102. house of Lancaster: i.e., Henry VI and his uncles, descendants of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster

  103. like a mountain, not to be removed: Psalms 125.1: “as mount Zion, which can not be removed.”

  104. removing: departing

  105. As . . . courts: an allusion to the custom of the royal progress, according to which the monarch would pay prolonged visits to provincial nobles

  106. settled place: i.e., a place in which they have settled or resided

  107. would: i.e., I wish

  111. except: unless; my good: i.e., the loss of the moral good in me

  112. give order: i.e., make arrangements

  117. hermit: religiously motivated recluse; overpassed: passed through (Proverbial: “Life is a pilgrimage.”)

  119. imagine: plot, plan

  121. his burial better than: i.e., that his burial is superior in quality to that of

  122. Here dies . . . Mortimer: For life as a candle, lamp, or torch, see Macbeth 5.5.26, where life is called a “brief candle.” (Mortimer’s torch dies because it is choked [line 123] or smothered.)  dusky: dim

  123. with: i.e., by; the meaner sort: i.e., those inferior to him

  124. for: i.e., as for

  125. my house: i.e., the Yorks

  128. restorèd to my blood: readmitted to the privileges of rank and birth that were forfeited when my father was executed for treason

  129. make . . . good: i.e., turn the injustice I suffer into the opportunity for my benefit

  ACT 3

  * * *

  Scene 1

  3.1  Gloucester and Winchester quarrel openly in Henry VI’s royal court. Their supporters, forbidden to carry weapons, have been fighting in the streets with stones. The two nobles pretend to reconcile at Henry’s behest. Then Henry, urged by Warwick, creates Richard Plantagenet Duke of York.

  0 SD. bill: list (in this case, a list of accusations)

  1. deep: earnestly; premeditated lines: writings composed in advance

  2. pamphlets: treatises

  4. charge: blame, responsibility

  5. invention: written composition; contrivance

  6. extemporal: offhand, unpremeditated

  7. answer: rebut; object: bring as a charge

  11. preferred: presented, submitted

  13. forged: i.e., fabricated (a lie)

  14. rehearse: repeat; method: methodical exposition

  16. lewd: vulgar; vile; dissentious: quarrelsome; pranks: evil deeds

  17. As very: i.e., that even

  18. pernicious: (1) destructive, ruinous; (2) villainous; usurer: one who charges (sometimes excessive) interest on loans, contrary to church law

  19. Froward: bad; difficult to deal with

  20. beseems: befits

  21. degree: rank

  25. sifted: narrowly scrutinized

  27. envious: spiteful; swelling: proud

  29. give me hearing: i.e., give hearing to

  31. how: i.e., why

  34. preferreth: esteems

  35. except: unless

  36. that: i.e., that which

  38. sway: rule, govern

  39. be about: i.e., be around (i.e., have access to)

  44. bastard of my grandfather: See longer note.

  47. saucy: insolent

  49. as an outlaw: i.e., in the same way as an outlaw who; keeps: lives, resides

  50. patronage: countenance, protect, defend

  51. Unreverent: irreverent

  53. Touching: in reference to; function: profession (as a clergyman)

  54. Rome: i.e., the pope

  56. forbear: refrain

  57. so: i.e., so long as; overborne: borne down by superior force

  58. Methinks: it seems to me; my lord: probably, Gloucester; religious: devout, conscientious

  59. know: admit the authority of; such: i.e., Winchester

  60. his Lordship: i.e., Winchester

  61. fitteth not: i.e., is not suitable for; plead: contend in debate

  62. state: office of importance; touched so near: affected so closely

  64. his Grace: i.e., Gloucester

  66. sirrah: term of address to a socially inferior male

  67. verdict: opinion

  68. Else: otherwise; have a fling: i.e., throw out a scoffing remark

  70. special: distinguished; weal: state

  73. our crown: Henry here uses the royal plural to say “my crown.”

