King John & Henry VIII Read online

  150 model image

  150 daughter i.e. Mary

  152 breeding upbringing

  159 both my fortunes i.e. good and bad, as queen and subsequently

  163 honesty chastity/virtue

  163 carriage behavior

  165 happy fortunate

  169 over extra

  171 able sufficient

  178 fashion form, nature, character

  179 honest honorable

  187 used treated

  188 maiden flowers i.e. those flowers befitting chastity

  190 forth i.e. out for burial

  192 can i.e. say or do

  5.1 Location: the royal court, London

  3 necessities essential activities, i.e. sleep

  7 Whither where are you going

  9 primero gambling card game

  11 must must go

  14 an if if

  15 offence harm

  16 touch sense, hint

  16 late recent/late night

  21 durst commend dare entrust

  22 this work i.e. what he has been engaged in

  23 feared it is feared

  25 fruit i.e. child

  25 goes with carries/is in the throes of labor with

  27 time delivery, outcome

  27 stock tree that bore the fruit, i.e. Anne

  28 grubbed up uprooted

  30 Cry the amen i.e. agree

  35 way of thinking, i.e. Catholic religious views

  38 hands i.e. assistants, supporters

  41 remarked notable/conspicuous

  42 Master O’th’Rolls a high-ranking legal position

  44 gap and trade opening and path

  45 time age, state of affairs/time to come/opportunity

  49 are are those

  52 Incensed angered

  54 arch-heretic major, principal holder of unorthodox religious views (puns on “archbishop”)

  55 moved angered, stirred

  56 broken broached (the matter)

  58 fell fierce, terrible

  58 mischiefs evils, misfortunes

  61 convented summoned to appear

  61 rank rapidly growing, abundant

  64 rest remain

  66 hard strong (a player)

  69 fancy mind, inclination

  78 suff’rance suffering

  81 God may God

  81 quit release, relieve

  82 travail labor

  82 gladding delighting

  86 estate state, situation

  99 attends awaits

  101 bishop i.e. Gardiner

  102 happily fortunately, opportunely

  103 Avoid leave

  103 gallery long room used for walking in

  106 aspect of terror angry expression

  118 grievous serious

  120 moved prompted, decided

  122 with such freedom so freely, easily

  122 purge clear, exonerate

  124 take … you be patient

  126 Tower Tower of London

  126 brother of us being a fellow member of the council

  127 fits is fitting

  131 throughly thoroughly

  131 winnowed i.e. cleared of impurity, as corn is exposed to wind in order to separate it from worthless husks (chaff)

  133 stands under endures/is subject to

  133 calumnious slanderous

  138 my halidom all I consider holy

  139 looked anticipated

  140 given … petition requested

  143 endurance further further hardship/forthcoming imprisonment

  144 dread revered

  147 triumph exult (at the downfall of)

  147 weigh value

  148 Being should it be

  148 nothing not at all

  152 small insignificant

  152 practices plots

  153 bear … proportion be correspondingly powerful

  153 ever always

  155 The dew o’th’verdict i.e. a successful outcome

  155 at with

  157 swear testify

  159 Ween you of do you expect

  160 perjured witness false testimony

  160 your master i.e. Christ

  162 naughty wicked

  163 take … danger behave as though jumping off a cliff were not dangerous

  164 woo invite, court

  167 is that is

  169 give way to i.e. allow

  171 chance happen

  172 commit imprison

  186 Now now may

  190 Is … delivered? Has the queen given birth?

  194 girl may apply either to Anne or to the newly born Elizabeth

  195 Promises i.e. who promises to give birth to

  196 and and for you

  201 marks a mark was a monetary unit (rather than a coin) worth two thirds of a pound

  203 groom servingman

  203 for suitable for

  206 hot “to strike while the iron is hot” was proverbial

  207 put … issue undertake it, insist on it (issue may play on the sense of “child”)

  3 fast locked up

  4 Sure surely

  9 So so be it/I see

  11 happily fortunately/by chance

  12 understand it presently be informed of it at once

  16 sound perceive/proclaim

  17 laid arranged (like a trap)

  18 turn alter

  22 attend wait

  22.1 above i.e. on the upper staging level or gallery

  26 Body o’me upon my body (i.e. life)

  29 Who … state who maintains his dignity/is detained according to his status (ironic)

  29 pursuivants state messengers

  30 footboys boy servants, often assistants to footmen

  33 one above ’em i.e. the king/God

  34 parted divided

  34 honesty integrity/decorum

  35 suffer permit

  36 place status

  37 dance attendance be kept waiting

  38 post courier

  38 packets i.e. of letters

  40 close shut

  40.1 state throne

  40.2 above next to, at the upper end of the table; the seating arrangements reflect the men’s positions

  49 Without outside

  56 present present time

  57 chair i.e. Cranmer’s vacant chair next to the Lord Chancellor

  58 capable Of susceptible to

  59 flesh bodily urges, mortal weakness

  60 want lack

  61 misdemeaned yourself behaved improperly

  65 Divers various/different/perverse, cruel

  65 heresies views contrary to orthodox religious opinion

  66 pernicious destructive

  69 Pace … hands do not train them gently, by hand

  70 stubborn unyielding

  71 obey the manage perform the specific movements correctly (from French manège, “horsemanship”)

  71 suffer permit

  72 easiness indulgence, leniency

  74 physic medicine

  75 taint corruption/infection

  77 upper higher/inland

  77 upper … witness a reference either to the Saxony peasants’ revolt of 1524 or to the rising of the Anabaptists in Münster in 1535

  82 course current/series of undertakings

  85 single united, honest

  87 place official public position

  95 urge make allegations

  98 by that virtue by virtue of that

  99 moment importance

  100 short brief

  103 private i.e. not exercising public office

  105 provided prepared

  107 pass be approved, prevail

  109 end aim, purpose

  111 Become befit, suit

  115 doubt i.e. of my innocence

  115 conscience i.e. trouble your conscience

  118 sectary follower of a heretical sect

  119 painted counterfeit/superficial

  119 discovers reveals<
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  120 words i.e. mere words

  122 By … favour if you will permit me (to say so)

  127 cry … mercy beg your honor’s pardon

  127 worst least

  131 sound orthodox, honest

  136 bold audacious, impertinent

  140 Forbear stop, desist

  156 Receive take into custody

  157 safe securely confined

  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. di
e

  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 Elizabeth

  13 ill hap bad luck

  14 hold refrain, refuse