Mars, the Roman god of war. (1.2.1)

  From Vincenzo Cartari, Le imagini de i dei de gli antichi . . . (1587).

  3. Late: recently

  6. At pleasure: as we please; lie: reside

  A view of Orleance, or Orléans. (1.2.6)

  From John Speed, A prospect of the most famous parts of the world . . . (1631).

  7. Otherwhiles: occasionally, sometimes

  8. Faintly: timidly, weakly

  9. want: lack; porridge: thickened soup or stew

  10. dieted: fed

  12. drownèd mice: proverbial

  13. raise: end (by forcing the English to withdraw)

  17. Nor men: i.e., neither men

  18. alarum: call to arms

  19. forlorn: doomed (ironic)

  21. fly: flee

  28. hungry prey: i.e., prey of the hungry (transferred epithet)

  29. Froissart: French historian of the fourteenth century

  30. Olivers and Rolands: Oliver and Roland were legendarily great warriors who served Charlemagne (c. 800 C.E.).

  33. Samsons, Goliases: i.e., legendary strongmen (Samson was a biblical war hero of the Israelites [Judges 14–16]; Goliath was the giant Philistine warrior slain by the young David [1 Samuel 17.4–54].)

  34. skirmish: i.e., fight (literally, fight in small parties); One to ten: i.e., one Englishman against ten Frenchmen

  35. rascals: common soldiers

  37. hare-brained: reckless, wild; slaves: term of contempt

  38–40. And hunger . . . siege: Proverbial: “Hunger breaks stone walls.”  eager: fierce

  41. gimmers: gimmals, mechanical parts for transmitting motion (as in clockwork)

  42. still: always, continually

  44. By my consent: i.e., in my opinion; even: just

  48. Methinks: it seems to me; cheer: facial expression; appalled: dismayed

  49. late: recent

  51. maid: maiden, virgin

  53. Ordainèd: appointed, destined; raise: end

  54. forth: out of

  56. Sibyls: prophetesses (See picture.)

  A Sibyl. (1.2.56)

  From Philippus de Barberiis, Quattuor hic compressa opuscula . . . (c. 1495).

  57. descry: perceive; reveal

  59. unfallible: infallible

  61. try: test

  64. sound: seek to ascertain (as if by testing the depth of a body of water with a sounding device)

  64. SD. la Pucelle: the virgin (French) See longer note, and picture.

  Joan la Pucelle, or Joan of Arc.

  From Rene de Cerisiers, Histoire . . . vray de siege (1621).

  69. amazed: confused, alarmed

  72. takes upon her: behaves, proceeds; bravely: daringly; at first dash: i.e., right away (proverbial)

  74. wit: intelligence; art: learning

  75. Our Lady gracious: the Virgin Mary

  76. estate: place in society

  77. waited on: watched over

  81. base: lowly

  85. black and swart: i.e., tanned (“to sun’s parching heat [I] displayed my cheeks” line 78), a sign of low social status, fair skin being a mark of the beauty unique to the upper classes who need not expose their skin to the elements  swart: swarthy

  86. clear: bright; infused: shed

  88. what question . . . possible: i.e., whatever question you possibly can

  89 unpremeditated: without premeditation, without stopping to think

  90. try: test

  92. Resolve on: be satisfied with, be convinced of

  94. high terms: arrogant words (line 97)

  95. proof: test

  96. buckle: grapple

  100. Decked: adorned

  104. a’: i.e., in

  105. fly: flee

  106. Stay, stay thy hands: cease your attack; Amazon: legendary female warrior (See picture.)

  An Amazon. (1.2.106)

  From Giovanni Battista Cavalleriis, Antiquarum statuarum . . . (1585–94).

  107. Deborah: a biblical judge and prophet who aided the Israelites in their victory over the Canaanites (Judges 4–5) See picture.

  Deborah and Barak. (1.2.107)

  From Gabriele Simeoni, Figure de la Biblia . . . (1577).

