43 find...hedge i.e. they'll steal clothes left to dry on hedgerows 44 blown swollen/short of breath
quilt padded covering/fat man (plays on Falstaff's name, Jack, which could also mean a padded tunic worn instead of armor) 47 cry you mercy beg your pardon
51 looks for expects
52 fear doubt
55 butter i.e. fat
59 toss throw away/impale on a pike
food for powder cannon fodder
60 pit mass grave
as well as better just as well as better men would
Tush exclamation of contempt
63 bare poorly clothed/inadequately equipped (Falstaff shifts the sense to "bare-boned, thin") 69 field battlefield
71 stay delay
73 To...guest i.e. the end of a fight and the beginning of a feast is the best time to arrive for one keener on eating than fighting (proverbial) 1 him i.e. the king
3 then in that case, if you wait
5 Looks...supply? Is he not expecting reinforcements?
13 maintain justify, support, prove
14 well-respected well-considered
bid me on urges me forward
15 counsel conference
23 leading leadership
25 Drag hold
expedition speedy action
horse horses, cavalry
28 pride and mettle spirit and liveliness
30 That...himself so that none of the horses is even a quarter of its normal strength 32 journey-bated exhausted by traveling parley trumpet summons to negotiation between enemy forces 37 vouchsafe permit
respect consideration
39 determination mind, conviction
40 even those some those very people
42 quality party
44 defend forbid
45 out of limit past the bounds of natural order and allegiance 46 anointed i.e. rightful, legitimate (having been marked with holy oil as part of the coronation ceremony) 47 charge duty, task
48 griefs grievances, complaints
whereupon on what grounds
49 conjure call forth (with connotations of magical invocation and bewitchment) 51 If that if
52 deserts deservings, merits
55 with interest and more in addition
57 suggestion prompting, incitement
62 was...strong had fewer than twenty-six followers
63 Sick...regard suffering poor public reputation
64 unminded disregarded
outlaw Richard II had banished Henry Bullingbrook; he returned following his father's death and Richard's seizure of his land and titles 68 sue his livery legally claim his right to inherit his father's lands and title beg his peace seek reconciliation with King Richard
69 terms of zeal i.e. eager assurances of loyalty 74 more...knee those of higher and lower social status offered him allegiance--with cap in hand and knees bent in a bow/kneeling 76 Attended awaited/accompanied
lanes paths/rows
78 heirs...followed punctuated thus in Folio, but most editors emend to "heirs as pages, followed," thus altering the sense 79 golden splendidly or brightly dressed/celebratory, joyous/rich, abundant 80 presently soon
greatness knows itself those in power come to understand their situation 81 Steps...higher becomes more ambitious
82 his...poor he was still humble/before he was king
84 forsooth in truth, perhaps used ironically here
85 strait harsh, strict
87 Cries...abuses condemns corruption, draws attention to wrongs 91 cut...favourites Richard's favorite courtiers were beheaded cut me cut
me is emphatic)
93 In deputation as his deputies
94 was personal in went in person to
99 in...of on the strength of/immediately after
tasked taxed
100 March the Earl of March, Edmund Mortimer
101 if...placed if every claimant were entitled to occupy their rightful position 102 engaged held hostage
103 forfeited abandoned
104 Disgraced...victories i.e. by demanding my prisoners, the King turned my triumphs into disgrace 105 intelligence spying
106 Rated chided angrily, dismissed
110 head of safety defensive army
withal furthermore
pry...title examine his claim (to the throne)
112 indirect insufficiently direct in the line of succession/devious, irregular for long continuance to last long
115 impawned pledged, held in pawn
116 surety guarantee
119 accept...love i.e. be reconciled.
