135 lord of Lancaster i.e. John of Gaunt
138 trespass sin
140 exactly in full detail/specifically
142 appealed with which I am charged
144 recreant cowardly (if an adjective)/coward (if a noun)
145 Which which accusation
146 interchangeably in exchange, reciprocally
147 overweening arrogant
149 Even in i.e. by shedding chambered enclosed
150 In haste whereof to hasten which
153 purge cure medically (by bloodletting) choler anger (literally yellow bile, the hot and dry “humor,” one of four fluids in ancient and medieval physiology, believed to govern physical and mental qualities) letting shedding; refers specifically to medical practice of phlebotomy (opening a vein so as to let blood flow)
156 conclude come to terms
157 doctors learned men, astrologers
160 become suit, befit
164 boot point, advantage (in refusing)
165 dread revered
167 fair name honorable reputation
170 impeached accused legally baffled disgraced publicly
172 balm ointment his … breathed the heart-blood of he who uttered
175 Lions make leopards the lion symbolized the king and featured on the royal coat of arms; Mowbray’s coat of arms bore a lion leopard, i.e. walking and showing the full face
176 spots leopard spots/stains of dishonor Take take responsibility for/take over
179 away gone
180 but gilded merely covered with gold, superficially fair loam earth, clay
181 ten-times-barred-up i.e. extremely secure chest plays on the sense of “torso”
183 in one together, inseparably
185 try put to the test
189 crest-fall’n humbled/abashed
190 impeach my height discredit my high rank, stoop
191 out-dared cowed/terrified dastard coward
193 parle truce (literally trumpet call instigating negotiation)
194 motive instrument, i.e. tongue recanting renouncing a belief/making a public confession of error
195 his its (the tongue’s)
196 harbour dwell/shelter
197 sue beg
200 Saint Lambert’s day September 17
202 swelling growing/inflated with pride settled fixed, unchanging
203 atone set at one, reconcile
204 design designate, identify chivalry valor or prowess in war
206 home alarms domestic calls to arms
1 part … blood i.e. my kinship to Gloucester (who was John of Gaunt’s brother)
2 solicit urge exclaims outcries, exclamations
3 stir take action
4 those hands i.e. Richard’s (whom Gaunt holds responsible for Gloucester’s death)
11 Edward Edward III
15 Destinies the Fates in classical mythology who cut the thread of life with their shears
19 liquor liquid
20 faded faded, withered
21 envy’s malice’s
23 metal substance (puns on “mettle,” i.e. disposition) self-mould selfsame mold/mold from which the self is made
25 consent assent, acquiesce
28 model copy, image
30 suff’ring allowing
31 naked i.e. defenseless
33 mean lowly, humble
36 venge avenge
37 Heaven’s … deputy i.e. Richard who, as king, was held to be God’s earthly representative
38 anointed … sight i.e. marked with holy oil at Westminster Abbey, the part of the coronation ceremony that signified the sacred nature of the king
42 complaint myself lodge a formal complaint
43 champion defender
46 cousin kinsman fell cruel, fierce
49 career charge of the horse in combat
51 courser swift powerful horse ridden in battle
52 lists area of combat (literally, the barriers enclosing it)
53 caitiff cowardly, villainous recreant faith-breaker
54 thy sometimes formerly your
58 boundeth rebounds
62 brother i.e. brother-in-law
63 Lo look
66 Plashy the Duke of Gloucester’s country estate in Essex
69 offices servants’ quarters
2 at all points completely, in every respect
3 sprightfully full of high spirits
4 Stays awaits appellant accuser, challenger
5 champions contenders Flourish trumpet fanfare accompanying a person in authority When … set a Quarto direction, omitted from Folio, indicating that the king, as umpire, should be set upon a raised throne
7 demand ask
9 orderly duly, properly
13 quarrel complaint
18 defend forbid
20 succeeding subsequent/who will inherit the throne issue children Tucket personal trumpet call
28 plated armored habiliments clothing, attire
30 Depose him take his sworn deposition
31 wherefore why
43 daring-hardy recklessly bold touch i.e. interfere in
45 fair lawful, proper
51 several respective/various
55 as insofar as, to the extent to which
56 royal fight because held in the king’s presence
57 my blood Richard’s reference is ambiguous; Bullingbrook was his cousin but all subjects were the king’s and part of the body politic
59 profane wrongfully let fall
66 lusty vigorous, robust cheerly cheerfully
67 regreet salute, welcome
68 daintiest most delicious
70 regenerate reborn, renewed
71 twofold i.e. father’s and son’s
73 proof impenetrability
75 waxen i.e. soft, vulnerable
76 furbish polish
77 ’haviour behavior, actions
81 amazing stupefying/terrifying casque helmet
82 pernicious ruinous
84 Saint George patron saint of England
90 enfranchisement freedom
95 gentle pleasant, friendly, courteous jocund joyful, cheerful jest amuse oneself/act in a masque