  74. jar: quarrel, dispute

  75. my tender years: Henry’s youth is stressed throughout the play (In this scene, see, e.g., line 140.) tell: i.e., perceive that

  76. viperous: malignant; worm: serpent

  77. bowels: center, heart

  79. uproar: insurrection

  83. Bishop: i.e., Bishop’s

  84. late: recently

  86. banding themselves . . . parts: banding together into mutually opposed parties

  88. giddy: foolish; mad

  89. windows: At the time this play is set, windows were latticework or shutters; at the time the play was written, windows might be either shutters or panes of glass. broke down: smashed

  90 SD. in skirmish: fighting

  91. charge: order; ourself: i.e., me

  92. hold your slaught’ring hands: refrain from slaughter

  93. mitigate: render less hostile

  95. fall to it with: have recourse to

  98. peevish: spiteful, harmful; senseless

  101. for: because of

  103. such a prince: i.e., Gloucester    prince: member of the royal family

  105. inkhorn mate: contemptuous term for a scribbler or worthless writer, here perhaps alluding to Winchester’s position as a cleric or clerk, which carried with it the meaning of someone who could read and write

  109. pitch a field: fortify a battlefield (as if with stakes)

  110. Stay: stop

  115. once: once and for all

  116. pitiful: filled with pity

  117. study: make it your aim; prefer: assist in bringing about

  120. Except: unless; repulse: refusal

  122. mischief: harm, evil

  123. enacted: performed

  126. stoop: yield obedience

  127. his: i.e., Winchester’s; the priest: i.e., Winchester

  128. privilege: preeminence; of me: i.e., over me

  130. moody: angry

  132. stern: uncompromising, inflexible; tragical: sorrowful, gloomy

  134. Uncle Beaufort: i.e., Winchester (whose name was Henry Beaufort)

  138. hath a kindly gird: has been given a reproof that is kindly (i.e., appropriate or kind)

  143. hollow: false, insincere

  145. This token: i.e., this handshake

  147. So help me . . . as I: i.e., God help me to the same extent as I

  150. contract: mutual agreement (accented throughout the play on the second syllable)

  151. my masters: gentlemen, sirs

  154. surgeon’s: barber-surgeon’s, where wounds were dressed

  156. physic: medicine

  157. affords: provides

  159. in the right: i.e., in support of the claim

  160. exhibit: submit for inspection

  162. An if: i.e., if; mark: consider; circumstance: detail

  164. for: because of; occasions: facts or considerations (about which)

  165. Eltham Place: See note to 1.1.173.

  166. of force: persuasive, convincing

  168. restorèd to his blood: See note to 2.5.128.

  170. his father’s wrongs: the wrongs suffered by his father

  171. will: decree

  172. true: loyal; that: i.e., restoration to his blood

  178. Stoop: kneel

  179. reguerdon of: i.e., reward for

  182. princely: of the royal family

  184. springs: flourishes

  185. one: i.e., even a single

  192. disanimates: discourages, disheartens

  194. cuts off: removes

  195 SD. Sennet: trumpet fanfare marking the ceremonial exit

  198. peers: noblemen

  199. Burns . . . love: The image is of fire (dissension) that continues to burn under a covering of ashes. (Both the ashes and the love are spurious, and the ashes both conceal and cannot conceal the fire.)  forged: spurious, counterfeit

  201. members: limbs

  203. envious: malicious; breed: grow

  204. fatal: ominous

  207. Henry born at Monmouth: i.e., Henry V (See picture.)

  King Henry V.

  From John Taylor, All the workes of . . . (1630).

  208. Henry born at Windsor: i.e., Henry VI

  King Henry VI.

  From John Taylor, All the workes of . . . (1630).

  King Henry VI.

  From John Speed, The theatre of the empire of Great Britaine . . . (1627 [i.e., 1631]).

