282 broke escaped
283 His i.e. the Earl of Arundel’s
286 furnished equipped
287 tall large, grand
288 expedience haste
290 had ere this would have done already stay await
293 Imp out repair by inserting new feathers (falconry term)
294 broking pawn being pledged to a pawnbroker
295 gilt gold (puns on “guilt”)
297 post haste Ravenspurgh a former Yorkshire port on the River Humber
298 faint lose heart, are nervous
301 Hold … horse as long as my horse holds out
3 heaviness sorrow
4 entertain maintain/receive
14 shadows mirrored reflections, insubstantial things
16 glazèd glassed over/covered with a film
17 thing entire to complete thing into
18 perspectives optical devices incorporating mirrors that produce distorted images/seemingly distorted paintings that only become clear when viewed from a particular angle rightly directly, from the front
19 awry obliquely, from the side
20 Distinguish form make their shape clear, reveal order
22 himself the original grief/Richard’s departure wail bewail, lament
25 More for more
27 for in place of/because of
30 heavy weightily/sorrowfully
31 on … think dwelling anxiously on nothing, on the absence of thought
33 conceit imagination (the queen shifts the sense to “thought, understanding”)
34 nothing less i.e. far from it still always
36 begot conceived, created something substantial, actual
37 grieve grieve for, feel sorrow over
38 in reversion i.e. as a legacy, not yet inherited
40 wot know, believe
45 wherefore why
46 retired pulled back (from Ireland)
48 strongly with a powerful military force
49 repeals himself recalls himself from exile/revokes his sentence of banishment
50 uplifted arms arms raised in prayer/brandished weapons
60 staff i.e. the symbol of his role as Steward of the king’s household
61 household i.e. royal establishment
64 heir child, offspring
65 prodigy portent/monster
71 cozening deceitful (may play on “cousin”)
73 bands bonds
74 lingers draws out, causes to linger in extremity to the very end/the final moments of life
77 careful anxious, care-filled
78 comfortable comforting
80 crosses obstacles
81 save protect (his rule in Ireland)
83 underprop support, prop up
85 surfeit excess, overindulgence
86 try put to the test
87 son i.e. the Duke of Aumerle
89 cold unenthusiastic/unmoved
91 Sirrah sir (used to an inferior) sister sister-in-law
92 presently immediately
93 take my ring i.e. as a sign that the message is genuinely from York
99 Heav’n i.e. I pray heaven (God)
101 would wish
102 So provided that untruth disloyalty
103 brother’s i.e. the murdered Gloucester’s
104 posts messengers
105 do manage, provide
109 muster assemble in readiness for action
113 oath i.e. of allegiance
116 kindred kinship, family bond
117 somewhat something
118 Dispose of make arrangements for
120 Berkeley Castle a castle in Gloucestershire, near Bristol
123 at … seven in chaos
124 sits i.e. blows
125 power troops
129 those those who
133 generally universally/by the people
134 judgement … we they are to be judges, then our fate lies in their hands
136 straight (go) straightaway
138 office service
139 hateful hate-filled
140 curs dogs
143 presages forebodings vain wrong, in vain
145 as depends on how
9 Cottshold the Cotswolds, rural area covering part of Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire
10 In by wanting lacking
11 beguiled whiled away
12 tediousness and process tedious course
16 By this in this way/with this hope
26 forsook abandoned, rejected
35 levied raised
36 repair go
42 tender offer (sense then shifts to “youthful, inexperienced”)
45 approvèd proven
46 gentle noble/courteous/kind
49 fortune success, luck/wealth
50 still always
52 stir events, activity
54 yond yonder, that tuft clump
57 estimate repute
59 spurring i.e. the blood of the horses they have spurred on so hard
60 wot know
62 unfelt i.e. not yet expressed through material reward which i.e. which treasury
66 thanks … poor i.e. gratitude is the only wealth the poor have
67 comes to years reaches the age of maturity
71 my … Lancaster Bullingbrook will respond only to his proper title (Duke of Lancaster), inherited from his father, John of Gaunt
74 aught anything
76 raze erase/scrape title puns on “tittle,” i.e. tiniest part
77 what … will whatever the title you wish me to use
78 glorious illustrious, important
79 pricks spurs
80 absent time i.e. time during which the king is absent
81 native natural, inherent (with connotations of birth) self-born originating with you, brandished for your own cause (also “self-borne”—carried by yourself)
85 deceivable deceptive
87 Grace … grace don’t speak to me of “grace” (since your behavior is so ungracious)
89 ungracious unmannerly/wicked/lacking in spiritual grace
91 dust particle of dust
95 ostentation of despisèd display of despicable (because traitorous)
101 Black Prince Edward, Richard’s father and son of Edward III
104 palsy weakness of the body, accompanied at times with tremor
