27. practice: conspire, plot; converse: associate; have sexual intercourse

  29. flinty: rugged, hard, impenetrable

  32. several: separate

  33. That: i.e., so that

  34. other: i.e., others; rise: offer armed resistance; force: army

  41 SD. in their shirts: i.e., in their night attire

  41 SD. ready: properly dressed

  42. How now: a greeting requesting information about one’s well-being

  43. scaped: escaped

  44. trow: believe

  46. followed arms: i.e., have been a soldier

  51. sped: proved successful (in escaping)

  53. cunning: craft, witchcraft

  54. flatter: encourage, inspire with hope; withal: therewith

  57. Wherefore: why; impatient: irritable, provoked

  58. alike: the same

  59. still: always

  61. Improvident: unforeseeing; heedless, unwary

  62. mischief: misfortune, calamity; fall’n: happened, occurred

  63. default: fault, failure in duty

  66. quarters: parts (of the town); kept: guarded

  67. government: command

  68. surprised: assailed, attacked

  72. precinct: division of the town

  74. About: concerned with

  79. rests: remains; shift: expedient; stratagem

  81. platforms: plans, schemes; endamage: do harm to; them: i.e., the English

  83–85. The cry . . . name: For the legendary power of Talbot’s name, see longer note to 1.4.50.  loaden me: loaded myself

  ACT 2

  * * *

 

  2.2  The English plan a grand tomb for the dead Salisbury, in part as a monument to their recent victory. Talbot then receives an invitation to visit the Countess of Auvergne.

  2. pitchy: pitch-dark

  3. retreat: recall of a pursuing force

  5. advance it: bring it forward; or, perhaps, lift it up (on a bier or platform)

  9. tonight: i.e., last night

  10. hereafter: future

  16. mournful: deplorable

  17 SD. Funeral: See note to 1.1.0 SD.

  19. muse: marvel that; the Dauphin’s grace: i.e., his Grace the Dauphin (See picture.)

  27. For: despite

  30. turtledoves: birds noted for their affection to their mates (See picture.)

  A turtledove. (2.2.30)

  From Konrad Gesner, . . . Historiae animalium . . . (1585–1604).

  32. After that: i.e., after

  33. all the power we have: the whole army

  35. warlike: valiant, skilled in war

  37. would: wishes to

  40. vouchsafe: condescend

  41. lies: resides

  43. report: (1) fame; (2) resounding noise

  45. sport: amusement, entertainment; also, flirtation

  46. encountered with: met (This phrase could also mean “made love to.”)

  47. despise: disregard; suit: petition; act of courtship

  48. Ne’er . . . then: a proverb that here means “never trust me in future (if I despise her suit)”; a world: a vast quantity

  50. overruled: prevailed

  52. attend on her: i.e., visit her in answer to her summons

  54. will: i.e., will permit

  57. remedy: alternative

  58. prove: experience; test

  61. mean: i.e., intend (to act)

  ACT 2

  * * *

 

  2.3  The Countess plots to capture and kill the visiting Talbot.

  1. gave in charge: ordered, commanded

  4. laid: devised, contrived; right: in the required way

  6. Scythian Tamyris by Cyrus’ death: According to legend, Tamyris, queen of Scythia, defeated in battle Cyrus the Great, founder of the Persian Empire, and then shoved the head of his corpse into a wineskin full of human blood, all in vengeance for the death of her son after his capture by Cyrus. (See picture.)

  Tamyris with the head of Cyrus. (2.3.6)

  From Sebastian Münster, Cosmographiae uniuersalis . . . (1554).

  7. rumor: report of the distinction; dreadful: formidable

  8. account: esteem

  9–10. Fain . . . reports: See longer note.  Fain: gladly, with pleasure  censure: judgment, opinion  rare: (1) splendid; (2) uncommon

  12. craved: demanded; asked for earnestly

  13. What: interjection to introduce a question

  17. That . . . babes: For the power of Talbot’s mere name to quiet crying babies, see longer note to 1.4.50.  still: silence (i.e., with terror)

  18. report: reputation, rumor; fabulous: ridiculous

  19. Hercules: in classical mythology, a hero of extraordinary strength and courage (See picture.)

  Hercules. (2.3.19; 4.7.61)

  From Vincenzo Cartari, Le vere e noue imagini . . . (1615).

