312 of on
312 policy political strategy, cunning
314 his succour being able to help him (Buckingham)
315 fault offense
315 gav'st assigned to
319 credit reputation
322 From of
323 cause case (tried in court)
326 That I who
328 mate be a match for, contend with
334 fellow common man/servant/good-for-nothing (a contemptuous term for one of Wolsey's status) 335 jaded deceived, made fools of (plays on the sense of "made green") 337 dare daze
337 dare ... larks birds could be caught by being distracted with a piece of scarlet cloth while nets were dropped on them; there may be an implicit reference to Joan Larke, Wolsey's mistress 348 issues children, i.e. sons
349 he i.e. Wolsey
350 articles items in a list of formal charges
352 sacring bell small bell rung at the consecration of the host, the holiest part of the Mass (after the Reformation it signified the bell rung to announce morning prayers) 352 brown brunette/dark-complexioned (or sunburned; another dig at Wolsey, suggesting this particular lover is a common peasant) 352 wench girl of the rustic or working class/mistress 356 hand possession/handwriting
357 thus much I can say this much
357 foul plays on the sense of "illegible, blotted"
363 out be revealed
367 dare challenge, defy
367 objections accusations
368 want lack
369 Have at you! i.e. here I come (standard utterance at the opening of a fight) 371 wrought planned, connived, worked
371 legate one of the Pope's representatives
374 'Ego ... meus' "My king and I" (Latin); literally "I and my king," which leads Norfolk to claim that Wolsey places himself before the king; however, this is the required Latin word order and Wolsey's real offense is to equate himself with the monarch 375 still always
379 Ambassador i.e. as Henry's ambassador
379 emperor the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V
379 made bold dared
380 carry ... seal taking the great seal of England out of the country was forbidden 380 Flanders part of the Netherlands
381 Item next (on the list; Latin)
381 commission delegation with specific instructions 382 Gregory de Cassado English ambassador to the Pope 383 allowance permission
384 Ferrara the Duke of Ferrara (one of the Italian city-states) 385 mere absolute, utter
387 innumerable substance incalculable wealth
389 furnish ... dignities bribe Rome as a means of paving your way to personal titles and offices 390 to ... kingdom i.e. at England's expense
391 Many more i.e. accusations, offenses
395 virtue i.e. virtuous not to list the offenses 396 lie open are exposed, i.e. are at the mercy (of) 402 legative as a papal legate
403 praemunire the offense of recognizing papal legal authority over that of the English monarch 404 sued instituted, legally enforced
405 tenements houses/leased land or property
406 Castles some editors emend to "chattels" on the basis of the equivalent passage in Holinshed, but the Folio reading is a suitable climax to the list 407 charge order, instruction
409 For as for
416 tender young, fresh
417 blushing glowing, vibrant (perhaps with reference to the red robes of a cardinal) 419 easy comfortable, complacent
422 wanton playful, wild, careless
422 bladders inflated animal bladders used as floats 423 This (for) these
424 high-blown over-inflated (like the bladders; also a suggestion of "fully blooming," recalling the vegetation imagery of a few lines earlier) 427 rude stream rough current
428 Vain proud/empty, meaningless/foolish, frivolous 432 aspect facial appearance/gaze (with astrological connotations of "influential position of a planet") 432 their ruin the ruin they can cause
433 pangs pains (often applied to labor pains)
434 Lucifer the brightest angel in heaven, who rebelled, was cast into hell and became the devil 435 amazed stunned
439 decline fall
439 an if
443 happy fortunate
448 pillars may recall the silver pillars that were emblems of Wolsey's role as cardinal 452 it i.e. self-knowledge
458 heaviest saddest/most weighty
459 displeasure disgrace
466 that so that
468 orphans the Lord Chancellor was the legal guardian of all orphans under the age of twenty-one 475 open public
476 voice talk
480 gone beyond overreached
481 In i.e. because of
483 troops retinues, groups of followers
491 hopeful promising
492 make use take advantage, profit
495 forgo forsake
503 truth loyalty
503 play the woman i.e. weep
506 dull lifeless
509 sounded fathomed, probed the depth of
509 shoals shallows
510 wreck shipwreck/ruin
512 Mark note, heed
518 Still always
530 naked defenseless
4.1 Location: a street in Westminster, London
5 all my business what I'm here for
8 general public, universal
10 royal generous/supportive of the monarchy
11 let ... rights to give them their due
11 forward eager, ready
15 taken received
22 High Steward the officer presiding over the coronation 23 Earl Marshal a high-ranking state office
25 beholding beholden, indebted
30 order rank, status (i.e. other bishops)
31 late recent Dunstable Bedfordshire town, about thirty-five miles north of London 32 Ampthill Ampthill Castle, in fact nearer ten miles north of Dunstable 32 lay lodged
34 short brief
35 late scruple recent doubt (over the validity of his marriage to Katherine) 35 main assent general agreement
37 of none effect null and void
