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.

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 misprision 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:

"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 ad venture would counsel you to a more equal enterprise. We pray you,

for your own sake, to embrace your own safety, and give over this attempt.

Ros.

Do, young sir; your reputation shall not therefore be misprised: we will make it our suit to the duke, that the wrestling might not go forward.

As You Like It Act 1 Scene 2.

Cha.

I am heartily glad I came hither to you: If he come to-morrow, I'll give him his payment: if ever he go alone again, I'll never wrestle for prize more: And so, God keep your worship!

--

Oli.

[Exit.

Farewell, good Charles. Now will I stir this gamester: I hope, I shall see an end of him; for my soul, yet I know not why, hates nothing more than he. Yet he 's gentle; never school'd, and yet learned; full of noble device; of all sorts enchantingly beloved; and indeed, so much in the heart of the world, and especially of my own people, who best know him, that I am altogether misprised: but it shall not be so long; this wrestler shall clear all: nothing remains, but that I kindle the boy thither, which now I'll go about. As You Like It Act 1 Scene 1.

for mes in composition in the French signifieth mal, as mis doth in the English tongue: as mischance, for an ill chance, and so mes prise is, ill apprehended or known. In legal understanding it signifieth, when one knoweth of any treason or felony and concealeth it, this is misprision, so called, because the knowledge of it is an ill knowledge to him, in respect of the severe punishment for not revealing of it: for in case of misprision of High Treason he is to be imprisoned during his life, to forfeit all his goods, debts and duties for ever; and the profits of his lands during his life: and in case of felony, to be fined and imprisoned. (3. Inst. cap. 3). Misprision is twofold: one is crimen omissionis, of omission, as in concealment, or not discovery of treason or felony: another is crimen commissionis of commission, as in committing some heynous offence under the degree of felony. (3. Inst. 139). Misprision is included in every treason or felony; and where any one hath committed treason or felony, the king may order that he shall be indicted for misprision only. (Wood's Inst. 2. ed. 406).

Olivia.

Sir, I bade them take away you:

Clown.

Misprision in the highest degree! - Lady, Cucullus non facit monachum; that's as much as to say, I wear not motley in my brain. ¦ Good madonna, give me leave to prove you a fool.

Twelfth Night Act 1 Scene 5.

The Clown speaks of misprision in the highest degree, and Coke says,compassings, or imaginations against the king, by word without an overt act, is a high misprision." (3. Inst. cap. 65): but although the Clown speaks of misprision in the highest degree, I think he uses the word misprision in the sense of contempt. In a larger sense misprision is taken for many great offences, which are neither treason nor felony, or that are not capital but come very near to it; and every great misdemeanor, which hath no certain name appointed by law, is sometimes called misprision. (3. Inst. 36. H. P. C. 127. Wood's Inst. 2. ed. 406, 408).

Bertram.

I cannot love her, nor will strive to do't.

King.

Thou wrong'st thyself, if thou shouldst strive to choose.

Helena.

That you are well restored, my lord, I am glad;

Let the rest go.

King.

My honour's at the stake; which to defeat,

I must produce my power: Here take her hand,
Proud scornful boy, unworthy this good gift;
That dost in vile mis prision shackle up
My love, and her desert.

All's Well Act 2 Scene 3.

In this passage it seems to signify wrong or false imprisonment, because it is connected with the adjective „vile" and the verb shackle."

You were about to speak.

North.

Yea, my good lord.

Those prisoners in your highness' name demanded,