2 ridden broken in
2 furnished equipped
5 commission warrant
5 main considerable
13 private on his own
14 sad serious
18 conscience Suffolk plays on the sexual sense of “genital expansiveness”
22 blind without regard for others; fortune was commonly depicted as a blind woman who
22 turns the wheel of people’s fortunes
23 list pleases
23 know understand, recognize
25 he i.e. Wolsey
42 end purpose/outcome
43 French king’s sister the Duchess of Alençon, suggested by Wolsey as a second wife for Henry
44 slept upon failed to notice, not perceived truly
45 bold daring, overconfident
51 lump probably lump of clay
52 pitch height, i.e. stature
53 For as for
55 made i.e. successful, of noble rank
55 stand remain, stand firm
57 breath i.e. mere words
65 otherwhere elsewhere
68 curtain separating the main stage from the discovery space or recess at the back of the stage
76 this way in this respect
77 estate state
80 Go to expression of impatient dismissal
81 temporal worldly, secular
81 commission warrant (from the Pope)
83 quiet calm
84 cure physical remedy (but with connotations of spiritual care)
87 talker i.e. man of words rather than action
92 priest i.e. Wolsey
94 sick envious
97 have-at-him thrust, attack (fencing term)
99 precedent example
101 scruple doubt
101 voice of Christendom i.e. the Pope and the various clergymen who were consulted over Henry’s problem of conscience
102 envy malice
103 Spaniard i.e. Charles V (Katherine’s nephew), or the Spanish in general
103 her i.e. Queen Katherine
104 confess admit, allow
105 clerks scholars
107 Have … voices may vote as they please
109 general tongue i.e. representative spokesperson
113 conclave body of cardinals (in Rome)
115 strangers foreigners
117 tender submit
117 virtue power
120 unpartial impartial
124 that that which
125 place rank
130 fit suitable, able
144 stick hesitate
146 Kept … still i.e. always had him traveling abroad (on diplomatic missions)
149 murmurers gossips, rumormongers/troublemakers
152 appointment order
153 none … else i.e. no one else so close to the king
154 griped seized, clutched at
154 meaner lower ranking
155 Deliver tell, report
155 modesty propriety/consideration
157 For … learning to receive, play host to such a learned discussion
157 Blackfriars Dominican monastery in London
159 furnished equipped
160 able (sexually) vigorous
161 bedfellow i.e. Katherine
161 conscience perhaps playing on “con-science” meaning “knowledge of the vagina” (i.e. Anne Bullen’s)
1 Not … neither Anne and the Old Lady enter mid-conversation
1 pinches torments
4 Pronounce declare/utter
6 courses … sun i.e. years
9 process course (of events)
10 avaunt order to be gone
10 pity pity-provoking situation
12 temper substance, hardness/disposition
15 temporal worldly (rather than heavenly)
16 quarrel quarreler
17 sufferance panging hardship as tormenting
20 stranger outsider/foreigner
24 range roam/live/be ranked
24 humble livers those of low rank
25 perked up decked out
25 glist’ring glittering, sparkling
28 having possession
29 troth faith
29 maidenhead virginity
31 Beshrew curse
33 spice dash, touch
34 so fair parts such beauty/such good qualities
36 Affected likes, is drawn to
37 sooth truth
38 Saving despite
38 mincing pretentious manner, affectations
39 cheverel kid leather (noted for its softness)
41 troth truth, faith
44 bowed bent, i.e. worthless (puns on “bawd”)
45 queen it play the queen; puns on “quean” meaning “prostitute”
47 bear endure/support during sex/give birth to
47 load of title title of duchess/duke himself/duke’s child
49 pluck off come down (in aspiration; literally “undress”)
50 count i.e. rank lower than a duke; puns on “cunt”
50 way path/condition (of being a virgin)
51 For … to i.e. on account of sexual modesty
52 vouchsafe permit, accept
52 burden i.e. of a man’s body during sex
53 get beget, conceive
57 little England affectionate term for England itself/Pembrokeshire, south Wales, where most people spoke English rather than Welsh/Westminster Hall
58 emballing to be invested with the orb of sovereignty (as queen)/ sexual intercourse
59 Caernarvonshire a poor rural county in north Wales
59 longed belonged
62 conference conversation
64 values not is not worth
66 gentle noble/kind
74 Commends declares, offers
75 purpose intend
78 grace favor
80 kind manifestation
80 tender offer (in return)
81 More … nothing more than all I am able to offer is still insufficient (nothing may pick up on the sense of “vagina,” which is of course what Anne is required to supply)
82 hallowed blessed, sanctified
83 More of more
85 Vouchsafe agree
89 t’approve to corroborate, confirm
89 conceit opinion, notion
90 perused observed, examined