38 Kimbolton a castle in Cambridgeshire, not far from Huntingdon 41 close quiet/to one side
41.1 flourish fanfare
41.2 Garter Garter King-at-Arms, chief herald of the College of Arms and a key official in the management of royal ceremonies 41.3 demi-coronal small coronet
41.4 dove emblematic of peace
41.6 estate state
41.5 Collars of esses ornamental gold chains composed of S-shaped links 41.7 Cinque Ports five ports on the southeast coast of England, originally Dover, Hastings, Sandwich, Hythe and Romney; their barons had the right to hold the canopy over the king during processions 41.8 in her hair with her hair loose, as was customary for brides 41.9 coronal coronet
41.10 train excess material at the back of a dress 42 train retinue
46 should must
54 Indies i.e. great wealth
55 strains embraces, with suggestion of sexual exertion 56 conscience plays on the sense of "genitals"
58 cloth of honour royal canopy
59 Cinque Ports five (later seven) ports on the southeast coast of England that provided the navy and were granted privileges in return 66 falling plays on the sense of "sexually receptive"
68 broiling becoming heated, sweating (from struggling for a good view amongst a crowd of onlookers) 69 i'th'Abbey in Westminster Abbey, venue for coronations 69 finger ... more perhaps with sexual connotations (especially if rankness is given its sexual sense) 71 mere absolute, utter
71 rankness exuberance/foul (sweaty) smell/lustfulness 77 speak describe
80 fell off withdrew
83 opposing displaying
85 goodliest finest, most good-looking
87 arose perhaps with connotations of penile erection
88 shrouds ropes attached to the mast, standard part of a ship's rigging (perhaps with phallic connotations; a rope was a slang image for a
penis) 88 stiff strong; again with connotations of penile erection 90 Doublets men's close-fitting jackets
92 Great-bellied i.e. pregnant
93 rams battering rams
94 press crowd, throng
104 royal makings trappings of royalty bestowed during a coronation 105 As such as
108 music musicians
109 Te Deum thanksgiving hymn "Te Deum laudamus" (Latin; "We praise thee O God") 109 parted departed
110 state procession/pomp/dignity
117 lately recently
121 the one i.e. Gardiner
122 preferred promoted
129 will who will
134 Master o'th'Jewel House i.e. responsible for the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London 140 Something ... command i.e. I have some degree of influence 4.2 Location: Kimbolton Castle, Cambridgeshire
3 loaden laden, overburdened
11 happily fittingly/fortunately/perhaps
13 voice word, rumor
14 stout brave, resolute
15 brought him forward escorted him
16 tainted disgraced/corrupted
16 answer trial
18 sit sit on
20 roads stages (of the journey)
20 Leicester chief town of Leicestershire, in central England 22 convent members of the monastery
26 little earth i.e. grave
27 eagerly keenly/fiercely
33 blessed part i.e. soul
35 speak speak of/describe
37 stomach pride/ambitious appetite
38 suggestion incitement, prompting (to wrongdoing)
39 Tied subjected, tied up
39 Simony buying and selling ecclesiastical posts
40 I'th'presence in the royal reception chamber/presence of the king 41 double duplicitous/ambiguous
43 pitiful merciful, compassionate
46 body i.e. sexual appetites, love of worldly pleasures 46 ill immoral
51 good goodness, virtues
56 to for
57 ripe mature, sophisticated
59 Lofty haughty
61 unsatisfied in getting never satisfied with what he had acquired 64 you Griffith addresses Ipswich and Oxford
65 Ipswich and Oxford Wolsey founded colleges in both towns, though only that at Oxford survived him; originally intended to be Cardinal's College, it was renamed Christ Church 66 did made, founded
68 art scholarship
68 rising growing (in reputation and excellence; plays on the idea of physical completion) 72 little humble
79 Whom he whom (i.e. Wolsey)
80 religious conscientious
80 modesty moderation, restraint
82 set me lower i.e. help me to lie back or sit lower in the chair 84 note tune
85 knell funeral bell
86 celestial harmony i.e. heaven
86.1 tripping moving nimbly and lightly
86.3 vizards masks
86.2 bays bay-tree leaves, a symbol of triumph 86.4 congee make a formal bow
86.5 changes turns or stages of the dance 86.6 in their i.e. still
102 fancy imagination
103 music leave musicians cease
104 heavy oppressive/sorrowful
111 An't like if it please
112 saucy insolent
115 lose give up
115 wonted accustomed
118 staying waiting
122 emperor Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, Katherine's nephew
137 physic medicine
137 had would have
148 willing willingly
150 model image
150 daughter i.e. Mary
152 breeding upbringing
159 both my fortunes i.e. good and bad, as queen and subsequently 163 honesty chastity/virtue
163 carriage behavior
165 happy fortunate
169 over extra
171 able sufficient
178 fashion form, nature, character
179 honest honorable
187 used treated
188 maiden flowers i.e. those flowers befitting chastity 190 forth i.e. out for burial
192 can i.e. say or do
5.1 Location: the royal court, London
3 necessities essential activities, i.e. sleep
7 Whither where are you going
9 primero gambling card game
11 must must go
14 an if if
15 offence harm
16 touch sense, hint
16 late recent/late night
21 durst commend dare entrust