Sir Michael presumably a priest or a knight; "sir" can be a courtesy title for clergymen 1 Hie go quickly
brief letter, dispatch
4 directed addressed
5 much...import much information they contain/important they are 7 tenor substance, drift
8 Like likely
11 bide the touch be put to the test (as gold is tested with a touchstone) 14 Lord Harry i.e. Hotspur
16 power...proportion army was of the greatest size/importance 18 rated firmly considered to be strong, a powerful source of support 19 comes not in does not participate
o'er-ruled by prophecies i.e. he is staying away due to unfavorable predictions of events 21 instant trial immediate test of strength
26 head force, army
29 special head exceptional military leadership
32 corrivals partners
dear honorable/valuable
33 estimation worth, reputation
37 thrive flourish, succeed
39 confederacy league, conspiracy (with the rebels)
40 make strong strengthen our defenses
2 busky bush-covered
3 distemperature unhealthy, unnatural appearance
5 the trumpet part of trumpeter or herald
9 foul gloomy, bad (weather)
13 doff take off
easy comfortable
14 ungentle steel hard, uncomfortable steel armor
16 unknit undo
17 churlish rude, ungracious, base
18 orb orbit, sphere
20 exhaled meteor meteors were believed to be formed of vapors drawn from the earth ("exhaled") by the sun; they were considered bad omens 21 prodigy omen/unnatural thing
22 broached already begun
mischief evil, calamity
unborn times future
25 entertain occupy
lag-end latter part
27 dislike animosity, discord
30 chewet chough, jackdaw, i.e. chatterer/minced meat or fish pie 33 remember remind
35 staff of office Worcester had been steward of the king's household 36 posted rode speedily
39 Nothing nowhere near
41 brought escorted, accompanied
outdare defy
43 Doncaster town in the northeast of England
44 did...state had no intention of threatening the realm 45 new-fall'n right recently inherited title (after his father's death) 46 seat estate
Gaunt John of Gaunt, Henry's father
51 injuries abuses, wrongdoing
wanton ungoverned, poorly managed
52 seeming sufferances apparent wrongs
53 contrarious opposing, unfavorable
54 unlucky illfated
55 repute believe him to be
57 occasion the opportunity
wooed persuaded
58 gripe grip, grasp
general sway overall power
61 ungentle gull cruel/dishonorable young bird
cuckoo's...sparrow the cuckoo lays its eggs in other birds' nests to be hatched and fed; cuckoo chicks are much bigger and eventually take over the nest 64 our love those of us who loved you
durst not did not dare
65 swallowing being eaten
68 opposed...means in opposition to you as a result of such factors 70 unkind cruel/unnatural
71 troth honesty, integrity
72 younger earlier, original
7
5 face adorn, cover
76 colour hue/pretexts, pretense
77 changelings turncoats, changeable people
discontents discontented persons
78 rub the elbow hug themselves in pleasure
79 hurly-burly chaotic
innovation novelty, change, revolution
80 want need, lack
81 water-colours watery deceptions
impaint paint, color
82 moody sullen, angry
83 havoc plundering, violent disorder
84 both our i.e. the king's and the rebels'
86 trial battle
88 by my hopes i.e. of salvation
89 set...head not counted against him
90 braver finer/more courageous
93 latter recent, present
97 this I say this
98 odds advantages
99 estimation reputation
102 venture hazard, risk
103 Albeit despite the fact that
104 make weigh, argue
106 cousin's relative's (i.e. nephew's)
107 grace pardon
112 Rebuke shame, disgrace
dread correction terrible punishment
wait on us are at my command
113 office duty, task
115 fair fairly, fair terms
take it advisedly consider it carefully
119 charge command/ company, unit/responsibility
120 on their answer once we've had their answer, i.e. refusal of the terms 122 bestride stand astride a fallen man in order to defend him 123 so thus--presumably Falstaff demonstrates the gesture 124 colossus giant; the Colossus of Rhodes, a gigantic statue of Apollo, supposedly stood astride the entrance to the harbor 127 death proverbial; puns on "debt"
129 forward eager
130 pricks spurs
131 prick me off marks me down (for a dead man)
132 set...leg join together, set a broken leg
133 grief pain
135 trim fine, neat
137 insensible cannot be felt by the senses
138 Detraction slander
139 scutcheon heraldic shield, decorated with coats of arms and often used at funerals 140 catechism set series of questions and answers (used as a form of instruction by the Church) 4 undone ruined
7 still always
9 Supposition notions, uncertainty, speculation
stuck...eyes always watching, suspicious
11 ne'er so tame however tame he appears
12 trick trait
13 Look...can however one appears
or sad either sad
14 misquote falsely report, misinterpret
16 The...death refers to the fact that
oxen are fattened up before being killed
17 trespass wrongdoing, transgression
19 adopted...privilege nickname which gives him license (i.e.
Hotspur, signifying rash impulsiveness)
20 hare-brained reckless, rash
spleen violent bad temper (from the abdominal organ regarded as the location of strong emotion) 21 live upon shall be blamed on
22 train lead
23 ta'en derived, caught (like an infectious disease)
24 spring source
26 In any case whatever happens
27 Deliver...so say what you like, I'll agree
30 Deliver up release--Westmorland has been held as surety for Worcester's safe return 32 battle to engage in battle
33 Defy him by send our defiant response through
36 seeming apparent
38 gently with dignity, like a gentleman
39 mended improved on, contributed to
40 forswearing...forsworn falsely swearing that he had not broken his word 41 scourge punish
43 Arm prepare, put on your armor
45 engaged held as hostage
bear convey
49 would...heads if only the quarrel was just between the two of us 50 draw short breath become out of breath (from fighting)/die 51 Monmouth nickname for the prince; the name of the town on the Welsh-English border where he was born 54 urged proposed
56 gentle honorable/not excessively violent
proof of arms trial of fighting skills
57 duties of respect due to
