122 weigh it lightly consider it a trifle/do not think it weighs very much
122 were it even if it were
123 have continues the grim play on “receive as a gift/receive in death”
127 still always cross contrary, perverse
131 like … shoulders professional fools or same bears carried apes on their backs at fairs; attention is drawn here to Richard’s hunched back bear puns on the name of the animal
133 sharp-provided quick and ready
134 mit gate moderate, lessen
135 prettily cleverly, charmingly
136 cunning crafty, clever
151.1 sennet trumpet call signaling the continuation of a procession
152 prating chattering, prattling
153 incensèd urged on, incited subtle cunning
154 opprobriously scornfully, insultingly
155 perilous wily, dangerous, mischievous
156 forward spirited, ready capable responsive, receptive
157 all the mother’s exactly like his mother
158 let them rest enough of them, leave them for the moment; or perhaps literally “let them take their rest”
159 deeply profoundly, solemnly
160 closely secretly
161 urged proposed, discussed way i.e. the journey from Ludlow to London
163 of … For share our opinion and intention regarding
166 He … father’s Hastings for Edward IV’s
167 won to aught persuaded to do anything
171 as … off in a roundabout way, indirectly sound sound out, probe
172 affected to disposed toward
174 sit confer, sit in council
180 divided councils two separate meetings
181 highly crucially
182 Lord William i.e. Hastings
183 ancient knot long-standing group (knot may play on the sense of “tumor”)
184 are let blood i.e. will be executed: literally, refers to surgical bloodletting
186 Mistress Shore Hastings’ mistress Jane Shore (formerly mistress of Edward IV)
188 heed care
193 complots conspiracies, schemes
196 movables portable property
200 sup betimes have supper early
201 digest arrange (plays on the sense of literal digestion) form good order
Act 3 Scene 2
3.2 Location: outside Hastings’ house
6 tedious weary, long
11 boar Richard’s heraldic emblem razèd pulled, torn helm helmet
13 that … determined decisions may be taken
14 to rue grieve
15 pleasure will, inclination
16 presently immediately
17 post ride swiftly
21 His honour Lord Stanley
23 toucheth affects, relates to
24 have intelligence be informed
25 without instance lacking evidence
27 mock’ry foolish delusions, false images
28 fly flee
29 Were would be
30 mean (originally) intend
33 use treat kindly gently, courteously (plays on the sense of “according to his [boarlike] nature”)
40 garland i.e. crown (with connotations of a victor’s garland)
43 crown head
44 foul wickedly, wrongfully/in an ugly manner (perhaps recalling Richard’s appearance)
46 forward … party ready to support him, eagerly on his side
54 master’s i.e. Edward IV’s
58 they i.e. the queen’s relatives in into
64 monstrous unnatural falls it out it has happened
69 make high account hold you in high estimation (in the context of the following line, high plays on the sense of “high up, aloft”)
70 account consider, expect the bridge London Bridge, on which traitors’ heads were displayed on poles
73 unprovided unprepared, ill-equipped
75 rood (Christ’s) cross
76 several separate
78 protest declare
81 triumphant cheerful/exultant (over my enemies’ deaths)
83 jocund merry, cheerful states were sure positions were secure
84 mistrust doubt, suspect
86 This … misdoubt i.e. this sudden hostile attack has made me fearful, mistrustful
88 spent coming to an end (although the scene begins at 4 a.m.: perhaps Stanley refers figuratively to his own “time,” i.e. life)
89 have with you literally “I’ll join you” or as a reprimand “come along now” Wot know
91 truth loyalty, honesty
92 hats i.e. official positions (Stanley has Richard’s role as royal Protector in mind)
93.1 Pursuivant state messenger with the power to execute warrants
94 before ahead
95 sirrah sir (used to inferiors)
100 suggestion instigation, prompting
103 state prosperity, position, circumstances
104 hold keep, maintain
105 Gramercy great thanks
108 Sir conventional title for a clergyman
109 I … exercise Hastings apologizes for not attending the last church service (during which he was in prison) exercise religious service
110 content recompense
114 shriving work business of saying confession and receiving absolution
119 thence from there
120 stay stay for
3.3 Location: Pomfret (Pontefract) castle, Yorkshire
5 knot tight group
7 Dispatch get on with it
10 closure enclosure
12 for … seat to add to the disgrace associated with this place dismal seat ominous position
15 exclaimed on cried out against, condemned
15 Hastings … I in fact, Margaret does not mention Grey (see Act 1 Scene 3)
20 for instead of
23 expiate reached, fully come
Act 3 Scene 4
3.4 Location: council chamber, the Tower of London
2 of about