107 On … wherein? What point of law have I contravened and how?/What personal flaw am I deemed to have and how has it manifested itself? condition legal stipulation/personal quality; York shifts the sense to “circumstances”
112 braving defiant, boastfully flaunted
114 for as/to claim the title of
116 indifferent impartial
121 perforce forcibly
122 unthrifts spendthrifts, wasteful people (with moral connotations)
128 rouse expose, chase from hiding (hunting term) bay last stand (where the cornered animal turns on its hunters)
129 denied … liv’ry refused the right to legally claim my inheritance
130 letters patents documents signed by the king granting land or titles (Bullingbrook’s have been revoked by Richard)
131 distrained confiscated by law
132 amiss wrongly
134 challenge law claim my legal rights
136 of free descent through legal succession
138 stands … upon is the responsibility of your grace
139 endowments i.e. wealth and property (that has now been given to others)
143 kind manner
144 Be … way i.e. act on his own authority, help himself (literally, carve his own piece of meat)
152 issue outcome
154 power army ill left left in disordered, poor condition
156 attach arrest stoop i.e. kneel for mercy
159 as neuter neutral
163 win persuade
166 caterpillars i.e. parasites
1 stayed waited
2 hardly with difficulty
8 bay-trees bay leaves were associated with victory and immortality
9 meteors regarded as bad omens
11 lean-looked gaunt, lean-looking
13 The one i.e. rich men
20 firmament sky
22 Witnessing betokening, indicating
23 wait upon offer allegiance to
24 crossly adversely
3 presently immediately part depart from
4 urging insisting on, emphasizing pernicious wicked, destructive
7 causes of legal reasons for
9 happy fortunate
10 unhappied made unfortunate, ruined clean completely
11 in manner as it were, in a way
12 divorce breach, separation
13 Broke … bed i.e. interfered with marital union and happiness
20 clouds mists of breath/climates, skies
22 signories estates
23 Disparked my parks opened my enclosed hunting grounds for other uses
24 coat coat of arms (often emblazoned on stained or painted windows)
25 imprese heraldic family emblem
29 death death penalty (legal term)
35 dispatched dealt with/killed
37 entreated treated
38 commends regards
41 at large (expressed) in full
colours military flags (and those carrying them)
1 Barkloughly Castle actually Harlech Castle
2 brooks likes (technically “tolerates”)
9 fondly affectionately/foolishly
13 sense appetite
14 spiders like toads, they were thought to be poisonous
16 annoyance harm
20 Guard protect/trim with an ornamental border prithee pray thee
21 double forked mortal deadly
23 senseless conjuration appeal to the unfeeling earth/foolish entreaty
25 native rightful, legitimately crowned
30 security overconfidence
32 Discomfortable discouraging
33 eye … world when, to us, the sun is hidden beneath the earth, lighting the underside of the world
49 rude turbulent
50 balm consecrating oil, used to anoint a king at his coronation
53 pressed conscripted
54 shrewd sharp, biting steel sword
56 angel puns on the sense of “gold coin”
59 Nor near no nearer
60 Discomfort sorrow/discouragement
63 happy fortunate
67 state kingship, power
71 But now only a moment ago
72 triumph rejoice, exult
83 high noble in rank (sense then shifts to “proud, ambitious”)
85 power … turn sufficient troops for our needs
86 betide befall, come to
87 care-tuned tuned by sorrow/tuned to a sorrowful key deliver report to
90 care burden, source of anxiety
94 fellow equal/servant
95 mend remedy
104 his applies both to rage and to Bullingbrook
105 Bullingbrook probably puns on “brook” fearful frightened
107 Whitebeards i.e. old men
109 big with deep voices (like men) clap place, thrust female feminine, i.e. youthful
110 arms armor
111 beadsmen almsmen who were paid to pray on behalf of another
112 double-fatal doubly deadly (the wood of the yew was used to make bows; its leaves and berries were poisonous)
113 distaff-women women occupied in spinning (a distaff was a staff used to hold wool) bills long-handled weapons with blades at the ends
114 seat throne
120 Measure our confines travel over our territories peaceful i.e. unopposed
122 I warrant I’m sure, I’ll guarantee
127 Judas the disciple who betrayed Jesus Christ
129 spotted stained (with sin)
130 property essence, own nature
133 hands used to sign a document or swear an oath
135 graved buried
148 model microcosm, replica/mold
149 paste and cover pastry covering/pie crust
151 sad solemn/sorrowful stories historical narratives
156 rounds encircles mortal human/destined for death
157 antic grotesque buffoon
158 his state at the king’s regality
160 monarchize act the monarch
161 self self-made/self-centered conceit imaginings, concept (of himself)
163 humoured thus Death having amused himself in this way/Death, being so inclined/Death, having allowed the king to indulge himself in this way