97 Securely confidently
98 couchèd lodged/at rest
99 Order set in order/initiate
106 recreant cowardly/unfaithful to duty
108 him i.e. Bullingbrook
112 approve prove
114 him i.e. Mowbray
116 Attending awaiting charge trumpet call signaling the beginning of combat
118 Stay halt, stop warder staff or baton held by the king to symbolize his authority over the combat
119 lay by put aside
122 return inform
123 list listen to
124 For that because
125 dear beloved/costly
126 for because aspect sight
128 boist’rous noisy, raucous/violent
130 shock clash in combat
136 regreet see again
137 stranger foreign
144 sly stealthy determinate put to an end
145 dateless limit unlimited term dear heartfelt/grievous
147 life i.e. loss of life
149 unlooked for unexpected
150 merit reward maim wound
151 common ordinary/open
157 cunning skillfully made/requiring skill to play
158 open not in its case
159 touch fingering/skill
161 portcullised shut in, as if with a portcullis (defensive iron grille, usually of a castle)
168 boots profits compassionate lamenting piteously
169 plaining complaining
171 solemn burdensome/dark/mournful
175 Our part therein i.e. the duty you owe to me as king
180 regreet greet (one another) again
181 louring darkly threatening
182 advisèd considered, deliberate
183 complot conspire in
187 so far as let me say this much
190 sepulchre tomb
192 fly flee
194 clogging encumbering (like a clog, a block of wood attached to the neck or leg to prevent escape)
199 rue regret, lament
200 stray take the wrong road/go wrong
201 Save except
202 glasses windows
203 aspect look
208 wanton abundant, flourishing
212 vantage advantage
214 times seasonal cycles
215 oil-dried empty of oil time-bewasted used up by time
216 extinct extinguished
217 taper candle
218 blindfold death refers to the eyeless skull that symbolized death and/or to the idea of death depriving Gaunt of the power to see
224 pilgrimage i.e. journey through life
225 current valid, genuine (as a legitimate coin)
226 dead i.e. once I am dead
227 advice counsel, consideration, judgment
228 party-verdict share in the collective decision (of the king’s advisers)
229 lour frown, look gloomy
233 looked when expected that, waited for
234 make … away banish my own child
235 leave permission
239 presence … know I cannot learn of you in person/what the royal court shall not know
240 paper i.e. letters
245 few i.e. few words
246 office function prodigal extravagant
247 breathe utter dolour sorrow
248 grief cause for grief (Bullingbrook shifts the sense to “sorrow”) time short while
252 travel journey/labor
253 miscall wrongly call
255 sullen somber, melancholy
256 Esteem as foil regard as a setting for a jewel
259 Caucasus region bordering Asia Minor including the Caucasus Mountains, depicted by Ovid as cold and stony
260 cloy satiate, gorge
263 fantastic imaginary
264 apprehension conception, awareness
266 Fell fierce, cruel rankle cause festering
267 lanceth pierces (to relieve infection)
268 bring escort
270 adieu goodbye
1 We did observe Richard enters mid-conversation
2 high proud/of high rank
4 next nearest
5 store quantity, abundance
6 for me on my part
8 rheum watery discharge, i.e. tears
9 hollow insincere
11 for because
12 craft skill, cunning
13 counterfeit pretend, fake
15 Marry by the Virgin Mary
19 cousin Aumerle’s father is the Duke of York, Richard’s uncle doubt doubtful
21 friends relatives
26 reverence respect
28 underbearing endurance
29 banish … him take their affection into exile with him
30 bonnet soft brimless hat oyster-wench girl who sells oysters
31 brace of draymen pair of cart drivers
32 supple easily bent
34 in reversion i.e. after my death (when leased land would revert to its true owner)
35 our … hope in terms of public expectation and favor, the nearest heir
37 stand out make a stand, hold out
38 Expedient manage swift management
39 leisure delay
43 largesse generosity
44 farm lease parts of the land to tenants who might then collect taxes on their own behalf
46 come short is insufficient
47 substitutes those appointed to govern during the king’s absence blank charters documents authorizing deputies to collect revenues, or forced loans; blank spaces were left for the names of those required to pay
49 subscribe them enter their names
50 them i.e. the sums collected
51 presently immediately
57 Ely House the Bishop of Ely’s palace in Holborn, London
60 lining contents (puns on the sense of “lining of a coat”)
sick Gaunt is probably carried on stage in a chair
2 unstaid uncontrolled
9 listened listened to
10 gloze flatter, talk smoothly
11 marked paid attention to
12 close closing cadence of a piece of music
13 last at its end/for longest
16 sad serious, solemn
18 state kingly splendor
19 metres verses venom poisonous
21 proud arrogant/showy/splendid
22 tardy apish belatedly imitating
24 vanity trifle
25 So provided there’s no respect it does not matter
26 buzzed whispered busily
27 That so that
