2.1 hallooing calling out to the dogs 1 flying ... brook hunting waterfowl by using dogs to drive the birds from the bankside bushes so that trained hawks might swoop upon them 2 these ... day for the last seven years, i.e. for a long time (proverbial) 4 And ... out i.e. the odds were against the hawk Joan being able to fly (letting birds out in a high wind risked losing them) 5 point advantageous position from which to swoop on the fowl 6 pitch height (literally, the highest point in a falcon's flight) 8 fain of inclined to, fond of
9 an it like if it please
10 tower soar in circling movements to the highest point 11 aloft up high, dominant
16 how ... that what do you mean by that
21 Pernicious destructive, wicked
22 smooth'st it flatters, speaks plausibly
24 peremptory unchallengeable, overbearing
25 Tantaene ... irae? "Is there so much anger in heavenly minds?" (Latin; from Virgil's Aeneid, 1.11) 26 hot hot-tempered, angry
36 whet not on do not encourage
37 blessed ... earth biblical; the king cites Matthew 5:9
41 Marry by the Virgin Mary
42 Make ... matter do not bring any of your supporters into the business 43 abuse wrongdoing, insult (to me)
44 peep appear, show your face
44 an if if
48 your man i.e. the falconer
48 put up raised, provoked from cover into flight 49 had had would have had
49 two-hand sword long, heavy sword
51 Are ye advised? Do you understand?
55 God's mother i.e. the Virgin Mary
55 crown the tonsure, the shaved crown of a priest's head 56 fence fencing skills, swordsmanship
57 Medice, teipsum "Physician, heal thyself" (Latin; from the Bible, Luke 4:23) 59 stomachs tempers, angry appetites
61 jar sound discordant
62 compound settle
67 Forsooth in truth
67 Saint Alban's shrine allegedly the first Christian martyr in England, Saint Alban was executed in the early fourth century for sheltering Christian converts brethren members of the town corporation 74 earthly vale i.e. the earth, the mortal world 75 by ... multiplied i.e. as he will be subject to more temptations 78 circumstance details
85 thou ... told you would have been in a better position to say so (i.e. that he had been blind from birth) 87 Berwick Berwick-upon-Tweed, town on the border between Scotland and England 89 unhallowed unholy
89 unhallowed pass i.e. pass without saying your prayers 90 still continually
92 of out of, from
96 offer make an offering
102 fall ... tree "climbing a plum tree" could be euphemistic for copulation 107 But that only that time, once
109 Mass by the (religious) Mass
110 damsons plays on sense of "testicles"
111 climb plays on sense of "mount sexually"
112 subtle crafty
112 shall not serve will not hold, suffice 113 wink close your eyes
114 yet still
116 Say'st ... so do you say so
122 many multitude
135 several various of between
136 nominate name
138 cunning skill
141 beadles parish constables
144 presently immediately
145 straight straightaway
146 by and by immediately
149 alone unsupported
154 doublet close-fitting jacket
156 bearest (do you) endure it
158 drab whore
165 towns i.e. the French towns given away as part of Margaret's dowry 168 sort gang naughty wicked, villainous 168 lewdly bent bent on evil
169 Under ... confederacy supported by and in collusion with 171 rout gang, crowd
172 practised plotted
174 apprehended ... fact caught in the act, arrested as they committed the crime 176 Demanding of asking about
178 at large at length
180 forthcoming yet in custody, awaiting trial 181 turned blunted
182 like likely
182 hour appointed time
183 leave to afflict stop tormenting
186 meanest groom humblest servingman
188 confusion destruction, devastation
189 tainture defilement
190 look make sure, take care
193 how it stands the full circumstances
196 conversed kept company, associated
197 like to pitch resembling pitch (a black, tarlike substance) 205 poise weigh, balance
205 cause court case
206 beam stands sure scales are evenly balanced Act 2 Scene 2
2.2 Location: York's private garden
3 close secluded, private
19 Richard i.e. Richard II
26 Pomfret Pontefract, near York
32 issue offspring
38 Edmund i.e. Edmund Mortimer, fifth Earl of March, declared heir presumptive by Richard II 39 This Edmund following an error in the historical sources he used, Shakespeare now confuses Edmund Mortimer with his uncle of the same name, the man who was captured by Welsh rebel leader Owen Glendower but went on to marry Glendower's daughter and fight on the rebel side 42 Who i.e. Glendower
42 captivity ... died another error
54 proceedings line of descent
57 issue descendants, line of descent
57 fails dies out, comes to an end
59 slips cuttings
59 stock tree
61 plot ground
65 We York uses the royal pronoun
66 that until the time that
68 suddenly immediately/impetuously
69 with advice advisedly, prudently
71 Wink at shut your eyes to, ignore
81 Neville Warwick's family name
83 but except for
Act 2 Scene 3
2.3 Location: London, a place of judgment (exact location unspecified)
4 God's book i.e. the Bible
4 adjudged to judged in advance to be worthy of 7 Smithfield area in the City of London; the customary place for the execution of heretics 8 strangled i.e. hanged