171 Subjected under the dominion of grief/turned into a mere subject (rather than being a king)
174 presently immediately prevent … wail seek to forestall the routes to (or sources of) grief
177 And … yourself this line is omitted in Folio, seemingly as a printer’s error rather than a deliberate cut
178 No … fight nothing worse (than being slain) can come from fighting
179 death destroying death i.e. defying death by dying nobly (and, perhaps, being remembered in such a way)/by conquering death’s power to make one afraid
182 a … limb i.e. a great fighting force out of a small number of soldiers
183 chid’st reprove, upbraid
184 change exchange doom destiny
185 ague acute or violent fever/fit of shaking or shivering over-blown blown over
191 heavy gloomy, sorrowful
193 by … small by increments, little by little
200 Beshrew curse forth Of out of
205 Flint Castle situated in northeast Wales
207 power forces, troops discharge dismiss
208 ear plow, cultivate
1 So that Bullingbrook enters in mid-conversation
7 beseem befit
14 to as to
15 taking … head treating the head of state in such a manner/being headstrong/omitting the king’s title your by your
16 Mistake misunderstand (puns on “mis-take”)
17 Take seize/presume
18 mistake fail to understand that
26 lies dwells, is
30 who i.e. who he is
31 belike probably
33 rude rough, rugged ribs i.e. walls
34 brazen brass (plays on the sense of “audacious, shameless”) parle parley, negotiation between enemy forces (or the trumpet call signifying this)
35 his its (the castle’s, but possibly also referring to Richard) ruined battered
41 my … again the revoking of my banishment and restoration of my lands
43 th’advantage … power the superiority of my military force
44 lay flatten, subdue
47 such that such a bedrench drench thoroughly, soak
49 tenderly gently, peacefully/lovingly
53 tattered battered, old/jagged
54 fair appointments fine military provision
57 fire and water i.e. lightning and rain
60 rain puns on “reign”
62 mark note, observe Parley trumpet summons to negotiation
64 blushing i.e. in anger
66 envious hostile
67 stain obscure, dim tract course
68 occident west (where the sun sets)
70 lightens forth flashes out, like lightning
73 amazed astounded, bewildered
74 watch expect, wait for fearful full of reverence
77 awful full of awe
78 hand sign/signature
82 profane sin, commit sacrilege
84 torn i.e. ruined, damned turning … us i.e. betraying me
88 strike blight, afflict with plague (pestilence)
89 unbegot not yet conceived
90 That of you who vassal servile, slavish
94 ope open
95 purple testament bloody legacy
97 crowns heads (plays on crown in the previous line)
99 maid-pale virgin white, pale as a young girl
101 pastor’s shepherd’s, i.e. Richard, England’s shepherd or spiritual protector
103 civil domestic, used in civil war uncivil violent, barbarous
109 head source
113 scope aim
114 lineal royalties hereditary rights as one with royal blood
115 Enfranchisement freedom (from banishment), restoration of rights
116 party part
117 commend commit
118 barbèd armored with barbs (metal protectors)
120 is and is
121 credit believe
122 returns replies
125 accomplished carried out
126 gracious courteous, elegant
127 commends greetings, regards
129 poorly abject, lowly
134 e’er ever
136 yond yonder, i.e. at some distance but within sight
137 sooth smooth words, appeasing terms
141 scope room, freedom/a purpose
142 beat conquer, strike (plays on the sense of a heart beating)
146 be contented i.e. submit, agree
148 set of beads rosary
150 almsman recipient of charity
151 figured embossed, ornamented
152 palmer pilgrim
157 trade commerce/tread
160 buried once once I am buried
162 despisèd despicable/to be scorned/unimportant
163 lodge flatten
164 dearth famine revolting rebellious
165 play the wantons trifle, frolic
166 make devise pretty match ingenious game
167 still always
168 fretted us eroded for us (fretted puns on the sense of “been distressed, complained”)
171 ill affliction
176 make a leg bow
177 base court lower or servants’ court attend wait
179 glist’ring glistening, glittering Phaethon in Greek mythology, the son of Apollo, the sun god; he was unable to control his father’s horse-drawn sun chariot, burned part of the earth and was felled with a thunderbolt hurled by Zeus
180 manage control jades worthless horses
182 do them grace bow to them courteously/grant them favor
184 night-owls shriek considered a bad omen
187 fondly foolishly frantic mad, frenzied
189 apart aside
192 debase continues the earlier wordplay on base
194 Me rather had I had rather
195 courtesy curtsy, i.e. bow
196 up i.e. proud, ambitious/rebellious
200 redoubted dreaded, revered
205 want their remedies lack remedies for what caused them
208 willing willingly
2 heavy burdensome/sad
4 rubs hindrances (technically, impediments that interrupt the course of a bowling ball)