107 lop lopped-off branch

  109 The ... sap i.e. the tree will die

  110 questioned challenged, resisted

  116 grace good will/mercy

  116 commons common people

  117 Hardly conceive think harshly

  117 noised rumored, reported

  118 our Wolsey uses the royal plural

  118 revokement repeal

  119 anon shortly

  122 Is run in has incurred, come into

  124 rare splendid/exceptional

  125 To ... bound no one is more indebted to nature for such qualities 127 out of beyond

  129 disposed applied, directed

  130 vicious wicked, immoral

  131 complete accomplished, perfect

  133 ravished entranced

  135 monstrous unnatural

  135 habits clothing/behavior, practices

  138 gentleman in trust trusted servant

  140 practices plots

  141 hear too much i.e. for our own protection 143 careful dutiful, full of care (for the king)

  143 collected picked up, gathered (as evidence)

  148 issue children

  148 carry manage

  149 sceptre staff carried as a symbol of sovereignty 151 menaced threatened

  154 conception intention, plan

  155 Not ... person not being gratified in his wish regarding you (i.e. that the king should die childless) 157 friends i.e. Wolsey

  159 Deliver speak

  161 How ... fail? On what did he base his claim to the throne in the event of my death without an heir?

  162 To this point on this subject

  167 Chartreux Carthusian, i.e. one of a strict monastic order from Chartreux near Grenoble in France 172 the Rose the name of a manor house belonging to Buckingham 173 St Lawrence Poultney a church on Candlewick Street in London 174 speech talk, gossip, prevailing opinion

  176 perfidious treacherous

  177 To ... danger resulting in danger for the king

  177 presently instantly

  178 doubted feared/suspected

  182 choice chosen, appointed

  183 moment importance

  187 demure confidence grave assurance, solemn certainty 190 o'th'commonalty of the common people

  195 spleen anger, malice

  196 nobler i.e. as the immortal soul is more important than worldly rank 198 on go on

  200 but only

  204 forged formed, created (in)

  205 much ... do very likely to be carried out

  207 failed died

  210 rank foul, corrupt, gross

  214 Greenwich a royal palace south of the River Thames 219 his as his own (instead of the king's)

  220 committed imprisoned

  223 Richard i.e. Richard III

  223 Salisbury town in Wiltshire, southwest England 224 suit a formal request

  225 made ... duty i.e. by kneeling before Richard in feigned respect 230 God mend all may God put everything right

  233 stretched him stood fully upright

  234 mounting raising

  236 evil used badly treated

  236 outgo surpass

  238 irresolute shaky, undecided/not accomplished

  239 period end, purpose

  240 attached arrested

  241 present immediate

  244 to th'height in the highest degree

  1 spells magic charms

  1 juggle trick, deceive, conjure

  2 mysteries enigmatic behavior (i.e. the imitation of French courtly fashions) 5 let 'em be even if they are

  7 late recent

  8 fit ... o'th'face one or two grimaces, contrived facial expressions 8 shrewd cunning, artful/sharp, clever

  9 hold 'em assume such facial expressions

  11 Pepin or Clotharius eighth-and sixth-century Kings of the Franks 11 keep state so maintain such affected dignity (presumably those referred to are walking around with their noses in the air) 12 legs i.e. ways of walking/bowing

  12 take it think, assume/affirm, swear

  13 spavin tumor on a horse's leg caused by inflammation of cartilage 14 springhalt stringhalt, a disease of a horse's hind legs, causing spasmodic muscle contractions 15 Death contracted form of the oath "by God's death"

  16 after ... to't fashioned in such a pagan manner

  17 worn out exhausted (all the styles available in)

  21 clapped placed

  27 Louvre French royal palace in Paris

  30 fool and feather foolishness and elaborate dress (such as feathers worn on hats) 31 honourable ... ignorance foolish trivia they consider worthy (points plays on the sense of "laces used for fastening clothing") 32 as such as

  32 fights i.e. duels

  32 fireworks fighting/whoring (perhaps also with associations of "elaborate pyrotechnic displays") 33 Abusing dishonoring, mocking

  34 Out ... wisdom using the so-called wisdom they have gained abroad 34 renouncing clean they must now renounce totally

  35 tall ... breeches i.e. French fashions, playing on notion of venereal disease 35 blistered short and puffed/covered in blisters, symptomatic of venereal disease 36 types marks, indications

