4 faint retire weak retreat
4 bravely splendidly
4 came we off we left the field of combat
5 needless superfluous, unnecessary
7 tott’ring waving/tattered (from the battle)
12 are … off have once again withdrawn their allegiance
15 shrewd harsh
19 stumbling i.e. causing the men to stumble
21 quarter watch
23 adventure fortune/hazard
5.6 Location: England, not far from Swinstead Abbey
5.6 severally separately
3 Of the part on the side
8 perfect accurate
9 upon all hazards whatever the risks
14 come … of am descended from (via one of my parents)
15 Unkind remembrance! Unnatural memory! (Hubert addresses his own memory; unkind may play on the sense of “lacking proper kinship”)
17 accent utterance/way of speaking
17 breaking coming
18 scape escape, elude
19 sans compliment without ceremony
19 abroad at large, out there
21 find you out find you
22 Brief be brief
25 very wound most painful part, worst
28 broke out rushed out, left
30 to for
30 sudden time unexpected events, emergency
31 at leisure later, without urgency
32 taste act as taster (i.e. person who ate some of the king’s food to see whether it was poisoned)
34 bowels intestines
35 Yet still
35 peradventure perhaps, by chance
38 Prince Henry John’s son, the future Henry III, who ruled 1216–72
42 bear … power endure more than we are able to
43 power army
44 Passing passing over
44 flats sandbanks
45 Lincoln Washes sandbanks in Lincolnshire
46 hardly barely/with difficulty
47 Away before lead on, go ahead
48 doubt fear
48 or ere before
5.7 Location: England, the garden of Swinstead Abbey
2 touched tainted/endangered
2 corruptibly in a manner causing decay
2 pure clear, lucid
4 idle nonsensical
9 fell cruel/fierce
10 orchard garden
11 rage rave
14 vanity absurdity
15 not feel themselves be unaware/become unaware of physical pain
17 invisible invisibly
19 legions multitudes/armies
20 hold stronghold (i.e. the mind)
21 Confound destroy, defeat/confuse
22 cygnet young swan, i.e. Prince Henry, the dying John’s youthful son
22 swan the swan was thought to sing only once, just before it died
27 indigest shapeless mass/confused situation
28 rude undefined, rough, disordered
29 elbow-room i.e. enough space
33 scribbled form indistinctly drawn shape/hasty sketch
37 fare food (plays on the sense of the verb—i.e. “to do”)
37 forsook rejected, abandoned
39 maw throat/stomach
41 north north wind
44 cold comfort comforting coolness/no comfort
44 strait severe/stingy (“straight” in Folio)
45 ingrateful ungrateful
46 virtue power/remedy
52 motion urge
53 spleen eagerness
54 set close (after death)
55 tackle rigging and sails
56 shrouds ship’s ropes (plays on the sense of “burial sheet”)
58 string heartstring/rope
58 stay support/anchor
60 clod lump of earth
61 module model, image
61 confounded destroyed
62 preparing hitherward on his way here/preparing to come here
63 heaven he probably originally “God he,” altered because of 1606 Parliamentary “Act to restrain the Abuses of Players,” which sought to put an end to blasphemous language on the stage
65 upon i.e. to gain (tactical)
65 remove move, change the position of
67 flood rushing water/tide
68 dead deadly/grave
69 But just
69 thus i.e. dead
70 Even so in the same way
71 stay support
75 wait on escort
76 still always
82 Straight at once
88 respect self-respect
89 presently immediately
90 rather sooner
91 sinewèd strengthened
93 carriages gun-carriages (i.e. supports for artillery)
95 disposing management
97 meet fitting
97 post hasten
98 consummate conclude
100 princes nobles
101 wait upon attend, serve in
105 happily with good fortune
106 lineal state i.e. rightfully inherited kingship
108 bequeath give
110 like tender same offer
111 rest remain
111 spot blot
114 but ambiguous here since it can mean both “only” and “not merely”
114 needful woe necessary mourning
115 beforehand in credit, had more than enough (financial term)
118 But except
120 three corners i.e. all other parts
121 shock repel with force
121 rue grieve
122 rest remain
3 Sad serious, solemn
3 high lofty/important
3 working emotive, moving
3 state stateliness, dignity
10 show spectacle
11 pass be approved, pass muster
11 still, and willing attentive and well-inclined
12 shilling the cost of some of the most expensive seats in the theater
13 two short hours i.e. the length of the play
15 targets shields
16 motley parti- or multicolored
16 guarded trimmed
16 long … yellow a fool’s customary costume
17 deceived disappointed
17 know understand (that)
19 forfeiting … brains abandoning our intelligence
20 opinion … intend reputation we have for presenting truthfully what we intend to perform
22 understanding comprehending (plays on the sense of audience members “standing under” the stage, in the yard)