5 wants but nomination requires only the appointing of the date
6 happy auspicious, favorable
8 inward intimate
9 mind temperament/opinion on the coronation/intentions in general
10 for as for
13 near in love close, intimate
16 sounded questioned, sounded out
19 in on voice vote
20 take … part accept in a gracious manner
22 cousins term of address between nobles
24 neglect cause the neglect of
27 part role (continues the theatrical language begun with cue)
29 bolder more confident
37 testy headstrong, short-tempered
37 hot angry/impetuous
38 head plays on the etymology of testy, i.e. teste, Old French for “head”
39 worshipfully respectfully
42 set down confirmed
44 provided prepared
45 prolonged postponed, delayed
48 smooth seemingly amiable or friendly
49 conceit idea, fancy likes pleases
53 straight instantly
55 livelihood liveliness
61 charms magic spells
64 doom sentence
68 blasted shriveled, blighted by supernatural means
69 is i.e. is the doing of monstrous unnatural
70 Consorted associated, in conjunction
70 Shore Jane Shore, Hastings’ mistress and formerly Edward IV’s
76 the same i.e. Hastings’ beheading accomp ished
80 fond foolish
81 rouse move violently, pull from our heads
83 foot-cloth horse horse with a long ornate cloth draped over its back
84 started shied, moved suddenly
85 As as if loath reluctant, unwilling
88 triumphing exulting victoriously
94 shrift confession (to a priest)
95 grace fortune, favor (in the next line, the sense shifts to “divine grace, mercy”)
97 Who he who
97 in air on the insubstantial foundation, in the emptiness
97 good favoring, approving
101 bootless useless
101 exclaim protest, cry out
Act 3 Scene 5
3.5 Location: within the walls of the Tower of London
3.5 rotten rusty/old, decaying
3.5 marvellous ill-favoured (looking) extremely unsightly
1 change thy colour i.e. make yourself look pale with fear
2 Murder i.e. cut off, catch
5 counterfeit imitate
5 deep artful, cunning
5 tragedian tragic actor
6 back behind me, over my shoulder (presumably in alarm or distrust)
6 pry peer (nervously or suspiciously)
7 at wagging at the mere stirring, shaking
8 Intending expressing, pretending
8 ghastly full of fear
9 service command
9 enforcèd false, deliberate
10 offices roles, tasks
17 o’erlook look over (seems to suggest that the scene takes place on the battlements)
21 patient calm
25 plainest most honest
27 book i.e. diary, personal notebook
28 history narrative, record
29 smooth plausibly
30 his … omitted apart from his manifest guilt
31 conversation sexual relationship
32 from free from
32 attainder of suspects stain of suspicion
33 covert’st sheltered most secretly concealed
35 almost even
37 subtle cunning
41 Turks i.e. barbarians, non-Christians
43 rashly hastily
47 fair good fortune
48 proceeded acted (perhaps with connotations of “taken legal proceedings”)
50 looked for expected
51 fell in plays on the sense of “penetrated sexually”
52 had … die we had determined that he should not die
53 see attend to, manage
57 timorously with fear, tremblingly
60 haply perhaps
61 Misconster misconstrue
61 us in him our role in or motives for his death
63 as as if
68 carping fault-finding, dissatisfied
69 of regarding
70 witness testify to
73 Guildhall central building in which civic affairs were conducted
73 hies … post hurries as quickly as possible
74 meetest vantage best opportunity
75 Infer allege
78 house both home and either shop or inn
79 sign i.e. sign bearing the name (The Crown) of the shop or inn
80 luxury lechery, last
81 change of lust constantly requiring new sexual partners
83 Even where wherever
85 for a need if necessary
85 come … person i.e. tell a tale that will affect me too
86 went … Of was pregnant with
89 true exact, accurate
90 his begot conceived by him
91 well … lineaments was obvious in Edward’s features, appearance
93 sparingly carefully, discreetly, with restraint
96 golden fee i.e. the crown (fee perhaps plays on the legal sense of “inherited estate”: the sense of “payment” anticipates the reward Buckingham expects for his services)
98 thrive well are successful
98 Baynard’s Castle London residence owned by the Duchess of York, situated by the River Thames near Blackfriars
103 Shaw … Penker both clergymen who supported Richard
106 take … order make some secret arrangements
108 manner manner of
109 recourse means of access
Act 3 Scene 6
3.6 Location: London
3.6 Scrivener professional scribe, particularly of legal documents
1 indictment formal statement of charges
2 a set hand formal handwriting
2 fairly elegantly
2 engrossed written in large characters appropriate for legal documents (“gross” in its sense of “wicked, reprehensible” may pick up on its moral opposite, “fair”)
3 Paul’s St. Paul’s Cathedral (where public proclamations were often made)