  20. Hector: eldest son of Priam, king of Troy, and leader of his forces in the Trojan War (See picture.) for: because of; grim: fierce; aspect: facial expression

  Hector. (2.3.20)

  From [Guillaume Rouillé,] . . . Promptuarii iconum . . . (1553).

  21. proportion: size; strong-knit: i.e., well-knit

  22. silly: defenseless, feeble

  23. be this: i.e., be that this; writhled: withered

  27. sort: choose

  31. Marry: indeed (originally an oath on the name of the Virgin Mary); for that: because

  32. certify: guarantee

  36. trained: lured

  37. shadow: image; thrall: slave

  39. substance: solid or real thing, as proverbially opposed to appearance or shadow (line 37); endure: suffer; the like: the same kind of thing (i.e., being hanged)

  41. tyranny: violence, outrage

  42. Wasted: laid waste, destroyed

  43. captivate: into captivity

  45. to moan: i.e., into lamentation

  46. fond: i.e., foolish as

  48. Whereon: on which

  55. least proportion: slightest portion; humanity: humankind

  56. frame: human body

  57. spacious: great, extensive; pitch: height

  59. merchant: fellow; for the nonce: (1) on purpose, expressly; (2) for the occasion, for the time being

  61. contrarieties: diametrical differences

  62. presently: immediately

  62 SD. Winds: blows

  67. Razeth: obliterates; subverts: overthrows

  68. desolate: deserted

  69. abuse: ill-usage; deceit

  70. I find . . . bruited: See longer note to 2.3.9–10.  fame: public report  bruited: rumored

  71. gathered: inferred

  73. reverence: due respect, deference

  74. entertain: receive

  75. misconster: misconstrue

  76–77. did mistake . . . body: perhaps, did not understand that it is Talbot’s army that is the outward composition of his body (See line 65.)  mistake: misunderstand

  79. satisfaction: reparation

  80. patience: permission, indulgence

  81. cates: dainties, delicacies

  ACT 2

  * * *

 

  2.4  Richard Plantagenet and Somerset, having quarreled over a case at law, withdraw into a garden, where the supporters of Plantagenet signal their commitment to him by plucking and wearing white roses, the supporters of Somerset red roses.

  0 SD. Plantagenet: See note to 1.4.95.

  2. case of truth: a dispute between Plantagenet and Somerset, never defined by the play

  3. Temple Hall: the hall within one of the Inns of Court or the London law schools, either Inner Temple or Middle Temple; were: would have been

  6. wrangling: (1) bickering; (2) engaging in public disputation

  7. Faith: a mild oath (by my faith); a truant in: i.e., neglectful of my duty to study

  8. frame: train, discipline

  9. frame: i.e., I adapt, I fit

  11. the higher pitch: i.e., to the greater height

  12. mouth: bark

  13. temper: degree of elasticity or resiliency

  14. bear him best: i.e., behave better

  17. nice: precise; sharp: acute; quillets: subtle distinctions

  18. daw: (1) jackdaw, a small crow; (2) simpleton

  20. The truth . . . naked: Proverb: “The truth shows best being naked.”

  21. purblind: partially blind, dim-sighted

  23. clear: bright

  24. glimmer . . . eye: i.e., be visible to a blind man  glimmer: shine brightly

  26. dumb: silent, mute; significants: symbols

  28. stands upon: is scrupulous about; claims respect for; values

  29. pleaded: i.e., maintained by argument (literally, in a court of law)

  32. party: side

  33. thorn: brier

  34. colors: pretexts; false pleas in law courts; color: semblance, cloak (The wordplay here is based in the notion of white [line 36] as having no color.)