93 gem i.e. an heir (anticipating Elizabeth’s birth)
94 lighten illuminate (some jewels were thought to emit light)
99 beggarly still poor
100 Come … late i.e. ask at the appropriate time
100 pat neatly
101 suit of pounds request for money
101 pound plays on the sense of rags/(fish) ponds
102 fresh young/blooming
102 fish woman/whore
102 fie expression of reproach
103 compelled enforced/unsought
103 have … it i.e. to get plenty without even needing to ask (probably also refers to oral sex)
105 strange odd, incomprehensible/new, unfamiliar
106 tastes probably continues to play on the idea of oral sex
106 Forty pence i.e. I’ll bet a small amount
108 queen continues to pun of “quean” (i.e. prostitute)
109 mud i.e. wealth, since
109 Egypt was known for its rich soil
110 pleasant merry, joking
111 your theme your subject (i.e. the same advancement as you)
112 O’ermount rise higher than
115 honour’s … foreskirt i.e. more rewards will follow, just as the train of a dress is longer than the front of the skirt (perhaps with some sexual suggestion of lifting one’s skirt)
117 your … duchess i.e. you will marry a duke and bear his children
120 particular fancy personal imaginings
121 on’t of it
122 salute affects, excites
122 blood passions, spirits (perhaps with play on “sexual desires”)
122 faints me makes me faint
125 deliver report
2.4 Location: Blackfriars (a Dominican monastery in London)
2.4 sennet trumpet fanfare signaling a procession
2.4 Vergers officials carrying rods of office who process in front of Church dignitaries
2.4 habit of doctors academic robes worn by Doctors of Law, i.e. black gowns and flat hats
2.4 St Asaph Llanelwy, an ancient bishopric in north Wales
2.4 purse it contained the great seal of England, used by the king to authenticate documents; the Lord Chancellor (Wolsey) was its official keeper
2.4 cloth of state canopy over a throne
2.4 consistory ecclesiastical court
5 th’authority allowed its authority recognized
16 stranger foreigner
18 indifferent impartial
19 equal fair
19 proceeding course of action/legal proceedings
22 proceed … off go about to dismiss me/take legal action to discard me
23 grace favor/royal person
25 conformable compliant, obedient
26 dislike displeasure
27 countenance facial expression/favor/disposition
33 to him derived drawn upon himself
38 many children Katherine had six children by Henry, of whom only one (Mary) survived infancy
40 honour good name
40 aught anything
42 Against toward
48 wit wisdom
49 one The wisest the very wisest
54 Wherefore for which reason
60 reverend fathers clergymen
62 elect best, most choice men
63 bootless useless
64 longer any longer
64 desire request (i.e. the trial’s postponement)
65 quiet peace of mind
69 session court, judicial gathering
77 certain certainly
81 before i.e. before you are humble (which you’ll never be)
84 challenge formal objection (legal term)
86 blown this coal i.e. stirred up trouble (proverbial)
88 abhor reject
94 stood to upheld
97 spleen malice
104 gainsay deny
105 worthily justly
107 free innocent
107 report condemnation, allegation
108 your wrong the wrong you do me in making such statements
111 in about, with regard to
117 sign display
117 in full seeming to all appearances
121 slightly with ease
122 powers officials in power/power of position
122 retainers servants
123 Domestics servants
123 as’t … office in whatever manner you wish, as soon as you utter their tasks
125 tender regard, are concerned with
126 that so that
129 cause legal case
130 offers attempts, makes to
132 Stubborn resistant
132 apt quick, ready
138 keep your way keep going
141 tarry stay, linger
148 rare excellent/exceptional
149 government control (of self and others)
150 Obeying in commanding behaving with restraint even when issuing orders/behaving both like a queen and a dutiful wife
150 parts … else other superior and pious qualities
150 Sovereign excellent/royal
151 speak thee out declare themselves as being in you
154 Carried conducted
156 require request
160 satisfied compensated
166 prejudice detriment
166 state situation/rank
167 touch taint, stain
169 excuse exonerate
170 you … taught i.e. you know full well
172 curs dogs
178 passages proceedings
179 speak support
182 mark th’inducement note what persuaded me
183 tenderness sensitivity
187 ’twixt between
189 determinate resolution conclusive outcome
191 advertise notify, discuss with
193 dowager i.e. Katherine, the widow of Henry’s brother Arthur
194 Sometimes formerly
196 spitting piercing, stabbing
198 mazed considerings bewildered thoughts, confused wonderings
200 smile i.e. favor
203 offices duties, services
2.4 two … pillars like the mace, emblems of Wolsey’s role as cardinal
205 Or either
