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
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
146 at an instant simultaneously
147 Shrewsbury clock perhaps referring to an actual clock (e.g. the church clock), or a metaphorical phrase
149 take’t…death swear as though I were about to die and my soul depended upon it
154 luggage i.e. Hotspur
155 do thee grace bring you honor
156 gild embellish
happiest most favorable
retreat specific trumpet call signaling retreat
157 the…ours we have won
158 highest highest vantage point
161 do…less become a powerful nobleman/I’ll slim down
162 purge repent, purify myself/take laxatives or emetics to cause weight loss
leave give up
1 rebuke punishment
2 Ill-spirited wicked, evil-hearted
grace goodwill, forgiveness
4 turn…contrary report the opposite
10 true intelligence honest information
11 safety concern for personal safety
14 death execution
16 field battlefield
20 Upon…fear running away in fear
29 to his pleasure to do as he pleases
33 power army
35 bend you direct your course
dearest utmost
36 prelate ecclesiastical dignitary (i.e. the Archbishop of York, Richard Scroop)
42 fair successfully