  108. else: otherwise

  110. thy desire: i.e., desire for you

  113. servant: i.e., lover

  114. sueth to: pleads to; courts, woos

  115. rights: with wordplay on rites

  116. profession’s: vow is; sacred: consecrated, hallowed

  119. gracious: with favor; prostrate: i.e., submissive (and, perhaps, adoring); thrall: captive

  120. methinks: it seems to me

  121. shrives . . . smock: i.e., questions this woman thoroughly  smock: undergarment

  123. keeps no mean: exercises no moderation

  125. shrewd: cunning, artful

  127. devise you on: i.e., do you decide

  132. English scourge: instrument of divine punishment of the English

  134. Saint Martin’s summer: a season of fine weather around Saint Martin’s day, November 11; halcyons’ days: proverbial for “peaceful times” (The halcyon is fabled to breed in a nest on the sea around December 21 and thus to calm the winter sea. See picture.)

  A halcyon and its young. (1.2.134)

  From George Wither, A collection of emblemes . . . (1635).

  139. Henry’s: i.e., Henry V’s

  141–42. Now . . . once: See longer note.  insulting: boasting, bragging

  143. Was . . . dove: It was believed by many that God spoke to the Prophet Muhammad through a dove. (See longer note.)  with: i.e., by

  144. eagle: bird of war (because it was the standard of the Roman legions [pictured]), in contrast to the dove, the bird of peace

  The standard of a Roman legion. (1.2.144)

  From Claude Paradin, Deuises heroiques . . . (1562).

  145. Helen: i.e., (not even) St. Helena, who was reputed to have discovered the cross on which Jesus was crucified; Constantine: Roman emperor, who in 313 proclaimed the toleration of Christianity throughout the empire

  146. Saint Philip’s daughters: See Acts 21.9: “[Philip the evangelist] had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.”

  147. star of Venus: the planet, which is both morning star and evening star

  152. Presently: immediately

  ACT 1

  * * *

 

  1.3  Gloucester visits the Tower of London, only to be denied entry by Winchester. The servants of the two nobles skirmish until all are ordered away by the mayor.

  0 SD. blue: In line 47 Gloucester refers to his men as “blue coats.” (Blue was the customary color of servants’ coats.)

  1. Tower: Tower of London (See note to 1.1.170.)

  2. conveyance: stealing

  3. wait: keep watch

  8. Villains: lowborn, base-minded men

  10. willed: ordered

  13. Break up: break open; warrantize: permission, authorization

  14. flouted: insulted, mocked; dunghill: cowardly; grooms: servants

  14 SD. within: offstage

  26. shut thee out: perhaps, deny you entry to the Tower; or, perhaps, deprive you of your office

  28 SD. tawny: “the shade adopted by dignitaries of the Church” for their servants’ livery (Shakespeare’s England [Oxford, 1916], 2:113)

  30. Peeled: tonsured (See picture.)

  A “peeled” or tonsured priest. (1.3.30)

  From [Abraham de Bruyn,] Omnium pene Europae . . . gentium habitus . . . [1581].

  31. proditor: betrayer, traitor

  34. Thou . . . lord: The historical Gloucester did accuse Winchester of conspiring to have Henry V killed as an infant.

  35. giv’st . . . sin: an attack on the bishop as the official responsible for the Bankside, location of brothels  indulgences: documents for forgiveness of the punishment for sin, available in return for donations to the church

  36. canvass: toss (as in a blanket or canvas sheet); cardinal’s hat: See longer note.

  39–40. This . . . Abel: Winchester alludes to the fratricide of Abel by Cain to call attention to his and Gloucester’s kinship, which Gloucester does not like to acknowledge. (See 3.1.42–44.) Damascus: legendarily the location of Abel’s death (For Cain and Abel, see Genesis 4.1–16, and picture.)

  Cain killing Abel. (1.3.39–40)

  From [Guillaume Guéroult,] Figures de la Bible . . . (1582).

  42. bearing-cloth: christening robe

  44. beard: defy

  46. for all this: i.e., in spite of this being a; privilegèd place: i.e., place where violence is forbidden

  47. to: against, upon (in attack)

  51. dignities: dignitaries

  53. answer: be accountable or responsible for

  54. Winchester goose: slang for (1) prostitute; (2) a pustule of syphilitic infection; a rope, a rope: This phrase (a rhyme for Pope, line 53) was taught to parrots as a comic threat of death on the gallows.

