Alexander Dyce, A General Glossary to Shakespeare's Works

bear “in hand,” to keep in expectation, to flatter one's hopes, to amuse with false pretences: “bear her in hand,” MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, iv. 1. 301 ; “ she bears me fair in hand,” THE TAMING OF THE SHREW, iv. 2. 3 ; “bear a gentleman in hand,” 2 HENRY IV., i. 2. 34 ; “Bore many gentlemen . . . In hand,” MEASURE FOR MEASURE, i. 4. 51 ; “Your daughter, whom she bore in hand to love” CYMBELINE, v. 5. 43 ; (whom she insidiously led to believe that she loved), “How you were borne in hand,” MACBETH, iii. 1. 80 ; “Was falsely borne in hand,” HAMLET, ii. 2. 67.