24 happiest most favored
25 sad serious
27 As as if
27 great influential, of high rank
1.1 Location: the royal court, London
2 saw saw one another
4 fresh untired, eager
5 what … there Norfolk refers to the meeting of Henry VIII and the French King François I at the Field of the Cloth of Gold
6 untimely ague badly timed fever
7 Stayed detained
10 ’Twixt between
10 Guînes and Ardres towns near Calais in northern France
12 lighted alighted, dismounted
13 as as if
14 Which had they i.e. had they grown together
14 throned ones i.e. kings
14 weighed balanced, equaled
20 pomp splendor, ceremony
21 following succeeding
21 Each … master i.e. each day learned something from the one before it
22 master teacher
23 its i.e. its own
24 clinquant glittering
25 Shone down outshone
25 tomorrow i.e. the next day
25 they i.e. the English
26 India i.e. seem as wealthy as the Indies (whose mines were thought to be sources of immeasurable riches)
27 Showed appeared
28 cherubins (statues of)
angels
28 madams high-ranking ladies
30 pride magnificent finery, rich clothing, and accessories
30 that so that
30 labour … painting efforts caused them to flush, so that they looked as if they were wearing rouge
31 masque courtly entertainment involving elaborate costume
32 cried proclaimed
32 night i.e. night’s entertainments
33 Made … beggar i.e. seemed trivial and cheap in comparison
34 were … them were deemed more or less splendid depending on which one was on view at the time
35 him … praise the king on view always being the one praised
36 being … one when both kings were present they appeared indistinguishable in their splendor
37 discerner observer/one who perceives a difference
38 Durst dared
38 censure judgment (in favor of one rather than the other)
39 phrase call, term
40 perform … compass enact unimaginable feats
40 compass bounds, limit
41 that … credit so that tales formerly thought to be mythical and far-fetched gained such credibility
43 Bevis the tale of Bevis of Hampton; the hero of an early English romance, he carried out legendary feats of chivalry and skill
44 go far are making very great claims/exaggerate
45 belong to worship hold high rank, am a nobleman
45 affect … honesty respect integrity in matters of honor
46 tract narrative, course of events
47 discourser narrator
47 lose … to fall short in describing the actual vivid events
49 To … rebelled i.e. nothing interfered with the arrangement and handling of events
50 Order … view good preparations meant that everything was visible
50 The … function officials carried out their respective duties properly
54 sport entertainment
55 certes certainly
55 promises no element is not in his usual role
58 ordered organized
58 discretion judgment
59 Cardinal of York i.e. Wolsey
60 speed prosper, i.e. dispatch, hasten to his death
62 fierce high-spirited/warlike
62 vanities entertainments/extravagances
63 keech lump of animal fat (probably alludes to Wolsey’s origins as a butcher’s son as well as to his size)
64 Take up absorb, occupy
64 o’th’beneficial plays on the sense of “granting benefices” (ecclesiastical positions)
64 sun i.e. King Henry VIII
67 stuff substance, personal traits (plays on the sense of “meat for stuffing a pie”)
67 puts encourages, provokes
68 ancestry i.e. high birth
68 grace honor, renown, virtue
69 Chalks shows
70 high feats important services
71 eminent assistants noble patrons/influential helpers
72 self-drawing self-made
72 a he
72 a … note he lets us know
75 next to intimately close to/next in status to
77 graver more reverend, wiser
80 niggard miser
81 he i.e. Wolsey
84 going out expedition
85 privity private knowledge and consent
86 attend on him i.e. accompany the king to France (a costly enterprise)
86 file register, list
87 such … upon i.e. those listed will have to pay a disproportionately large amount for the small honor bestowed on them
89 own letter personal summons (to attend)
90 board of council i.e. Privy Council, the king’s advisers
90 out disregarded, not consulted
91 fetch … papers summon whoever is listed
91 papers sets down on paper
94 sickened weakened, depleted
95 abound prosper, be wealthy
97 laying … ’em selling property to pay for fine clothes
98 vanity foolish extravagance (i.e. the lavish meeting of the two kings)
99 minister … issue provide the opportunity for a useless discussion (communication may possibly play on the sense of “sexual procreation,” and poor issue does play on the sense of “impoverished children”; the sale of assets will affect the noblemen’s heirs)
101 Grievingly sadly
102 not values is not worth
106 inspired i.e. with divine, prophetic power
106 not consulting without consulting one another, independently
107 general universal
108 Dashing destroying
