the commonalty and fellowship of the science and faculty of physick in your city of London, and the commons and the fellows of the same, that whereas divers of them many times having in cure, as well some of the lords of your most honourable council, and divers many of the nobilty of this realm, as many other of your faithful and liege people, cannot give their due attendance to them, and other their patients, with such diligence as there duty were and is to do, by reason they be many times compelled, as well within the city of London and suburbs of the same, as in other towns and villages, to keep watch and ward, and be chosen to the office of constable, and other offices within the city and suburbs of the same, as in other places within this your realm, to their great fatigation and unquieting,

Cominius.

He was a thing of blood, whose every motion
Was timed with dying cries: alone he enter'd

The mortal gate o' the city, which he painted
With shunless destiny, aidless came off,
And with a sudden reinforcement struck
Corioli, like a planet: Now all 's his :
When by and by the din of war 'gan pierce
His ready sense; then straight his doubled spirit
Re-quicken'd what in flesh was fatigate,
And to the battle came he; where he did
Run reeking o'er the lives of men, as if
'Twere a perpetual spoil: and till we call'd
Both field and city ours, he never stood
To ease his breast with panting.

Coriolanus Act 2 Scene 2.

and to the peril of their patients, by reason they cannot be conveniently attended. It may therefore please Your most excellent Majesty (enactment that the physicians in London shall be discharged to bear certain offices there. 32. Henry VIII. cap. XL.)

De dotibus mulierum ubi aliqui custodes haereditatum maritorum suorum custodias habent ex dono vel concessione regis, sive custodes rem petitam teneant, sive haeredes dictorum tenementorum vocentur ad warrentum, si excipiant, quod sine rege respondere non possint, non, ideo supersedeatur, quin in loquela praedicta, prout justum fuerit procedatur.

The translation of this chapter in Coke's Institute is in these words: Concerning the endowment of women, where the guardians of their husbands inheritance have wardship by the gift or grant of the king, or where such guardians be tenants of the thing in demand; or if the heirs of such lands be vouched to warranty, if they say that they cannot answer without the king: they shall not surcease upon the matter therefore,

Macbeth.

If it were done, when 'tis done, then 'twere well
It were done quickly: If the assassination
Could trammel up the consequence, and catch,
With his surcease, success; that but this blow
Might be the be-all and the end-all here,

But here, upon this bank and schoal of time,
We'd jump the life to come.

Act 1 Scene 7.

but shall proceed therein according to right. (4. Edward I. cap. 3. Stat. 3).

Item est assentu et establi qe par mes prision du clerc en quecunque place ce soit

Friar.

Lady, what man is he you are accused of?

Hero.

They know, that do accuse me; I know none
If I know more of any man alive,

Than that which maiden modesty doth warrant,
Let all my sins lack mercy!

O my father,

Prove you, that any man with me conversed

At hours unmeet, or that I yesternight

Maintain'd the change of words with any creature,
Refuse me, hate me, torture me to death.

Friar.

There is some strange misprision in the princes.

Bene.

Two of them have the very bent of honour.
And if their wisdoms be misled in this,
The practice of it lives in John the bastard,
Whose spirits toil in frame of villainies.

Much Ado Act 4 Scene 1.

ne soit proces ancientiz ne discontinues par mes prendre en escrivant un letre ou un silable tropp ou trop poi mes si tot qe la chose soit aperceu par chalenge du partie ou en autre manere soit hastivement amende en due forme sans doner avantage a partie qe chalange par cause de tien mesprision. (14. Edward III. Statute I. cap. VI. see also 9. Henry V. cap. 4, and 4. Henry VI. cap. 3).

Dem.

You spend your passion on a misprised mood:

I am not guilty of Lysander's blood;

Nor is he dead, for aught that I can tell.

Her.

I pray thee, tell me then, that he is well.

Dem.

An if I could, what should I get therefore.

Her.

A privilege, never to see me more.
And from thy hated presence part I so:

See me no more, whether he be dead or no.

Dem.

There is no following her in this fierce vein:
Here, therefore, for a while I will remain.
So sorrow's heaviness doth heavier grow

For debt, that bankrupt sleep doth sorrow owe;
Which now, in some slight measure it will pay,
If for his tender here I make some stay.

Obe.

[Ext.

(Lies down).

What hast thou done? thou hast mistaken quite,
And laid the love-juice on some true-love's sight:
Of thy misprision must perforce ensue

Some true love turn'd, and not a false turn'd true.

Midsummer Nights Dream Act 3 Scene 2.

I think the meaning of the word mis prision in these passages is explained by this statute, the translation of which is in these words, „Item, it is assented, that by the misprision of a clerk in any place wheresoever it be, no process shall be annulled, or discontinued, by mistaking in writing one syllable or one letter, too much or too little; but as soon as the thing is perceived, by challenge of the party, or in other manner, it shall be hastily amended in due form, without giving advantage to the party that challengeth the same because of such misprision."

Item ordeigne est et establie qe les justices du Roy devaunt queux ascune mesprision ou defaute soit ou serra trove soit il en ascune recordes et processes qore sount ou serrount pendantz devaunt eux sibien par voie derrour come autrement ou en lez retournez dicelles faitz ou affairez par viscountz coroners baillifs des fraunchises ou autres qeconqes par mesprision des clerks dascuns des ditz courtz du Roi ou par misprision dez viscontz soutzviscountz coroners lour clercs ou autres officers clercs ou ministres qeconqes en escrivant un lettre ou un silable trop ou trop poie aient poiar damender tiels

defautes et mes prisions solonc lour discretion et par examination eut par les ditz justices aprendre ou lour semblera bosoignable. Parveu qe cest estatut ne se extende as recordes et processes es parties de Gales ne as recordes et processes dutlagaries des felonies et tresons et les dependantz dicelles. (8. Henry VI. cap. XV.)

„Misprisio" says Coke, „cometh of the French word mespris, which properly signifieth neglect or contempt:

Agam.

Which way would Hector have it?

A ene.

He cares not, he 'll obey conditions.

Achil.

'Tis done like Hector; but securely done,
A little proudly, and great deal misprizing
The knight opposed.

Troilus and Cressida Act 4 Scene 5.

This is not well, rash and unbridled boy,
To fly the favours of so good a king;
To pluck his indignation on thy head,
By the misprizing of a maid too virtuous
For the contempt of empire.

Hero.

All's Well Act 3 Scene 2.

O God of love! I know, he doth deserve
As much as may be yielded to a man:
But nature never framed a woman's heart
Of prouder stuff than that of Beatrice:
Disdain and scorn ride sparkling in her eyes,
Misprising what they look on; and her wit
Values itself so highly, that to her

All matter else seems weak: she cannot love,
Nor take no shape nor project of affection,
She is so self-endeared.

Cel.

Much Ado Act 3 Scene 1.

Young gentleman, your spirits are too bold for your years: You have seen cruel proof of this man's strength: if you saw yourself with your eyes, or knew yourself with your judgment, the fear of your adventure would counsel you to a more equal enterprise. We pray you,