  210. hapless: unlucky

  ACT 3

  * * *

  Scene 2

  3.2  Pucelle and four soldiers, disguised as peasants, enter Roan. From a tower within the city, Pucelle signals to the French army where to enter. The French take the city, but the English, led by Burgundy and Talbot and observed by a dying Bedford, recapture it.

  2. policy: crafty device

  4. vulgar: ordinary, common; market men: people who sell their produce at a market

  5. gather: acquire, gain; corn: grain, wheat

  7. that: i.e., if; watch: watchmen, sentinels

  9. encounter: attack

  10. mean: i.e., means

  11. be: i.e., shall be

  13. Qui là: i.e., who goes there (literally, who there)

  14. Paysans . . . France: peasants, the poor people of France

  18. Saint: i.e., may Saint; happy: fortunate

  20. practisants: perhaps, co-conspirators (This word is not recorded as appearing elsewhere.)

  24. discerned: perceived; that: i.e., what

  25. No way . . . entered: i.e., no entrance to the town is weaker than the one she took

  26. wedding torch: Hymen, god of weddings, carries a torch. (See picture.)

  Hymen, the god of marriage. (3.2.26)

  From Vincenzo Cartari, Imagines deorum . . . (1581).

  28. fatal: deadly; Talbonites: followers of Talbot

  31. shine it: i.e., may it shine; comet: long regarded as a herald of disastrous events (See picture.)

  A comet. (1.1.2; 3.2.31)

  From Hartmann Schedel, Liber chronicorum [1493].

  32. prophet: omen, portent

  33. Defer no time: i.e., do not delay; ends: results (Proverbial: “Delay breeds danger.”)

  34. presently: immediately

  35. do execution on: slaughter

  35 SD. in an excursion: i.e., on a raid, sallying out

  36. treason: Because Henry VI was, by treaty, king of France, French attacks on the English were considered treason.

  39. mischief: evil, calamity; unawares: without warning, unexpectedly

  40. hardly: not easily; pride: “haughty power” (William Warburton)

  40 SD. without: onstage; within: in the gallery over the back of the stage

  41. gallants: fine fellows (ironic); Want you corn: do you need grain

  44. darnel: a weed that grows among grain

  48. starve: die

  49. no . . . deeds: Proverbial: “Not words, but deeds.”

  50–51. Break . . . a-tilt at: i.e., joust with

  51. within: i.e., sitting in

  52. despite: settled malice and hatred

  55. with cowardice: in a cowardly way

  56. Damsel: girl (contemptuous term of address); bout: round of fighting

  58. hot: hot-tempered, angry

  59. thunder . . . follow: Proverbial: “After thunder comes rain.”

  60. God speed: may God bring success to

  61. field: battlefield

  62. Belike: in all likelihood

  63. try if that: attempt to find out whether

  64. railing: scolding, abusive; Hecate: in mythology, an ancient fertility goddess who later became associated with Persephone as queen of Hades and protector of witches (here pronounced with three syllables)

  67. Seigneur: lord (French)

  68. Base: lowborn

  69. keep: remain on

  77. house: family

  78. Pricked on: provoked, impelled (Burgundy is said to have joined with the English in part because his father had been killed by the Dauphin.)

  83. Great Coeur-de-lion’s heart: the heart of Richard I of England, known as Richard the Lion-hearted (Coeur de lion means “heart of lion” in French.) See picture.

  Richard Coeur-de-Lion. (3.2.83)

  From John Rastell, The pastyme of people . . . [1529?].

  86. regard: observe

  89. crazy: frail, infirm

  92. weal: prosperity, success

  95. stout: brave; Pendragon: in Arthurian legend, Uther Pendragon, father of Arthur; litter: stretcher

  97. Methinks: it seems to me that

  102. out of hand: immediately

  103. set upon: attack

  106. like: likely; to have the overthrow: i.e., to be overthrown or defeated

  107. fly: flee

  110. ill fortune: bad luck

  113. What . . . man: Jeremiah 17.5: “Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm.”

  114. of late: recently; daring: bold

  115. fain: well-pleased

  122. gentle: noble

  123. her old familiar: the spirit or demon associated with her or in her power (The word old suggests that he means the devil.)