  36 travel plays on sense of sexual travail, exertion 37 understand comprehend/stand up properly (with sexual connotations) 37 honest honorable/true

  38 pack depart

  38 playfellows (sexual) partners

  39 cum privilegio "with immunity" (Latin; an abbreviated form of the phrase announcing the exclusive right of a printer to publish a book) 39 oui "yes" (French)

  40 lag end latter part, tail end (with phallic connotations) 40 lewdness foolishness/wickedness/lechery

  41 physic medicine, specifically perhaps a cure for venereal disease 44 trim vanities smart dandies/worthless fripperies/handsome playthings 45 marry by the Virgin Mary

  46 whoresons bastards, wretches (a coarse term of abuse) 47 speeding successful/speedy

  47 lay down seduce/have sex with

  48 fiddle musical instrument/penis/mirth-maker, jester 48 fellow equal

  49 fiddle play with/cheat

  50 converting of 'em i.e. reforming their behavior 52 play performing music/sexual play

  52 plainsong simple melody, i.e. straightforward manner of wooing 53 hearing i.e. audience (with a woman)

  53 by'r lady by Our Lady (the Virgin Mary)

  54 Held be considered

  54 current fashionable

  56 colt's tooth youthful lust

  56 cast discarded

  58 stump remains of a tooth/penis

  64 makes gives

  68 fruitful generous

  69 dews i.e. favors, benevolence (puns on "dues" or taxes) 71 black slanderous/sinful

  71 other otherwise

  72 he's wherewithal he has the necessary means

  73 Sparing frugality, economy

  74 way way of life, i.e. as a cardinal

  77 ones i.e. examples

  77 stays waits

  78 along i.e. come along

  80 spoke to asked

  81 comptrollers stewards, masters of ceremonies

  82 your lordship's i.e. entirely at your disposal 1.4 Location: York Place (now Whitehall)--Wolsey's residence

  1.4 Hautboys oboelike instruments

  1.4 state canopy

  1.4 divers various, several

  4 bevy company

  5 abroad out with her, from home

  7 tardy slow, late

  9 Clapped fixed

  12 lay secular/sexual

  13 running banquet hasty meal/rewarding sexual pursuit or sex itself 15 society group

  16 confessor plays on the sense of "sexual partner"

  19 easy penance with sexual connotations

  21 down feather

  23 Place you you arrange the seating

  25 cold plays on the sense of "sexually unresponsive"

  26 waking awake, lively (with suggestion of sexual activity) 29 thank I thank

  30 wild erratically, madly/reck
lessly, excitably/lustfully 32 mad insane/uncontrollable, high-spirited

  34 bite biting was thought to be a common trait of madmen 35 twenty i.e. twenty ladies

  35 with a breath in one breath, in a very short space of time 36 said done

  37 fairly properly/favorably/fully

  39 Pass away leave

  40 For as for

  40 cure spiritual duty/remedy (for frowning)/ sexual remedy 41 Let me alone leave it to me

  47 bowl i.e. full of wine

  47 may as may

  50 beholding beholden, indebted

  50 cheer entertain/encourage/cheer up

  56 gamester sporting, fun-loving person/gambler/one fond of sex 58 make my play score (in cards/in love)

  59 pledge it drink to my toast

  60 thing plays on the sense of "penis"

  62 anon soon

  62.1 chambers small cannon

  65 voice i.e. noise

  67 privileged protected

  69 strangers foreigners

  71 make make their way

  76 heaven of beauty i.e. gathering of beautiful ladies 78 broken disrupted

  80 Masquers costumed nobles taking part in a courtly entertainment involving dancing 80 habited dressed

  81 pleasures wills, desires

  83 fame report, rumor

  87 conduct guidance, permission

  89 revels merriment/courtly entertainment

  99 this place i.e. the chair of state

  100 but only

  106 it i.e. the chair of state

  111 fair fine/virtuous/beautiful

  112 You ... unhappily i.e. if you were not a rightfully minded clergyman, I should look unfavorably upon this gathering of beautiful women 115 pleasant merry

  117 Prithee please (literally "I pray thee")

  118 An't if it

  119 her highness' women i.e. lady-in-waiting to Queen Katherine 120 dainty delicately pretty

