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 ... do
ubt 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

  17 presence royal reception chamber

  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

  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

  42 stay delay

  45 creature dependant, servant

  49 perceives him perceives

  49 coasts And hedges is indirect and devious (as if traveling in a roundabout manner along a coastline or by hedgerows) 51 physic remedy

  58 Trace the conjunction follow the marriage

  60 All men's puns on amen

  62 Marry by the Virgin Mary (picks up on the notion of marriage) 62 young i.e. recent news

  62 may ... unrecounted perhaps not everyone will have heard it/not everyone needs to hear it 64 gallant fine, splendid

  64 complete perfect

  65 persuade me am convinced

  66 fall befall/be born

  67 memorized made memorable

  69 Digest endure, stomach

  76 cause i.e. the divorce

  76 unhandled unresolved, without management

  77 Is posted has gone in haste

  84 He ... opinions i.e. letters from him have been received ahead of his arrival; the opinions may be Cranmer's own or, more likely, those that he was sent to gather on the divorce 88 published announced publicly

  100 moody sullen, angry

  101 packet dispatch, packet of letters

  103 Looked ... paper? i.e. Did he open it?

  105 Presently immediately

  107 heed care, attention

  111 abroad out of his bedchamber

  112 this this time

  117 visage face

  125 late former

  127 clear bright

  127 snuff it trim its wick

  130 spleeny Lutheran hot-headed Protestant

  130 wholesome beneficial, healthy

  131 lie i'th'bosom of i.e. have sex with/share the secrets of 132 hard-ruled difficult to manage; possible erectile connotations 133 arch-one major, principal one (plays on "archbishop") 134 Hath who has

  136 schedule document

  137 fret gnaw, fray/add frets or ridges (to aid tuning on a stringed instrument) 138 master-cord main sinew, chief string

  138 on's of his

  141 portion share

  146 commotion agitation

  149 straight straight away

  152 against toward

  157 wot know

  159 importing concerning

  160 several parcels various pieces

  160 plate gold or silver tableware

  161 stuffs material, cloth

  161 ornaments of household furnishings

  162 proud rate great cost/vast quantity

&nbsp
; 162 outspeaks ... subject far exceeds what a subject ought to own 166 withal with

  168 contemplation thoughts/religious musing

  169 should would be allowed (to)

  171 below the moon i.e. worldly

  176 stuff matter (plays on the sense of "(rich) fabric"; the king's loaded language continues with inventory, steal, audit) 177 graces virtues

  179 leisure time for contemplation

  180 keep ... audit see to your worldly accounts (as opposed to the spiritual reckoning at Judgment Day) 181 ill husband poor domestic manager

  181 glad i.e. because Wolsey is so unconcerned with self-seeking material matters (ironic) 187 times of preservation life-sustaining activities (i.e. eating, sleeping) 187 perforce of necessity

  189 tendance attention

  197 crown ... you i.e. by investing Wolsey with Church promotions 199 alone only

  201 pared trimmed, reduced

  201 havings fortune

  206 prime foremost, most powerful (under the king)

  207 pronounce declare

  208 withal moreover, in addition

  210 graces favors

  211 could ... requite my most deliberate efforts could repay 215 filed kept pace

  216 so only to the extent

  220 allegiant loyal

  226 the ... it "honor is the reward of virtue" was proverbial 228 foulness dishonor, public shame

  232 power faculties

  233 notwithstanding ... duty despite your duty to the Church/beyond the debt of allegiance of any subject to his king 233 that your i.e. that

  234 in love's particular on account of the intimacy of close friendship 238 that ... be I who am, have been and will be (after digressing, Wolsey never in fact finishes this sentence) 239 crack violate, destroy

  242 horrid frightening

  243 chiding tumultuous, angry

  244 break interrupt/stem

  254 chafed enraged

  255 galled wounded/angered

  256 makes him nothing destroys him (the huntsman) 257 story cause/narrative

  258 undone ruined

  258 account may play on the sense of "story, narrative"

  259 world vast quantity

  261 fee pay/bribe

  262 cross perverse, thwarting

  263 main chief, significant

  265 device strategy, trick

  266 stir anger

  267 take right works properly, succeeds

  268 bring me off rescue me

  272 meridian highest point (of the sun)

  273 setting decline, sunset

  274 exhalation shooting star, meteor

  277 presently immediately

  279 Asher House Esher House, Surrey, which belonged to Wolsey as Bishop of Winchester 282 commission warrant, authority

  284 cross challenge

  286 it i.e. obey their orders

  289 metal material/mettle (i.e. disposition, spirit) 289 envy malice

  291 sleek fawning, oily

  291 wanton unprincipled, lawless, merciless

  295 rewards i.e. punishments

  298 enjoy use, benefit from

  300 Tied authorized, confirmed

  300 letters patents documents signed by the king conferring land, title or official position 305 forty hours used indefinitely to convey a broad period of time 308 scarlet sin refers to the color of a cardinal's robes; also to Isaiah 1:18 which describes sins as "red like scarlet"

  311 parts qualities

  312 Weighed equaled in weight