  124. braves: boastful, threatening behavior

  124–25. Charles his gleeks: Charles’s sharp, biting remarks

  126. all amort: lifeless, dejected

  128. take some order: make some arrangements

  129. expert: experienced

  131. lie: i.e., resides

  132. wills: determines

  134. late-deceased: recently deceased

  135. exequies fulfilled: funeral ceremonies performed

  136. couchèd lance: lowered a lance to the position for attack

  137. gentler: more noble; sway: prevail, rule

  139. that’s . . . misery: Proverbial: “Death is the end of every worldly sore.”

  ACT 3

  * * *

  Scene 3

  3.3  As Talbot and Burgundy march separately to Paris for the coronation of Henry VI, Pucelle entices Burgundy to join the French forces led by the Dauphin.

  1. Dismay not: i.e. do not be dismayed

  3. Care: grief; corrosive: i.e., like caustic medicine (Proverbial: “Care is no cure”; “Care is a corrosive.”)

  5. frantic: wildly enraged

  6. peacock: Proverbial: “As proud as a peacock.”

  7. pull: pluck; train: (1) tail; (2) body of followers

  8. ruled: subjected to guidance and discipline

  10. of thy cunning: i.e., in your expertise, cleverness; diffidence: doubt

  11. foil: defeat

  12. wit: intelligence; policies: stratagems

  16. Employ thee: busy yourself

  18. fair: flattering

  21. Ay, marry: i.e., yes, indeed; sweeting: sweetheart, darling

  24. extirpèd: rooted out

  25. expulsed: driven

  26. title: legal right to possession

  30. powers: armed forces; unto Paris-ward: toward Paris

  30 SD. sound an English march: Presumably the marches sounded here and at line 32 SD are offstage. (See longer note.)

  31. colors: flags, standards

  34. Fortune: The goddess Fortuna, conventionally fickle, here grants her favor to the French. (See picture.)

  Fickle Fortune. (3.3.34; 5.3.138)

  From Giovanni Boccaccio, A treatise . . . shewing . . . the falles of . . . princes . . . (1554).

  35. Summon: proclaim, call

  35 SD. sound a parley: i.e., trumpets signal a request for a parley

  42. Stay: an injunction to pause and let the speaker make some remark

  43. over-tedious: i.e., overly wordy

  44. Look on: contemplate

  45. defaced: destroyed

  46. wasting: devastating; ruin of: overthrow by

  47. lowly: humble

  48. tender-dying: i.e., dying young

  49. pining: consuming, wasting

  59. relent: perhaps, yield, give way; or, perhaps, become compassionate

  60. exclaims on: loudly accuses

  61. birth: parentage, lineage; lawful progeny: legitimate descent

  62. lordly: imperious, lofty

  63. but for profit’s sake: except for the sake of profit

  64. set footing once in: entered once into (with the implication of “once conquered”)

  65. fashioned . . . ill: i.e., made you into an evil tool

  68. Call . . . mind: i.e., let’s remember; mark: consider

  75. them: i.e., them who; slaughtermen: executioners

  78. haughty: lofty, high-minded

  82. hearty: heartfelt

  83. power: army

  85. turn: revolt, desert; switch position; change course

  86. fresh: ready, eager

  88. bravely: splendidly

  90. on: i.e., go on; join our powers: combine our armies

  91. prejudice: do injury to

  ACT 3

  * * *

  Scene 4

  3.4  In Paris, a grateful Henry VI creates Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury in recompense for his victories in France. Vernon, a supporter of York, quarrels with Basset, a supporter of Somerset.

  3. truce: temporary cessation of hostilities

  4. duty: homage

  5. sign: indication; reclaimed: subdued

  7. towns of strength: fortified towns

  8. esteem: worth, reputation

  9. Lets fall: drops; his: i.e., its (referring to this arm [line 5])