9 for because
10 Despoiled stripped, deprived
10 in i.e. for the rest of
11 open public
13 With i.e. in the custody of
13 Isle of Man small island off the northwest coast of England 14 were would be
16 justify excuse
21 would desires, would have
22 Stay wait
23 staff the official symbol of the Protector's role 25 God ... feet Henry draws on the words of several Psalms 25 stay support
28 of years of maturity
29 be to be need to be
31 king his king's
41 bears ... maim suffers such a serious injury 41 pulls wrenches
43 raught seized
45 pine possibly alludes to the emblem adopted by Henry IV, Gloucester's father 45 sprays branches (offspring)
46 her youngest days its prime
47 let him go i.e. forget him
49 appellant challenger, accuser
50 lists designated combat area
52 purposely therefore specifically for that reason 54 A in
54 fit prepared
56 bestead prepared
56.1 Drum drummer
56.2 staff ... it a basic but potentially vicious type of weapon 60 sack type of Spanish sweet white wine
63 charneco sweet Portuguese wine, a kind of port 64 double very strong
66 pledge toast
66 fig from old Spanish figo; exclamation of contempt, often accompanied by an obscene gesture that consisted of thrusting the thumb between the index and middle fingers 76 deal fight
76 fence fencing
86 touching concerning
86 take my death stake my life on it
88 have at thee i.e. here I come (standard utterance at the opening of a fight) 88 downright forthright, literally "vertically downwards"
89 Di
spatch get on with it
89 double slur (perhaps plays on the sense of "deceive") 90 alarum trumpet call to arms
93 in ... way in between you and your master/hindering your master 95 presence i.e. of the king
100 he i.e. Horner
Act 2 Scene 4
2.4 Location: a London street
2 evermore succeeds always follows
4 fleet pass swiftly away
9 Uneath not easily
9 flinty hard, stony
11 abrook endure
12 abject base, lowly
13 envious malicious
14 erst formerly
14 proud splendid, luxurious
14 chariot-wheels ... triumph the image is of a glorious military victor returning home in ceremony 14.1 verses ... back wrongdoers undertaking public penance were required to wear papers listing their crimes 14.2 taper candle
22 giddy fickle, unstable, heady, excited
23 throw turn, cast
24 hateful hate-filled
25 closet private chamber
25 rue pity, grieve for
26 ban curse
32 Mailed up enveloped, wrapped up (falconry term referring to the covering of the hawk to quiet it) 34 deep-fet fetched up from deep within, profound 36 start flinch (in pain)
37 advised careful
39 Trowest thou do you think
42 pomp (former) splendor
46 As that
47 wonder spectacle
47 pointing-stock object of ridicule
48 idle useless/foolish/trifling
48 rascal lowborn
49 mild placid, calm
53 her i.e. Queen Margaret
55 limed smeared with birdlime (sticky substance used to catch birds) 56 how thou canst as best you may
59 forbear desist
59 aimest guess, conjecture
59 awry mistakenly
60 attainted convicted of treason
63 procure ... scathe bring about any damage
66 scandal were not disgrace would not be
68 quiet acceptance, calm
69 sort fashion, adapt
70 few days' wonder passing spectacle (proverbial: "a wonder lasts but nine days") 70 worn worn away, forgotten
72 Holden to be held
72 Bury Bury St. Edmunds, a town in Suffolk 74 close dealing secretive business, plotting 76 commission orders, authorization
77 stays ends
80 protect take custody of
82 Entreat treat
90 afeared afraid
91 this world's eternity eternal enjoyment of this world 96 used treated
96 state rank (Eleanor develops the sense of "condition of shame") 97 reproach disgrace itself
101 better ... fare may you fare better than I 102 conduct conductor, guide
103 office job, duty
104 is discharged has been carried out
107 attire clothe
108 shifted moved, altered (puns on the sense of "changed as an undergarment or 'shift' ")
Act 3 Scene 1
3.1 Location: Bury St. Edmunds
1 muse wonder
2 wont usual practice
2 hindmost last (to arrive)
5 strangeness aloof, distant nature
7 insolent haughty, arrogant
8 peremptory overbearing
9 know remember
9 since when
10 far-off distant
12 admired him for marveled at his
14 give ... day greet one another
15 knits his brow frowns
16 stiff unbowed knee a respectful bow involved bending the knee 17 duty i.e. dutiful gestures of respect
18 curs dogs
18 grin bare their teeth, snarl
23 Meseemeth it seems to me
23 no policy not expedient, imprudent
24 Respecting considering
24 rancorous malicious, bitter
26 come about frequent, be in contact with
29 commotion rebellion, riot
31 shallow-rooted i.e. easily pulled up
32 Suffer allow
33 want lack
33 husbandry cultivation
35 collect gather (information about)/conclude, deduce
36 fond foolish
37 supplant uproot, overthrow, replace
38 subscribe give in, concede
40 Reprove refute, disprove
41 effectual pertinent, valid
43 put obliged, called upon
45 subornation incitement (to do wrong)
46 practices plots
47 privy to privately aware of
48 reputing boasting/thinking proudly
49 the to the
50 vaunts boasts
51 bedlam brainsick insane and foolish
52 frame organize, devise
54 simple show innocent appearance