28 will … regard desire rebels against reasoned consideration
31 new inspired newly filled with divine influence (plays on the sense of “full of newly drawn breath”)
32 expiring dying/breathing out
33 riot wasteful, dissolute lifestyle
35 Small composed of fine drops
36 betimes early
38 Light vanity frivolous foolishness cormorant glutton (literally, greedy seabird)
39 means resources, means of sustenance
40 sceptred invested with regal authority
41 earth of majesty land fit for kings Mars Roman god of war
45 happy breed fortunate race
47 office function
50 plot land for cultivation
51 teeming fertile
52 by their breed on account of their mighty ancestry
55 sepulchre cave outside Jerusalem in which Christ was buried stubborn Jewry the residents of Jerusalem who resisted Christianity
56 world’s … son i.e. Christ
60 tenement land or property held by a tenant pelting paltry
62 envious malicious, hostile
63 Neptune Roman god of the sea bound legally bound
64 inky … bonds i.e. the corrupt blank charters
65 wont accustomed
73 composition state of health
76 meat food
77 watched remained awake/kept guard
83 inherits receives
84 nicely ingeniously, precisely
85 to mock in mocking
86 kill … me i.e. by banishing Gaunt’s son and heir
93 see thee ill see you imperfectly (as my sight is failing)/see the ill that is in you
101 compass circumference
102 verge limit, rim/the twelve-mile radius around the king’s court/measure of land
103 waste wasteland/wastefulness/damage done to property by a tenant/waist
104 grandsire i.e. Edward III
105 his sons Edward’s sons, Richard’s uncles/Richard’s own (as yet unborn) children
106 forth beyond
107 Deposing disinheriting, depriving possessed in possession of the crown (sense then shifts to “inhabited by the devil”)
109 cousin kinsman regent ruler
111 for … land insofar as your world consists of this land
114 state … law absolute legal status (as king) is now subject to legal processes (as a result of leasing out land)
116 Presuming on taking advantage of ague fever and shaking
117 frozen cold, hostile/chilled by illness
120 seat throne/status
122 roundly bluntly/fluently
123 unreverent disrespectful
125 For that because
126 pelican the bird’s offspring were thought to feed on her blood
127 tapped out drawn as from a barrel caroused drunk heartily/drunk toasts with
129 fair good, happiness
133 unkindness unnatural behavior
139 sullens sulks, gloomy moods
140 become befit, suit
143 dear As Harry as dearly as Gaunt holds Harr
y (but Richard interprets “as dearly as Harry holds Richard”)
151 spent used up, exhausted
155 pilgrimage i.e. journey through life
157 supplant get rid of rug-headed shaggy-haired kerns lightly armed foot soldiers
160 ask some charge require some expenditure
161 seize take possession (legal term)
162 plate gold or silver tableware movables portable property
167 Gaunt’s rebukes the rebukes given by Richard to Gaunt private wrongs wrongs done to individuals
168 Bullingbrook … marriage Richard prevented the exiled Bullingbrook from marrying a cousin of the French king
171 bend one wrinkle direct one frown
178 Accomplished … hours i.e. when he was your age Accomplished equipped
190 withal with that
191 seize take legal possession of
192 royalties rights granted by the king/rights due to one of royal blood
194 true loyal/legitimate (as heir)
198 His i.e. time’s customary rights i.e. of inheritance and succession
199 ensue follow
204 Call … patents revoke the documents signed by the king granting land or titles
205 By … livery allowing him to sue, through his lawyers, for the right to his inheritance
206 homage avowal of allegiance, part of the formal process of receiving one’s inheritance
207 pluck pull
209 prick spur
213 by nearby, present
215 courses i.e. of action
216 events consequences
218 repair come
219 see attend to Tomorrow next tomorrow/tomorrow morning
220 trow believe
230 great swollen with emotion with silence by keeping silent
231 liberal freely speaking
234 Tends … to does what you want to say relate to
239 Bereft forcibly deprived, robbed gelded deprived of wealth/castrated
246 prosecute perform/pursue
248 piled most editors emend to “pilled” (stripped bare, plundered)
250 ancient long-standing
251 exactions means of enforcing payment
252 blanks blank charters benevolences forced loans wot know
253 this i.e. all the money that has been collected
255 basely … compromise made concessions in a cowardly way
258 in farm for rent, on lease
259 broken financially ruined
267 sore sorely, threateningly
268 strike draw in the sails/strike blows in opposition securely overconfidently, heedlessly
271 suffering enduring, permitting
274 tidings news
281 Rainold … Exeter in fact, it was the young Earl of Arundel who escaped from Exeter’s custody; it seems likely that a line is missing here and many editors insert a line based on Shakespeare’s source, Holinshed’s Chronicles: “Thomas, son and heir to th’Earl of Arundel”