  56. wolf . . . array: Matthew 7.15: “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” (See picture.)  array: attire

  A wolf in sheep’s clothing. (1.3.56)

  From August Casimir Redel, Annus symbolicus . . . (c. 1695).

  58. magistrates: members of the executive government

  59. contumeliously: arrogantly, insolently; break: interrupt, disturb

  60. my wrongs: i.e., the wrongs done to me

  61. Beaufort: Winchester; nor God: neither God

  62. distrained: seized, confiscated

  64. still: always; motions: brings forward

  65. O’ercharging: overloading, overburdening; free: generous; fines: fees (such as taxes, to fund wars)

  69. Prince: ruler (i.e., Henry VI)

  71. rests: remains

  77. several: various, individual

  78. handle: wield

  81. break: reveal what is within; at large: freely, without restraint

  84. call for clubs: rally apprentices bearing heavy staffs or clubs

  89. coast cleared: proverbial

  90. these nobles: i.e., that these nobles

  91. stomachs: tempers, malice, spite

  92. year: i.e., years

  ACT 1

  * * *

 

  1.4  The master gunner of Orleance shows his boy how to fire on the English when they come to spy. The boy kills Gargrave and mortally wounds Salisbury, enraging the newly ransomed Talbot, who vows to avenge them.

  1. Sirrah: term of address to a male social inferior

  2. suburbs: residential districts outside the town walls

  5. ruled: guided, directed

  7. me: myself; grace: favor

  8. Prince’s espials: i.e., Dauphin’s spies or scouts

  9. close entrenched: hidden or secure in fortified trenches

  11. overpeer: look over

  13. vex: harass, afflict

  14. intercept: cut off, prevent; inconvenience: injury, misfortune

  15. piece of ordnance: mounted gun or cannon; ’gainst: i.e., opposite, directly facing

  21. take you no care: i.e., don’t concern yourself

  24. handled: treated

  30. with: i.e., for; baser: more lowly or lowborn; man-of-arms: warrior, soldier, knight

  31. bartered: exchanged

  33. vile-esteemed: little respected

  34. In fine: in the end, at last; redeemed: liberated, ransomed

  35. Fastolf: See longer note to 1.1.133.

  38. entertained: treated

  47. grisly: terrifying; fly: flee

  50. fear of my name: French fear of Talbot’s name was legendary. (See longer note.) were: i.e., was

  52. spurn: kick or trample

  53. Wherefore . . . had: i.e., for that reason I was guarded by selected sharpshooters

  54. every minute-while: i.e., once a minute

  56 SD. linstock: long staff used to hold a lighted match for firing a cannon (See picture.)

  Firing a cannon with a linstock. (1.4.56 SD)

  From Edward Webbe, . . . The rare and most wonderful things . . . (1590).

  58. revenged: avenged

  65. make our batt’ry: i.e., direct our bombardment

  66. stands: i.e., stand

  68. must be: will have to be

  69 SD. they shoot: In the fiction of the play, it is the boy whom we are to imagine firing the cannon. The word they probably refers to those offstage who produce sound and light effects.

  72. chance: mischance, misfortune; crossed: thwarted

  74. How far’st thou: i.e., how are you (literally, how farest thou); mirror: paragon, model of excellence

  80. trump: trumpet

  86. wants: lacks

  93. As who should say: i.e., as if to say

  95. Plantagenet: This name was attached to the royal family of England, including both Yorks and Lancasters. Salisbury was a descendent of Edward I. Nero: Roman emperor (37–68 C.E.), notorious in legend for playing his fiddle while Rome was burning

  97. only in: i.e., at the very sound of

  97 SD. alarum: call to arms

  100. gathered head: organized an army

  103. power: army

  107. Pucelle or puzel: See longer note to 1.2.64 SD. dogfish: term of abuse (with a reference to the Folio spelling of Dauphin as “Dolphin”)

