40. happiness: good fortune

  41. We: the royal “we,” which Henry has not yet used

  42. so it . . . Grace: a polite formula requesting agreement

  43. are . . . peace: is the peace treaty

  45. concluded: agreed, settled

  46. Imprimis: in the first place (used to introduce the first of a number of items)

  49. espouse: marry

  52. ere: before; Item: also (used to introduce each article after the first in a document)

  54. released: surrendered, made over

  56. Uncle: See genealogical chart. how now: i.e., how is it now

  58. qualm: fit of sickness or faintness

  59. that: i.e., so that

  60. Uncle: i.e., great-uncle (See chart.) read on: See longer note.

  64. sent over: i.e., transported from France to England

  64–65. of the . . . charges: i.e., at the expense of the King of England  own proper: personal

  67. They: i.e., the clauses of the treaty

  69. girt: gird; Cousin: a term of address used among nobles and aristocrats

  71. regent: At 4.1.163–64 of Henry VI, Part 1, the king had created York regent of France; the king now leaves the office open for eighteen months.

  72. th’ parts of France: i.e., the parts of France under English control

  73. full: i.e., fully

  77. entertainment to: i.e., treatment or reception of; princely: royal

  78. in: i.e., go in; provide: prepare

  80. peers: nobles (with wordplay on piers or pillars); state: government

  83. What: interjection to introduce a question; brother Henry: Henry V (See picture.)

  Henry V.

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

  85. lodge: encamp

  87. true inheritance: rightful possession (See longer note.)

  88. Bedford: Duke of Bedford, whose brother, Henry V, when dying, made him regent of France; toil: tire; wits: mental faculties

  89. policy: statecraft, political skill

  92. France and Normandy: For the military service of some of these figures in France, not all of it glorious, see Henry VI, Part 1, 4.3, 4.4, 5.3.

  93. uncle Beaufort: the Cardinal

  94. council of the realm: Privy Council

  95. Studied: deliberated

  96. to and fro: i.e., for and against

  99. despite: contemptuous defiance

  103. league: agreement

  104. Fatal: fateful, ominous

  105. Blotting: obliterating, effacing

  106. Razing: erasing; characters: graphic symbols, printed or written letters

  107. monuments: (1) written documents; (2) commemorative structures

  108. as: i.e., as if

  109. passionate: hot-tempered, angry

  110. peroration: eloquent speech; circumstance: detail

  111. For: i.e., as for; still: always

  114. rules the roast: i.e., presides over the dinner table, has full authority

  116. large: i.e., grand; style: title (See lines 50–51.)

  117. Agrees not: does not correspond

  118. by . . . all: See 2 Corinthians 5.15: “And he died for all.”

  120. wherefore: why

  126. arms: (1) weapons; (2) limbs

  129. Mort Dieu: God’s death (French)

  130. For: i.e., as for; suffocate: suffocated

  134. I . . . but: i.e., I always read that

  136. his own: i.e., his own sums (line 135)

  137. match with: marry; vantages: profits

  138. proper jest: fine joke (sarcastic)

  139. fifteenth: tax amounting to one-fifteenth of everyone’s annual profit or income (or, perhaps, property) In Henry VI, Part 1, Henry authorizes Suffolk to “gather up a tenth” (5.5.93).

  140. charges: expenses

  141. starved: died

  149. out: i.e., come out

  151. ancient bickerings: long-standing wrangling or altercations (Such altercations are shown in Henry VI, Part 1, 1.3, 3.1.)

  152. Lordings: lords, sirs (possibly contemptuous)

  158. next of blood: i.e., as the only surviving brother of Henry V, the nearest blood relation to the king

  159. heir apparent: actually, heir presumptive, who would become monarch only if Henry VI died without issue

  163. Look to it: beware; smoothing: plausible

  164. wise and circumspect: See Ephesians 5.15: “Take heed therefore that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise.”