57 Unsounded unfathomed, not probed or measured
59 strange i.e. cruel or illegal
61 Levy raise
63 By means whereof as a result of which
64 to compared to
65 smooth glib, apparently amiable
66 at once in answer to you all/without further ado/once and for all 67 annoy injure
68 shall I if I
72 given disposed, inclined
74 fond affiance misguided trust/foolish affinity
76 disposed as of the disposition of raven a bird of ill omen 78 inclined of the same disposition
78 wolves i.e. who proverbially wear sheep's clothing 79 steal a shape adopt a disguise
79 means intends
81 Hangs depends
81 cutting short plays on the idea of beheading
81 fraudful treacherous, fraudulent
84 interest legal claim
85 bereft deprived
89 blasted blighted, withered
91 gear business
94 stayed delayed, been absent
104 of from
105 stayed withheld
107 What who
110 watched the night stayed awake
111 studying pursuing/meditating on
112 That may that
112 doit small coin of little value
113 groat coin worth four old pence
115 proper store personal wealth
117 disbursed paid out
123 That so that
123 was defamed by became infamous for
124 whiles while
127 lowly ... fault humble words of repentance were payment enough for the crime 129 felonious wicked, criminal
129 fleeced plundered, robbed
129 passengers travelers
130 condign fitting, appropriate
132 Above ... else more severely than other types of offense 133 easy slight, small
138 keep guard, detain
138 further subsequent
140 suspense suspicion
145 subornation incitement to wrongdoing, bribery predominant in the ascendant (astronomical term) 146 equity justice
147 complot plot, conspiracy
149 period end
150 expend it pay the price (of death)
151 mine i.e. my death
154 blab reveal, betray
156 Sharp merciless, severe
157 envious malicious
158 dogged doglike, ill-tempered, stubborn
159 overweening overreaching, presumptuous
160 accuse accusation
160 level aim
162 Causeless without cause
164 liefest liege dearest sovereign
166 conventicles secret meetings
168 want lack
169 store abundance
172 railing ranting, complaining
175 chid rebuked
175 rated at berated
176 scope range, opportunity
177 zeal loyalty, devotion
178 twit taunted, reproached
179 clerkly couched skillfully expressed
180 suborned
bribed
181 state authority, high position
184 Beshrew curse
184 played me false cheated, deceived me
186 wrest the sense twist the meaning
188 sure securely
192 gnarling snarling, growling
194 decay ruin, downfall
200 engirt encircled
203 map image
205 proved thee false found you disloyal
205 feared thy faith doubted your loyalty
206 envies thy estate feels malice toward your position
208 subversion the destruction, overthrow
211 strays a problematic image as the calf is bound, unless this means loosely leashed about the neck or penned in--possibly and functions more like "or" as Henry lists the things a butcher might do to a calf; many editors emend to "strains"
214 dam mother
220 vowed avowed, sworn
221 'twixt in between
223 Free noble, honorable
224 cold indifferent, passive
225 show false appearance, deceptive behavior
226 Beguiles deceives, distracts
227 crocodile ... passengers crocodiles were believed to shed tears as a means of enticing victims 227 relenting pitying
229 chequered slough patterned, multicolored outer skin
232 wit intellect, reasoning
233 rid removed from
235 worthy sensible, shrewd
236 colour pretext, excuse (picks up on die/dye to pun on the sense of "hue"; also puns on "collar"--i.e. hangman's noose) 237 meet appropriate, fitting
238 were would be policy clever strategy
239 still continually
240 haply rise may perhaps rebel
241 trivial argument scant evidence, slight grounds
242 More than mistrust except for suspicion
243 by this on the strength of this reasoning
244 fain willing
248 all one the same (if)
248 empty hungry
249 kite bird of prey
253 surveyor ... fold keeper of the sheepfold
255 idly posted over foolishly ignored
256 Because ... executed simply because he had yet to kill one of the sheep 259 chaps jaws
260 proved ... liege has been demonstrated through reasoned argument to be a threat to Henry 261 stand insist
261 quillets fine distinctions, quibbles
262 gins, by snares two types of traps for catching game
262 subtlety cunning, crafty strategy
264 So provided
265 mates checkmates, catches out
267 except unless
269 that to show that
269 accordeth is in accordance with
270 meritorious worthy, deserving of God's reward
272 be his priest preside over his death like a priest administering the last rites (i.e. kill him) 274 Ere ... priest before you have time to be ordained as a priest/to arrange for a priest to be there 275 censure approve
277 tender so hold so dear
281 skills ... doom does not make much difference who questions our judgment 281 Post messenger
282 amain in haste
283 signify inform, report up up in arms
285 succours assistance
285 betime rapidly, at an early stage
287 green fresh
288 breach gash, hole/uprising, rebellion
289 weighty cause pressing circumstance, important matter
291 meet appropriate
291 lucky ... France York is being sarcastic and insulting toward Somerset 293 far-fet far-fetched, devious