  111. try: ascertain, put to the test; dastard: cowardly

  ACT 1

  * * *

 

  1.5  Talbot attacks, fights Pucelle, fails to defeat her, and accuses her of witchcraft. The English, defeated, retreat.

  0 SD. driveth him: forces him to flee

  1. my strength . . . force: perhaps, my army

  2. retire: retreat; stay: stop

  5. Devil . . . thee: i.e., even if you are the devil himself, I’ll control you as a sorcerer controls spirits  Devil or devil’s dam: Proverbial: “The devil and his dam.”  dam: mother

  6. on thee: i.e., from thee (This line acknowledges that Joan is not the devil, accusing her instead of serving the devil as a witch.)

  7. straightway: immediately

  9. suffer: allow

  10. My breast: i.e., if necessary, my breast

  12. But I will chastise: i.e., in order to chastise; high-minded: haughty, arrogant

  13. Thy hour: i.e., the hour of your death

  15. O’ertake me: reach me with a blow

  16. hunger-starvèd: starving

  17. testament: will

  19. potter’s wheel: See picture.

  A potter at his wheel. (1.5.19)

  From Jan Luiken, Spiegal . . . (1704).

  21. Hannibal: Carthaginian general who fought Rome in the Second Punic War (218–201 B.C.E.)

  22. lists: pleases

  28. tear . . . coat: See notes to 1.1.82, 83.

  29. give: display in your coat of arms; in lions’ stead: i.e., instead of lions

  30. treacherous: treacherously (For Talbot, retreat is treachery.)

  ACT 1

  * * *

 

  1.6  The French celebrate Pucelle’s victory.

  1. Advance: raise, lift up; colors: flags, standards

  4. Astraea’s daughter: i.e., daughter of the mythological goddess of justice, who fled the earth when the Iron Age succeeded the Golden Age

  6. Adonis’ garden: In Spenser’s The Faerie Queene, Book 3, canto 6, the garden of Adonis is continuously both blooming and fruitful.

  10. hap: luck

  16. played the men: i.e., shown our supreme manly qualities

  21. pyramis: pyramid

  22. Rhodophe’s of Memphis: i.e., the third pyramid legendarily built by the courtesan Rhodophe after she became queen of Memphis

  25. rich-jeweled coffer of Darius: Darius’s jewel-coffer was taken by Alexander the Great, who had it transported (line 26) before him (line 27) with the works of Homer inside it.

  28. Saint Dennis: i.e., St. Denis, patron saint of France

  ACT 2

  * * *

  Scene 1

  2.1  The English forces, led by Bedford, Burgundy, and Talbot, scale the walls of Orleance and drive out the French, who quarrel over who is responsible for this defeat.

  0 SD. Sergeant: i.e., leader (a higher rank than today); Band: company or troop of soldiers

  4. court of guard: corps de garde, guardroom or guardhouse

  6. servitors: soldiers

  8. watch: do our duty as sentinels; stay awake

  8 SD. scaling ladders: ladders used in an assault on a fortified place (See pictures.)

  Ladders set up for scaling a wall. (2.1.8 SD)

  From [John Lydgate,] The hystorye sege and dystruccyon of Troye [1513].

  A scaling ladder. (2.1.8 SD)

  From Robert Ward, Anima’duersions of warre . . . (1639).

  9. Lord Regent: Bedford’s title; redoubted: respected, distinguished; dreaded

  10–11. By . . . us: The implication of these lines is that the Duke of Burgundy’s alliance with the English has brought with it the friendship of regions under Burgundy’s control—Artois, Walloon, and Picardy. According to sixteenth-century chronicles, Bedford and Burgundy were co-regents of France. In Shakespeare’s Henry V 5.2, Burgundy plays a central role in the earlier peace treaty between England and France.

  12. happy: fortunate; secure: overconfident, careless

  15. quittance: repay, requite

  16. art: magic art, black art (See picture.)

  17. Coward of France: i.e., the Dauphin

  22. maid: girl, virgin

  24–26. Pray . . . begun: See longer note.