  169. maintain: keep vigorous

  171. fear me: i.e., fear; for: in spite of; gloss: deceptive appearance

  172. found: discovered on inspection to be

  174. He: Henry VI; of himself: i.e., by himself

  Henry VI.

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

  Henry VI.

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

  177. hoise: remove; seat: office (i.e., as Protector)

  178. brook: endure, tolerate

  179. presently: immediately, instantly

  181. greatness: eminence; place: position; grief: trouble

  183. insolence: arrogance

  184. Than all: i.e., than that of all

  185. displaced: removed from office

  186. Or thou: i.e., either you

  188. before: ahead (Pride refers to the Cardinal, Ambition to Somerset and Buckingham.)

  189. preferment: advancement

  191. never saw but: i.e., always saw that

  192. bear him: conduct himself

  195. stout: fierce; as: i.e., as if

  196. demean: conduct

  199. plainness: honesty, directness of language; housekeeping: hospitality

  201. Excepting none but: i.e., except for

  202. brother: i.e., brother-in-law

  203. civil discipline: civilized orderliness

  204. late: recent

  206. honored of: i.e., honored by

  211. cherish: hold dear, make much of

  212. tend: foster

  214. common profit: i.e., general or public good

  216. cause: reason

  217. the main: the chief matter in hand, the most important eventuality (called, at the time, “the main chance”) See line 221.

  225. Stands on a tickle point: is in a precarious position

  226. concluded on: determined (In Henry VI, Part 1, the king gave Suffolk the authority freely to “agree to any covenants” [5.5.88].) articles: treaty

  227. peers: nobles

  228. change: exchange; fair: beautiful

  231–32. make . . . pillage: i.e., sell their plunder for pennies

  234. Still: continually; reveling: making merry

  235. Whileas: while; silly: helpless, pitiable

  236. wrings . . . hands: i.e., he, being hapless (unlucky, unfortunate), wrings his hands

  237. stands aloof: holds back, keeps clear

  239. Ready to starve: likely to die

  240. bite his tongue: keep silent (proverbial)

  242. Methinks: it seems to me

  244. proportion: relation

  245–46. As . . . Calydon: See longer note.

  248. Cold: gloomy, dispiriting; hope of: i.e., hope of ruling

  251. take the Nevilles’ parts: support Warwick and his father, Salisbury

  253. advantage: an occasion or opportunity

  254. mark . . . hit: i.e., target I am aiming at (a metaphor from archery)

  255. Lancaster: Henry VI; right: i.e., right to the throne

  256. childish: perhaps, immature, puerile (However, because Henry became king while yet an infant, York may mean this word literally.)

  258. churchlike: i.e., churchman’s, priest’s; humors: disposition; fits not: i.e., are not appropriate

  259. be still: i.e., take no action for; time do serve: an occasion presents itself

  260. wake: be on guard

  261. state: government

  262. Till: while; surfeiting: indulging to excess

  263. dear-bought: expensively purchased

  265. be fall’n at jars: quarrels

  266. milk-white rose: badge of the House of York (For Henry VI, Part 1’s fictional account of how the milk-white rose became the badge of the House of York, see its 2.4.)

  268. standard: military flag, a rallying point in battle; arms of York: i.e., the York coat-of-arms

  269. grapple: struggle; battle or encounter hand-to-hand (suggesting wordplay on arms [line 268] as limbs)

  270. force perforce: by violent means

  271. bookish rule: i.e., rule or government based in reading or theory

  ACT 1

  * * *

 

  1.2  The Duchess of Gloucester’s dream of becoming queen is rebuked by her husband but encouraged by the treacherous priest John Hume.

  1. corn: grain (See picture.)

  “Over-ripened corn.” (1.2.1)

  From Geoffrey Whitney, A choice of emblemes . . . (1586).

  2. Ceres’: In mythology, Ceres was the goddess of grain. (See picture.)

  “Ceres’ plenteous load.” (1.2.2)

  From Cesare Ripa, Iconologia . . . (1613).