  121 take you out i.e. to dance

  122 health toast

  124 banquet separate course of sweetmeats after the main feast, served in a different room 125 I'th'privy chamber i.e. in a private inner room 128 heated hot, but in his reply Henry plays on the sense of "lustful, hot-blooded"

  133 forsake leave, give up

  135 measure slow stately dance

  136 dream focus on/conjecture

  137 best in favour best-looking/most popular with the ladies 137 knock it strike up

  2.1 Location: a street in Westminster, London

  2.1 several separate

  3 hall i.e. Westminster Hall

  16 passed it did the trial proceed

  17 a little brief

  18 to his accusations in response to the accusations brought against him 19 still consistently

  19 alleged brought forward

  20 law i.e. case against him

  22 examinations testimonies, statements

  22 proofs evidence

  23 divers various, several

  24 him brought i.e. have brought to him

  24.1 viva voce "in person, in live speech" (Latin) 32 fain gladly

  37 pitied in him i.e. prompted useless pity

  37 forgotten i.e. was ineffectual

  40 knell funeral bell, i.e. death sentence

  41 sweat sweated

  42 choler anger

  42 ill unfavorable/wicked/bitter

  43 fell to recovered

  50 end root, bottom

  52 Kildare's attainder the accusation and disgrace of the Earl of Kildare; he was imprisoned on a number of charges and his role as Lord Deputy in Ireland was given to the Earl of Surrey, Buckingham's son-in-law 53 deputy governor

  55 father father-in-law

  56 trick of state political contrivance

  57 envious malicious

  58 his i.e. Surrey's

  59 requite avenge, repay

  60 generally universally, by all

  64 perniciously deeply, desiring his death or ruin

  67 mirror image, model

  67.1 Tipstaves court officers, named after their badge of office, a metal-tipped staff 67.2 axe ... him signifying that the prisoner had been condemned to death 67.3 Halberds i.e. halberdiers, carrying long-handled weapons topped with a combination of spearhead and axe blade 70 close out of sight/quietly

  73 lose forget

  74 judgement sentence

  76 sink ruin/damn

  79 premises evidence (submitted in court)

  80 more better

  82 look beware, watch out

  83 evils wrongdoings, evil careers/hovels or privies

  86 sue plead

  87 More ... faults i.e. much greater than the magnitude of offense I would dare to commit 90 only ... dying the only thing that is bitter to him, the only real death he experiences 92 divorce of steel i.e. separation of body and soul by the axe 93 sacrifice offering

  101 take make

  101 envy malice

  105 Yet still

  105 forsake leaves (my body)

  107 tell count

  109 old time perhaps a personification here

  110 monument tomb

  112 charge duty, role

  113 undertakes takes responsibility for

  116 furniture furnishings, equipment

  119 state rank

  122 base dishonorable, unworthy/low-born

  123 truth loyalty/honesty

  123 seal confirm, ratify

  126 head an army

  126 Richard i.e. Richard III

  135 stroke action/executioner's blow

  138 happier more fortunate

  142 end purpose

  143 from ... certain the words of a dying man were considered especially wise or prophetic 144 liberal of generous with

  145 loose careless

  147 rub obstacle (bowling term)

  149 But except

  156 authors originators, causes

  159 fall happens

  162 faith reliability, trustworthiness

  167 am confident i.e. trust you

  168 shall i.e. shall have it

  168 late recent

  169 buzzing rumor

  171 held not did not stand firm, did not last

  173 straight straight away

  174 allay subdue, silence

  178 held for it is thought

  179 venture at it risk acting on it

  180 about him near who are close to him

  181 possessed ... scruple put a doubt into his mind (perhaps with connotations of demonic possession; the doubt is that Henry's marriage is invalid because Katherine had originally been married to his older brother Arthur; marrying one's brother's widow is prohibited in Leviticus 20:21) 183 Cardinal Campeius the Pope's legate sent from Rome to determine the legality of the king's marriage 186 emperor Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, Queen Katherine's nephew 188 purposed intended, planned

  189 have ... mark i.e. are accurate

  189 mark target (in archery)

  190 smart pain

  193 open exposed, public

  2.2 Location: the royal court, London

  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 Alencon, 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 "conscience" 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