108 aboded predicted, foretold
109 on’t of it
110 is budded out has developed, come to pass
111 flawed broken, contravened
111 attached seized
113 therefore for that reason
114 silenced placed under house arrest
115 Marry by the Virgin Mary
116 proper title of fine name for
117 superfluous rate very high cost
119 carried managed
120 Like it may it please
121 state Privy Council/the king
121 difference dispute, discord
124 read consider/interpret
125 potency power
127 would wishes to
127 wants lacks
128 minister agent
132 darts thrusts
132 Bosom up keep secret/take to heart
133 wholesome healthy, beneficial
133 Lo look
134 purse containing the great seal of England, used by the king to authenticate documents; the Lord Chancellor (Wolsey) was its official keeper
135 surveyor estate manager
136 examination deposition, statement
141 big proud, haughty
141.1 train retinue, attendants
142 butcher’s cur another reference to Wolsey’s origins as a butcher’s son
142 cur dog
144 beggar’s … blood a poor man’s (i.e. Wolsey’s) learning is more highly valued than a nobleman’s lineage
146 chafed irritated, angry
147 temp’rance self-control, moderation
147 th’appliance only the only remedy
150 Matter substance, something significant (plays on the sense of “rheum, infected ocular discharge”)
151 abject object despicable view
152 bores cheats
155 choler anger
158 full hot very headstrong, overly hasty
159 Self-mettle his own vigorous spirit
163 mouth of honour i.e. gentleman’s mouth
163 quite completely
164 Ipswich Wolsey’s birthplace, a town in Suffolk in eastern England
165 difference distinction of rank
166 advised warned
170 overrunning running past it
171 mounts causes to rise up, i.e. boils
176 allay diminish, moderate/mix, alloy
179 prescription direction, advice
179 top-proud proud to the highest degree
180 gall bile, bitterness
181 motions motives
181 intelligence secret information
182 founts springs
186 vouch affirmation, allegation
188 equal just as
189 subtle cunning
190 place official position (as Lord Chancellor)
192 pomp greatness, splendor
193 suggests persuades, encourages, tempts
194 last recent
194 th’interview the meeting (between the French and English kings)
195 treasure money, wealth
196 i’th’wrenching in the rinsing/distortion of meaning
198 give me favour i.e. permit me to continue
199 articles clauses, terms
199 o’th’combination of the treaty
199 drew dr
afted, drew up
201 end effect, use
202 count-cardinal i.e. cardinal behaving like an aristocrat (contemptuous); often emended to “court-cardinal”
206 dam mother
206 Charles the Emperor Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, Katherine of Aragon’s nephew
208 colour pretext
209 whisper whisper to
213 privily privately, secretly
214 trow believe
216 ere before
217 but only
219 he i.e. Wolsey
222 his i.e. the king’s
222 he i.e. Wolsey
226 Something somewhat
226 mistaken misunderstood, misrepresented
229 in proof when put to the test/in fact, according to evidence
230 office duty, task
233 Hertford historically Hereford, to which some editors emend
238 device and practice plots and stratagems
240 look on witness
241 pleasure will
242 th’Tower the Tower of London
243 nothing in no way
255 t’attach to arrest
255 bodies persons
260 o’th’Chartreux of the Carthusian order—a monastical order noted for its severity
263 false disloyal
264 showed him gold bribed him (to betray Buckingham; whether the surveyor lies or reveals an actual plot is unclear)
264 spanned measured out
265 shadow … Buckingham the shadowy likeness of my former self
267 Whose … sun my form being now obscured by cloud and its former innocent brightness (clear sun) dimmed/my form being shrouded by a sudden cloud that darkens my king’s favor (sun)
1.2 Cornets hornlike wind instruments (here announcing the king’s arrival)
1.2 under … feet standing at the foot of the king’s throne or dais on which it sits
1 best heart very essence
2 level aim, target sights
3 full-charged fully loaded
3 confederacy conspiracy, plot
6 justify prove, confirm
8 state throne
9 we the royal plural
9 suitor person with a request to make, favor to ask
10 place your official place as queen
12 moiety half
13 Repeat your will utter your desire
14 Thank i.e. I thank
17 dignity honor, kingly status
20 solicited urged, entreated
21 true condition loyal disposition
22 grievance distress
22 commissions official authorization (to collect taxes)
23 flawed cracked, damaged
26 putter-on instigator
27 exactions extortionate charges
28 soil dishonorable stain
34 clothiers cloth workers, who dealt with woollen fabric
35 longing belonging, i.e. dependent on them for employment
35 put off dismissed
36 spinsters spinners of wool into thread for weaving into cloth