206 This … them i.e. birth
209 gladded made glad
211 issue’s offspring’s
212 throe pain (a word often used of labor pains)
212 hulling drifting (with sails furled)
217 full very
217 yet still (now)
219 doctors scholars
221 oppression burdensome distress
221 reek sweat
222 moved put the matter to, appealed to
225 satisfied reassured
228 Bearing … dread given that it concerned a matter of great importance and potentially alarming consequences
229 committed … doubt questioned the most extreme, audacious advice I was inclined to give (i.e. to pursue divorce)
237 particular individual
238 Under … seals i.e. with your formal written agreement
238 hands signatures
242 Prove but if you can only prove
244 wear … come spend our remaining life (or perhaps “our earthly sovereignty”)
245 primest most supreme (perhaps plays on the sense of “youngest, freshest”)
246 paragoned put forth as an ideal model
248 a needful fitness necessarily appropriate behavior
249 further another
250 motion request
252 his holiness i.e. the Pope
255 dilatory delaying (with specifically legal sense of entering a dilatory plea to delay proceedings)
257 return the clergyman Thomas Cranmer was at this point in Europe, gathering support for Henry’s divorce
259 set on advance, proceed
3.1 Location: the royal court, London
1 lute stringed musical instrument played like a guitar
2 leave stop
3 Orpheus legendary Greek poet, whose music had the power to charm trees, animals, and stones
3 made i.e. made them bow
7 as as if
10 billows swelling waves
11 lay by subsided, became calm
13 Killing fatal, deadly
19 willed ordered
20 Pray ask (politely)
24 as righteous i.e. as their goodness
27 part of partly
28 all i.e. wholly a housewife
28 against in anticipation of
28 worst i.e. divorce from Henry (which would necessitate careful domestic and economic management for a woman living alone)
35 corner i.e. secrecy
36 free innocent
37 happy fortunate
38 a number many others
40 Envy malice
41 even straightforward, constant
42 that … in it concerns my wifely status
44 Tanta … serenissima “So great is my integrity toward you, most serene queen” (Latin)
46 truant negligent student
46 coming i.e. to England from Spain
48 strange foreign
52 willing’st most deliberate
57 all only
57 faith loyalty, integrity, honesty
58 by the way for the purpose of
62 minded inclined
62 difference disagreement
64 free honorable, upright
76 suddenly immediately, spontaneously
78 wit intelligence
80 set seated
&
nbsp; 81 looking prepared
83 her … been i.e. my sake as the queen I was till now
84 fit brief period
90 profit benefit
93 desperate reckless
94 live a subject i.e. continue to be treated as a loyal subject to Henry (despite supporting the queen)
94 forsooth in truth
95 weigh out counterbalance, compensate for/outweigh/assess fully
106 part away depart
109 Out upon ye dismissive exclamation, “Away with you”
112 mistakes causes you to misunderstand
114 cardinal virtues there were four of these: justice, prudence, temperance, and fortitude
115 cardinal sins the seven deadly sins: pride, covetousness, envy, wrath, gluttony, sloth, and lechery (cardinal, as well as playing on the men’s ecclesiastical titles, may pun on “carnal”)
117 cordial heart-restoring remedy
121 at once suddenly/all at once
123 mere distraction complete frenzy
124 envy hatred, ill will
126 professors those who profess to be Christians
128 habits garments, i.e. the mere outer appearance
130 his from his
132 fellowship partnership/sexual intimacy
134 above more than
134 studies efforts
137 speak speak for, defend
139 vainglory boasting
141 full affections complete love
142 Still always, with constancy
142 next next to
143 fondness affection/foolishness
143 superstitious excessively devoted, idolatrous
150 wander from stray from/mistake
154 dignities nobleness, high rank
156 Would I wish
168 ends intentions
170 places (Church) positions
175 carriage behavior
179 temper temperament
180 even level
180 calm calm sea
184 casts rejects (plays on sense of melting metal to form coins)
188 studies efforts
190 used conducted
193 do my service pay my respects
197 That who
197 set footing here arrived in England
2 force urge, press
2 a constancy persistence
3 omit … time neglect this current opportunity
9 duke i.e. of Buckingham
10 him i.e. Wolsey
12 uncontemned unscorned, not treated contemptuously
13 neglected disregarded/slighted
15 Out of beyond
19 Gives way favors
19 fear doubt
22 in’s in his
24 out ended, lost
26 he’s may apply to Wolsey or to Henry
27 come off escape (if Wolsey)/ desist (if Henry)
27 his i.e. Henry’s
32 contrary oppositional/contradictory
33 unfolded exposed
36 practices schemes
39 miscarried went astray/were intercepted