4 the sequel the following/the sequence of events/subsequent scribal copy he produced
7 precedent preceding document, first draft (from which the final copy has been made)
9 Untainted unstained by accunation
9 unexamined not questioned, interrogated
9 free at liberty/innocent/untroubled
10 the while these days
10 gross stupid
11 palpable device obvious contrivance
14 seen in thought i.e. not acknowledged openly
Act 3 Scene 7
3.7 Location: Baynard’s Castle, London
3.7 several separate
3 mum silent
4 Touched you did you mention
5 contract betrothal
6 contract … France in 3 Henry VI (Act 3 Scene 3) the Earl of Warwick goes to France as Edward’s sister-in-law; he and the French king are furious and humiliated when word comes that Edware has abruptly married Elizabeth instead
6 deputy to secure a betrothal with the King of France’s
8 enforcement coercion/rape
9 tyranny for trifles severe punishment of minor crimes/oppressive behavior even with regard to trivialities
10 got begot, conceived
15 Laid open revealed/described/elaborated on
16 discipline strategic skill
17 bounty generosity fair honorable
18 fitting for relevant to
19 slightly neglectfully
30 recorder civic official in the City of London
32 inferred alleged
33 in … himself on his own authority
35 hall i.e. the Guildhall
37 the vantage advantage
39 general public/widespread
40 Argues demonstrates
41 even here at this point
41 brake broke
42 blocks blockheads, idiots
43 brethren members of the town corporation
44 Intend pretend, feign
44 fear an intimidating manner/religious veneration/fearfulness
45 suit request, entreaty
46 look make sure
48 ground base melody
48 descant accompaniment to or improvised variation on the ground, or underlying melody
49 won persuaded
50 maid’s young woman’s/virgin’s
50 still constantly, repeatedly
50 and take it yet have sex all the same
52 for myself on my own behalf/for my own advantage
53 issue outcome
54 leads lead-covered flat roof
55 dance attendance am being kept waiting, am eager to be seen
61 bent occupied, concerned/bent over (in prayer)
62 suits affairs, petitions (especially legal)
63 exercise prayers
66 deep very important, profound
66 moment significance
67 No less importing concerning no less a matter
71 lulling lolling, reclining
73 dallying toying sexually, having sex
73 brace pair
74 deep learned, profoundly wise
74 divines priests
75 engross fatten
76 watchful alert/awake
77 Happy fortunate
78 his grace plays on the ducal title and on the sense of “divine grace” (suggesting a God-given right to the crown)
80 defend forbid
89 perfect complete
92 bead
s rosary beads
93 zealous pious, devout
93.1 aloft i.e. on the upper staging level, or gallery
95 props supports
96 stay keep fall of moral fall caused by
102 right rightful/genuine, true/extremely
106 visitation visit (especially by an ecclesiastical body); Richard is deliberately employing language with religious connotations
111 disgracious disilked
112 reprehend my ignorance rebuke me for the fault I am unaware of
115 Else … land? Why else do I live as a Christian (if not to amend my faults)?
118 sceptred involving the bearing of a royal scepter
119 state position, rank/kingship
119 of fortune to which fortune entitles you
120 lineal hereditary
121 blemished morally tainted (through illegitimacy)
121 stock family tree (sense subsequently shifts to “tree trunk”)
124 want lack
124 proper rightful, own
125 infamy bad reputation, disgrace
126 graft grafted, i.e. united (as in horticulture)
126 plants may pun on “Plantagenet”
127 shouldered shoved (possibly “immersed up to the shoulders”)
127 gulf abyss/whirlpool
129 recure redress, cure
133 factor agent
134 successively by right of succession
135 empery sovereign dominions
136 consorted united, in league
137 worshipful honorable/respectful
139 move persuade
142 degree rank or perhaps “spiritual condition”
142 condition social status
143 not to I do not
143 haply perhaps
144 yielded consented
146 fondly foolishly
149 checked (would have) rebuked
153 desert Unmeritable unworthiness
155 cut away with sinister connotations of “cut off, killed”
156 even direct, smooth
157 revenue possession/yield, income
160 greatness i.e. kingship
161 bark ship
161 brook endure, withstand
162 in … hid desire to be enveloped by greatness
163 vapour mist/spray
165 much I need I would need a great deal (i.e. I am inadequate)
166 royal tree i.e. King Edward IV
167 mellowed matured
167 stealing creeping (forward)
168 become suit, befit
168 seat throne
170 that what
171 happy auspicious, favorable
172 defend forbid
172 wring wrench
173 argues shows, is evidence of
174 respects thereof factors in your argument
174 nice unimportant, trifling
178 contract … vow the verbal contract entered into at betrothal was considered binding
180 substitute deputy, delegate