King John & Henry VIII Read online

  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

  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

&
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