  35. insinuating: ingratiating

  38. withal: therewith; held the right: i.e., maintained the truth

  41. tree: bush

  42. yield the other in: i.e., yield to the other as having; opinion: legal judgment

  44. subscribe: submit, yield

  47. maiden: i.e., white; virginally innocent

  52. opinion: judgment (In line 53, opinion means “reputation.”)

  54. still: always

  55. Well, well: probably meant maliciously (Proverbial: “Well, well is a word of malice.”)

  56. false: defective

  57. in law: rather than “in fact”

  60. that: i.e., that which

  69. canker: cankerworm, caterpillar (See picture.)

  A canker. (2.4.69)

  From John Johnstone, [Opera aliquot] (1650–62).

  71, 72. his: i.e., its

  77. fashion: i.e., wearing the red rose; peevish boy: a double insult, since peevish was a word expressing contempt and boy was an insult when addressed to a young man

  79. Pole: Suffolk’s family name is “de la Pole.” (See line 81.)

  82. yeoman: A yeoman was a small farmer below the rank of a gentleman. This insult alludes to Plantagenet’s family having been stripped of its lands and titles.

  84. grandfather: i.e., ancestor (literally, great-great-grandfather) See chart.

  86. Spring . . . root: i.e., do crestless yeomen issue from such a lineage  crestless yeomen: A crest is a figure or emblem that serves as the badge of a noble family; yeomen would have no such device.

  87. bears him: presumes; the place’s privilege: the prohibition of violence in this place (See longer note.)

  93–94. And . . . gentry: i.e., because of his conviction of the capital crime of treason, according to the law, you have forfeited all real estate and personal property, your blood (i.e., family) is regarded as corrupt or tainted, and you have been excluded from all civil rights and capacities that would be yours by high birth

  96. restored: reinstated in your former rank

  97. attachèd: accused, charged; attainted: legally convicted of treason (Cambridge was executed on the king’s direct command.)

  100. Were . . . will: i.e., if I get the chance

  101. partaker: supporter

  103. apprehension: conception, view

  104. Look to it well: i.e., beware, be very careful

  105. still: always

  106. these colors: i.e., the color of these red roses

  107. in spite of: in contempt or scorn of

  109. cognizance: token (A cognizance was also a device identifying a noble family.)

  112. degree: rank

  115. Have with thee: i.e., I’ll go with you

  116. braved: defied

  117. object: attribute as a crime

  118. whipped out: i.e., driven out (as with a whip); or, perhaps, chastised (Many editors substitute the F2 variant “wipt out”—i.e., wiped out.)

  119. Called for the truce of: i.e., called for the purpose of arranging a truce between

  120. York: i.e., Duke of York

  121. Warwick: i.e., Earl of Warwick

  122. in signal: as a sign

  124. party: side

  126. faction: factious quarrel, quarrel of one party against another

  129. bound: obliged

  131. still: always

  ACT 2

  * * *

 

  2.5  Edmund Mortimer, imprisoned by Henry IV because of his strong claim to the throne, and kept in prison by Henry V, is about to die and wishes to see Richard Plantagenet, his kinsman. The dying Mortimer encourages Richard’s ambitions but counsels him to be secretive.

  0 SD. Edmund: Mortimer is named Edmund in line 7. In fact it was Sir John Mortimer, not Edmund Mortimer, who was imprisoned. But Shakespeare’s historical source gives the name Edmund.

  1. keepers: (1) jailers; (2) nurses

  3. new-halèd: recently pulled or hauled; rack: an instrument of torture by which the joints were pulled apart (See picture.)

  A rack. (2.5.3)

  From Girolamo Maggi, . . . De tintinnabulis liber postumus . . . Accedit . . . De equuleo liber . . . (1689).

  5. pursuivants: heralds who proclaim someone else’s approach (Proverbial: “Gray hairs are death’s blossoms.”)

  6. Nestor-like: In Homer, Nestor, king of Pylos, was of a great age, having outlived two generations. an age: a lifetime; care: sorrow, mental suffering

  8. wasting: waning, decreasing (Proverbial: “There is no oil left in the lamp.”)