58 Trimmed...praises adorned his praise of you
59 chronicle factual historical account
60 Making...you increasing your worth since no praise of his could do justice to your merits 63 blushing cital modest account
64 chid rebuked, condemned
truant neglectful, misspent
65 double...instantly two sides of himself, both teacher and pupil, at the same time 68 envy malice, hostility
69 owe own
70 wantonness wild, dissolute behavior
72 On of
73 so...liberty who indulged in so much lawless freedom, wild behavior 76 shrink...courtesy be overwhelmed by my degree of courtesy/collapse, be wounded by me 78 Better...persuasion you are better off thinking for yourselves about what you have to do than expecting me, who lacks the gift of eloquence, to try to rouse your spirits 85 If even if
dial's point hand of a clock
84 To...hour a life spent basely goes on for too long even if it only lasts an hour 88 brave glorious
89 fair justifiable
91 apace swiftly
92 cuts me forces me to break off
93 profess not don't claim to be expert at
95 temper character/degree of hardness
97 adventure risky venture
98 Esperance! hope (French; part of the Percy family motto) 99 instruments i.e. trumpets, drums
101 heaven to earth I'll wager heaven against earth (i.e. something eternal and valuable against something transitory and unimportant) [and exeunt] most editions introduce a scene break here, but Folio does not have one and the action continues, with the imaginary location shifting seamlessly from rebel camp to battlefield Alarum call to battle (played on a trumpet) [dressed like the King] wearing the king's colors, Blunt is acting as a decoy. Most editors introduce a scene break at this stage direction, since the stage is momentarily bare and the imaginary location shifts from the rebel camp to the battlefield, but in the early texts and onstage the action is continuous 107 haunt follow
bought Thy likeness paid for appearing like you (i.e. Stafford was also dressed like the king) 117 Holmedon town in Northumberland
122 full extremely
124 Semblably furnished similarly dressed and armed
128 marching...coats wearing the same clothing as him
coats sleeveless outer garments adorned with heraldic arms, worn over armor 133 stand...day seem likely to win the battle solus alone 134 shot-free without paying the tavern bill/without getting shot 135 scoring adding to tavern bill/being wounded
pate head
136 Here's no vanity! There's no self-conceit or concern for frivolity in death!
137 molten melted
138 keep lead i.e. bullets
139 bowels guts, stomach
ragamuffins i.e. his ragged company of soldiers
peppered shot and killed; this would enable Falstaff to pocket his soldiers' pay 141 town's end outskirts of the town where beggars congregate 144 vaunting bragging, vainglorious
148 Turk Gregory Pope Gregory VII or XIII; both had violent reputations Turk violent barbarian
149 paid repaid, settled with (i.e. killed
sure i.e. dead, but the prince shifts the sense to "out of danger"
154 case holster
155 hot Falstaff claims it has recently been fired frequently sack destroy out i.e. from Falstaff's holster 157 pierce pronounced "perse"--the word puns on "Percy"
158 so so be it/thus--presumably miming his action
159 carbonado dish of scored, grilled meat
grinning honour i.e. the sort of honor Blunt has earned, whose expression is now fixed as death stiffens his facial muscles 160 so all well and
good
161 unlooked for without being sought, unexpectedly
an end death/of my speech
Excursions outbursts of fighting moving across the stage 5 make up advance, bring up your forces
6 retirement retreat, insufficiently aggressive strategy
amaze alarm, bewilder
13 stained bloodstained (may play on sense of "dishonored") 15 breathe rest, pause
21 point i.e. of his sword
22 lustier maintenance more vigorous bearing
23 ungrown immature; historically, John was thirteen at the time of the battle 24 mettle courage, spirit
25 Hydra's heads in Greek mythology, the Hydra was a monster that grew two heads for every one that was cut off 27 colours i.e. the king's
28 counterfeit'st impersonates
30 shadows reflections/those in disguise, actors
31 very real, true
32 Seek who seek
34 assay test
37 mine my victim, conquest
39 like likely
41 are...arms lend strength to my arms
43 pay settle the debt/kill
flieth runs away
44 Cheerly expression of encouragement
48 opinion reputation
49 mak'st...life have some care for my life
52 hearkened waited eagerly for, sought
54 insulting threatening, harmful/boastful, contemptuous 58 Make up to move your forces forward
66 motion course, trajectory, orbit
sphere orbit; stars and planets were thought to be contained within crystalline spheres 67 brook endure
71 name in arms military reputation
73 budding...crest literally, chivalric favors decorating his helmet; figuratively, his glorious reputation 75 vanities vain boasts
76 said done
killeth i.e. fatally wounds
79 brittle fragile
80 titles claims to honor
84 prophesy conventional belief held that the dying were able to foretell the future 89 Ill-weaved devious, tangled
91 too...bound insufficient to contain it
94 stout strong, valiant
95 sensible aware
96 show of zeal expression of feeling
97 favours chivalric tokens worn on his helmet
101 ignominy shame
106 heavy...thee miss you greatly (heavy plays on the sense of "weighty, fat") 109 dearer more noble/more valuable
110 Embowelled disemboweled (in preparation for embalming) 111 in blood in his own blood (plays on hunting term; a deer that was in blood was vigorous and full of life) 113 powder embalm/preserve in salt (like venison)
114 termagant savage, violent
scot and lot in full
120 discretion good judgment
121 gunpowder i.e. fiery, explosive
125 confutes refutes, contradicts
128 fleshed initiated into fighting (plays on sense "sexually initiated"; from the practice of feeding hunting dogs raw meat to excite them) 129 maiden virgin, previously unused
sword with phallic connotations
134 fantasy illusion, imagination
138 double man ghost/two men (referring to the fact he carries Hotspur on his back) 139 jack knave