King John/Henry VIII (Signet Classics) Read online

  161 gripes grips, clutches

  163 CHAMBERLAIN some editors reassign this line to the Chancellor 172 in ... him of value to the king

  173 on't of it (the present business)

  174 gave misgave, prompted fearful doubts (in)

  175 informations pieces of intelligence/accusations/tales 175.1 seat throne

  183 aim i.e. beneficiary

  184 dear respect earnest regard (for the Church)

  187 sudden hasty/spontaneous

  190 They i.e. the commendations

  194 bloody bloodthirsty, destructive

  196 He i.e. man

  197 starve die

  203 discretion prudence, wisdom

  209 try put on trial (sense then shifts to "afflict, torment") 212 mean the means

  215 like please

  216 purposed intended

  219 purgation clearing of his name

  222 use treat

  226 ado fuss

  229 wants lacks

  234 spoons a set of spoons was a common christening gift 244 voice opinion

  246 shrewd injurious, vicious

  249 one united

  5.3 Location: by a gate of the royal court, London

  5.3 cudgel club

  5.3 Man servant

  1 leave cease

  2 Paris Garden bear-baiting arena on London's Bankside, near the Globe theater 2 rude rough, uncivilized

  3 gaping shouting

  4 belong to i.e. work in

  6 crab-tree i.e. made from the tough wood of a crab-apple tree 7 these i.e. these cudgels

  7 switches slim, flexible shoots cut from a tree

  8 scratch i.e. beat

  14 May-day morning traditional day of early rising for dawn festivities 15 Paul's St. Paul's Cathedral

  16 and be hanged an oath

  20 made no spare didn't hold back (when beating the crowd) 22 Samson biblical character possessed of legendary strength 22 Sir ... Colbrand Colbrand was a Danish giant killed by Sir Guy of Warwick 25 cuckold man with an unfaithful wife

  26 chine cut of meat from the backbone of an animal (possibly quibbles on the sense of "chink, fissure," i.e. "vagina") 27 for a cow a slightly obscure phrase, apparently meaning "for anything," though cow may play on the sense of "prostitute"

  29 presently shortly

  29 puppy impertinent young man

  30 close closed tightly

  30 sirrah sir (used to an inferior)

  33 Moorfields an area of open ground just outside London's city walls, at one point used for training militia 33 muster assemble (soldiers)

  34 strange foreign

  34 Indian native Americans had been known to be exhibited to London's paying public (although "Indian" could also signify a person from the East or West Indies, or the Far East) 34 great tool large penis

  35 fry seething brood

  38 spoons spoons given as christening presents/penises 39 brazier brass-worker (working in high temperatures) 40 dog-days hottest days of the year, associated with the dog-star Sirius 40 in's nose i.e. his nose is red as if from heat (presumably from drinking) 41 under the line at the Equator

  42 fire-drake dragon/fiery meteor

  43 discharged fired off (like a gun)

  44 mortar-piece small cannon

  44 blow us blow us up/blow his nose all over us

  45 haberdasher seller of small items relating to clothing, such as thread and ribbon 45 railed upon ranted at

  46 pinked ornamented with small holes or slits

  46 porringer hat shaped like a soup dish

  46 kindling ... combustion provoking such a tumult/lighting such a fire 47 meteor i.e. the red-nosed brazier

  48 'Clubs!' rallying cry to summon apprentices to a fight 49 truncheoners cudgel-carriers

  49 succour aid, assistance

  50 hope o'th'Strand strapping apprentices from workshops on the Strand, a London street near the Thames 50 was quartered lodged/lived

  51 fell on attacked

  51 made good secured, defended

  51 came ... me fought at close quarters with me (literally, close enough to use broomsticks) 53 loose shot marksmen not attached to a company

  54 fain obliged

  55 work earthwork, i.e. fort

  56 youths i.e. apprentices

  58 tribulation troublemakers, rabble

  58 Tower Hill site of public executions and a rough residential area 58 limbs members, residents/fighters, fists

  58 Limehouse rough dockyard area in London's East End (puns on limb) 59 limbo patrum i.e. prison (literally, the name of the dwelling place for the souls of the unbaptized and of those who had died before Christ's coming; continues the pun on limb) 60 like likely

  61 running banquet i.e. a whipping through the streets (literally, hasty meal) 61 beadles parish constables

  65 made ... hand done a fine job (sarcastic)

  66 trim fine/smartly dressed (sarcastic)

  67 friends plays on the sense of "lovers" (i.e. whores) 67 o'th'suburbs in the areas outside the City walls and its jurisdiction, known for lawlessness and prostitution 68 Great ... room plenty of space

  70 An't if it

  73 rule control

  75 lay ... th'heels put you in the stocks or shackles

  76 suddenly straight away

  77 round heavy

  78 baiting of bombards drinking from leather jugs/harassing drunkards/giving drinks to drunkards 79 service your job

  81 break among push through

  81 press crowd

  82 troop christening procession

  82 fairly easily

  83 Marshalsea prison in Southwark

  83 hold ye play keep you from amusement

  86 close up i.e. back

  87 camlet fabric made from silk and goat hair

  87 o'th'rail off the railing (possibly the rail around the stage, suggesting that the groundlings in the yard took the part of the crowd) 88 peck fling

  88 pales railings

  5.4 Trumpets trumpeters

  5.4 Garter i.e. Garter King-at-Arms, an important ceremonial post 5.4 Marshal's staff the rod of office belonging to the Earl Marshal, a high-ranking state official 5.4 standing bowls bowls supported by legs or a base 5.4 habited clothed

  5 partners fellow godparents

  7 laid stored

  16 gossips godparents

  16 prodigal lavish (with christening gifts)

  22 heaven ... her may God always be at her side

  27 pattern exemplary model

  28 Saba the Queen of Sheba, who tested Solomon's wisdom with difficult questions (1 Kings 10:1-10) 31 mould up form, make up

  31 piece masterpiece, work of art

  33 still always

  35 own own people

  36 beaten (presumably) wind-beaten

  41 God i.e. religion

  42 read learn

  43 greatness power/honor/nobility

  43 blood inheritance

  44 sleep i.e. die

  45 maiden phoenix mythical Arabian bird that was consumed by fire every five hundred years, then resurrected from the ashes; only one existed at a time 47 admiration the inspiring of wonder

  48 one i.e. James I, who succeeded Elizabeth in 1603

  49 cloud of darkness i.e. earthly life

  52 fixed constant/established/unswayed by varying fortune 52 terror the power to inspire awe

  64 deed beneficial action

  65 Would I wish

  71 get beget, conceive/gain, achieve

  76 beholding indebted

  80 sick unhappy, hurt

  81 H'as he has

  81 stay remain/cease (work)

  82 holiday derived from "Holy-day" (as originally spelled in the Folio), emphasizing the word's origins as a spiritual as well as celebratory time 5 nought worthless

  5 city London and its citizens

  7 that so that

  10 construction interpretation, judgment, appraisal

  11 such a one could refer to either Katherine, Anne, or El
izabeth 13 ill hap bad luck

  14 hold refrain, refuse