defautes et mes prisions solone 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?

Aene.

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,

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 mesprise 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).

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 misprision 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,

Which Harry Percy here at Holmedon took,
Were, as he says, not with such strength denied,
As is deliver'd to your majesty:

Either envy, therefore, or misprision

Is guilty of this fault, and not my son.

1. Henry IV. Act 1 Scene 3.

I think Northumberland uses the word in the sense of

,,neglect" or "contempt;"

Dum.

I would forget her; but a fever she

Reigns in my blood, and will remember'd be.

Biron.

A fever in your blood, why, then incision
Would let her out in saucers; sweet misprision!

Love's Labour Lost Act 4 Scene 3.

and it is, perhaps, more doubtful in which sense it is used by Biron.

Countee, Fr. comte, was the most eminent dignity of a subject, before the conquest, next to a Duke; and in ancient time were men of great estate and dignity. (Cowell).

We follow thee.

Lady Capulet.

Juliet, the county stays.

Nurse.

Go, girl, seek happy nights to happy days.

Romeo and Juliet Act 1 Scene 3.

You to remove that siege of grief from her,
Betroth'd, and would have married her perforce,
To county Paris.

Act 5 Scene 3.

Capulet.

-

[Laying down a dagger.

Act 4 Scene 3.

Send for the county; go tell him of this;
I'll have this knot knit up to-morrow morning.

Juliet.

I met the youthful lord at Laurence' cell.

Act 4 Scene 2.

1

Against to-morrow: my heart is wondrous light,
Since this same wayward girl is so reclaim'd.

[Exeunt.

Act 4 Scene 2.

Pitiful sight! here lies the county slain;
And Juliet bleeding; warm, and newly dead,
Who here hath lain these two days buried.
Go, tell the prince run to the Capulets,
Raise up the Montagues, some others search.

Act 5 Scene 3.

Ay, let the county take you in your bed;
He'll fright you up, i' faith. Will it not be?
What, drest? and in your clothes! and down again!
I must needs wake you: Lady! lady! lady!
Alas! alas! Help! help! my lady's dead!
O, well-a-day, that ever I was born!
Some aqua-vitae, ho! - my lord! my lady!

Romeo.

Act 4 Scene 5.

Wilt thou provoke me? then have at thee, boy.

Page.

O lord! they fight: I will go call the watch.

Paris.

O, I am slain! (Falls.)

If thou be merciful, Open the tomb, lay me with Juliet.

(They fight.)

[Exit.

(Dies.)

Act 5 Scene?

What sayst thou? hast thou not a word of joy?

Some comfort, nurse.

Nurse.

'Faith, here 'tis: Romeo