22 this work i.e. what he has been engaged in
23 feared it is feared
25 fruit i.e. child
25 goes with carries/is in the throes of labor with
27 time delivery, outcome
27 stock tree that bore the fruit, i.e. Anne
28 grubbed up uprooted
30 Cry the amen i.e. agree
35 way of thinking, i.e. Catholic religious views 38 hands i.e. assistants, supporters
41 remarked notable/conspicuous
42 Master O'th'Rolls a high-ranking legal position
44 gap and trade opening and path
45 time age, state of affairs/time to come/opportunity 49 are are those
52 Incensed angered
54 arch-heretic major, principal holder of unorthodox religious views (puns on "archbishop") 55 moved angered, stirred
56 broken broached (the matter)
58 fell fierce, terrible
58 mischiefs evils, misfortunes
61 convented summoned to appear
61 rank rapidly growing, abundant
64 rest remain
66 hard strong (a player)
69 fancy mind, inclination
78 suff'rance suffering
81 God may God
81 quit release, relieve
82 travail labor
82 gladding delighting
86 estate state, situation
99 attends awaits
101 bishop i.e. Gardiner
102 happily fortunately, opportunely
103 Avoid leave
103 gallery long room used for walking in
106 aspect of terror angry expression
118 grievous serious
120 moved prompted, decided
122 with such freedom so freely, easily
122 purge clear, exonerate
124 take ... you be patient
126 Tower Tower of London
126 brother of us being a fellow member of the council 127 fits is fitting
131 throughly thoroughly
131 winnowed i.e. cleared of impurity, as corn is exposed to wind in order to separate it from worthless husks (chaff) 133 stands under endures/is subject to
133 calumnious slanderous
138 my halidom all I consider holy
139 looked anticipated
140 given ... petition requested
143 endurance further further hardship/forthcoming imprisonment 144 dread revered
147 triumph exult (at the downfall of)
147 weigh value
148 Being should it be
148 nothing not at all
152 small insignificant
152 practices plots
153 bear ... proportion be correspondingly powerful
153 ever always
155 The dew o'th'verdict i.e. a successful outcome 155 at with
157 swear testify
159 Ween you of do you expect
160 perjured witness false testimony
160 your master i.e. Christ
162 naughty wicked
163 take ... danger behave as though jumping off a cliff were not dangerous 164 woo invite, court
167 is that is
169 give way to i.e. allow
171 chance happen
172 commit imprison
186 Now now may
190 Is ... delivered? Has the queen given birth?
194 girl may apply either to Anne or to the newly born E
lizabeth 195 Promises i.e. who promises to give birth to 196 and and for you
201 marks a mark was a monetary unit (rather than a coin) worth two thirds of a pound 203 groom servingman
203 for suitable for
206 hot "to strike while the iron is hot" was proverbial 207 put ... issue undertake it, insist on it (issue may play on the sense of "child") 3 fast locked up
4 Sure surely
9 So so be it/I see
11 happily fortunately/by chance
12 understand it presently be informed of it at once
16 sound perceive/proclaim
17 laid arranged (like a trap)
18 turn alter
22 attend wait
22.1 above i.e. on the upper staging level or gallery 26 Body o'me upon my body (i.e. life)
29 Who ... state who maintains his dignity/is detained according to his status (ironic) 29 pursuivants state messengers
30 footboys boy servants, often assistants to footmen
33 one above 'em i.e. the king/God
34 parted divided
34 honesty integrity/decorum
35 suffer permit
36 place status
37 dance attendance be kept waiting
38 post courier
38 packets i.e. of letters
40 close shut
40.1 state throne
40.2 above next to, at the upper end of the table; the seating arrangements reflect the men's positions 49 Without outside
56 present present time
57 chair i.e. Cranmer's vacant chair next to the Lord Chancellor 58 capable Of susceptible to
59 flesh bodily urges, mortal weakness
60 want lack
61 misdemeaned yourself behaved improperly
65 Divers various/different/perverse, cruel
65 heresies views contrary to orthodox religious opinion 66 pernicious destructive
69 Pace ... hands do not train them gently, by hand
70 stubborn unyielding
71 obey the manage perform the specific movements correctly (from French manege, "horsemanship") 71 suffer permit
72 easiness indulgence, leniency
74 physic medicine
75 taint corruption/infection
77 upper higher/inland
77 upper ... witness a reference either to the Saxony peasants' revolt of 1524 or to the rising of the Anabaptists in Munster in 1535
82 course current/series of undertakings
85 single united, honest
87 place official public position
95 urge make allegations
98 by that virtue by virtue of that
99 moment importance
100 short brief
103 private i.e. not exercising public office 105 provided prepared
107 pass be approved, prevail
109 end aim, purpose
111 Become befit, suit
115 doubt i.e. of my innocence
115 conscience i.e. trouble your conscience 118 sectary follower of a heretical sect
119 painted counterfeit/superficial
119 discovers reveals
120 words i.e. mere words
122 By ... favour if you will permit me (to say so)
127 cry ... mercy beg your honor's pardon
127 worst least
131 sound orthodox, honest
136 bold audacious, impertinent
140 Forbear stop, desist
156 Receive take into custody
157 safe securely confined