  9. Wax: grow; exigent: end, extremity

  10. overborne: oppressed

  11. pithless: devoid of strength, weak

  12. his: i.e., its

  13. strengthless stay: weak support; numb: i.e., paralyzed

  14. this lump of clay: i.e., Mortimer’s body (Genesis 2.7: “The Lord God . . . made man of the dust of the ground.”)

  16. witting: knowing

  22. his wrong: i.e., the wrong he suffers

  23. Henry Monmouth: i.e., Henry V, who was born in Monmouth in Wales

  24. Before: prior to; glory: i.e., reign; great: extraordinary; arms: war

  25. sequestration: seclusion (through imprisonment); confiscation of property

  26. Richard: i.e., Richard Plantagenet

  30. enlargement: release from confinement

  31. would his: i.e., wish that Richard’s

  35. ignobly: dishonorably

  36. late: recently

  37. Direct: guide; arms: i.e., arms so that

  38. latter: last

  40. kindly: fittingly, affectionately; in accordance with nature (as his kinsman)

  41. stem from York’s great stock: The York lineage is here expressed in terms of a tree trunk (stock) and its branches (stems). For this lineage, see chart.

  42. of late: recently; despised: treated with contempt

  44. ease: state of comfort; disease: grievance

  47. lavish: loose, wild; tongue: language, speech

  49. obloquy: reproach; detraction

  53. alliance’: kinship’s; declare: explain

  54. lost his head: See picture.

  56. flow’ring: vigorous, flourishing

  57. pine: suffer, waste away

  59. Discover more at large: reveal in greater detail

  64. nephew: i.e., cousin; Richard, Edward’s son: Richard II, son of Edward, the Black Prince (For the history of this period and its treatment here and in Henry IV, Part 1 and Henry V, see “Shakespeare’s Two Tetralogies.”)

  65–66. first begotten . . . descent: i.e., eldest son of Edward III (The Black Prince predeceased his father.) See Ancestry of Richard Plantagenet and English Ancestry of King Henry VI.

  67. whose reign: i.e., the reign of Henry the Fourth (line 63); Percies of the north: “Percy” was the family name of the Earl of Northumberland. In Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Part 1, where the events recounted in lines 63–81 are dramatized, the Percies include Northumberland, his brother Worcester, and his son Harry Percy or “Hotspur.”

  70. reason: i.e., reason that

  71. for that: because

  73. next: i.e., next in line for the throne

  74. mother: i.e., grandmother (This apparent error may indicate that Shakespeare here follows his historical source in confusing Edmund Mortimer with his uncle of the same name.) derivèd: descended

  76. he: Henry the Fourth (line 63)

  78. Being . . . line: i.e., John of Gaunt being the fourth son of Edward III

  79. haughty: lofty, high-minded; attempt: i.e., attempt in which

  81. they their lives: In Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Part 1, Hotspur is killed and Worcester sentenced to death. Northumberland is captured in Henry IV, Part 2.

  82–91. Long . . . beheaded: Shakespeare tells this story somewhat differently in his Henry V 2.2. See longer note.

  84. derived: descended

  85. Edmund . . . York: the fifth son of Edward III (York is a central figure in Shakespeare’s Richard II.)

  87. hard: harsh, difficult to endure

  88. weening: hoping, wishing; redeem: rescue

  89. the diadem: royal power

  90. as the rest: i.e., like the Percies and their followers; fell: was overthrown

  “So fell that noble earl / And was beheaded.” (2.5.90–91)

  From [Richard Verstegen,] Theatre des cruautez des hereticques de nostre temps . . . (1607).

  92. title: i.e., title to the crown

  93. which: i.e., whom (the Mortimers)

  94. issue: offspring

  95. warrant: promise, predict, presage

  96. gather: i.e., to infer

  97. studious: heedful, attentive

  98. admonishments: warnings

  100. tyranny: violence, outrage

  101. politic: prudent, sagacious