  4. As: i.e., as if

  5. sullen: dull, gloomy

  8. Enchased: adorned

  11. reach: grasp, clutch

  12. is ’t: i.e., is it (referring to the reach of Gloucester’s hand [line 11])

  13. heaved: lifted (without any sense of great exertion)

  15. abase: cast down

  16. vouchsafe: bestow in a condescending manner; unto: i.e., to

  17. Nell: diminutive form of Eleanor

  18. canker: ulcer, spreading sore

  19. imagine ill: devise harm

  22. troublous: troublesome; this night: last night

  24. rehearsal: recounting; morning’s dream: Such dreams were reputed to be true.

  25. Methought: it seemed to me; staff: rod borne as the Protector’s badge of office

  26. broke: i.e., broken

  28. wand: i.e., staff

  32. bode: portend, presage

  33. argument: manifestation

  36. list: listen

  37. seat of majesty: the royal throne

  38.

  Westminster Abbey. (1.2.38)

  From John Seller, A book of the prospects of the remarkable places in . . . London . . . [c. 1700?].

  39. chair: throne

  43. chide: scold

  44. dame: lady; ill-nurtured: badly trained or educated

  48. compass: scope

  49. hammering: devising, contriving

  53. choleric: enraged

  56. checked: reproached, reprimanded

  57. pleased: in good humor

  59. Saint Albans: town in Hertfordshire, twenty miles north of London (See picture.)

  St. Albans. (1.2.59, 85; 1.4.76; 2.1.149; 5.2.69; 5.3.31)

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

  60. Whereas: where; hawk: hunt game with trained hawks or falcons (See picture.)

  Hawking. (1.2.60)

  From Erasmo di Valvasone, La caccia . . . [1602].

  62. presently: immediately

  63. Follow: wordplay on such meanings as “act as an attendant or servant” and “go behind”; go before: take precedence (i.e., over the queen) Proverbial: “They that cannot go before must come behind.”

  65. next of blood: See note to 1.1.158.

  66. tedious: annoying; stumbling blocks: obstacles (with implied wordplay on blocks as blockheads or heads in line 67)

  69. Fortune’s: The goddess Fortuna or Fortune was thought to control individuals’ rise to and fall from power in the world. (See picture.)

  “Fortune’s pageant” (1.2.69)

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

  70. Sir: conventional title for a priest

  73. Grace: “Your Grace” was the courtesy title of a duchess.

  75. Your . . . multiplied: See 1 Peter 1.2: “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you.” multiplied: i.e., made greater

  77. cunning witch: See longer note.

  78. conjurer: sorcerer

  79. undertake: pledge; do me good: be beneficial to me

  81. underground: the underworld

  83. propounded him: offered to him for consideration

  91. Marry: i.e., indeed (originally an oath on the name of the Virgin Mary) Proverbial: “Marry, and shall.” how now: i.e., how is it now

  92. mum: a command to be silent (Proverbial: “No word but mum.”)

  93. asketh: requires

  96. flies: that flies; coast: direction

  100. aspiring humor: ambitious disposition

  102. buzz: privately communicate; conjurations: spells, charms, incantations; in: i.e., into

  103. a crafty . . . broker: proverbial  crafty: underhanded, scheming  knave: unprincipled, devious man  broker: agent, middleman

  105–6. go . . . call: be on the point of calling

  107. at last: ultimately

  108. wrack: wreck, destruction

  109. her attainture: the stain of her dishonor; fall: i.e., fall from power

  110. Sort how it will: i.e., however it turns out

  ACT 1

  * * *

 

  1.3  Queen Margaret and Suffolk dismiss petitioners seeking Gloucester’s aid and then conspire against Gloucester. Somerset and York then clash, as do Gloucester and Suffolk. The accusation that York’s armorer has declared York the rightful king puts York under suspicion of treason.

  0 SD. man: servant

  1. My masters: sirs, gentlemen; close: i.e., close together; or, perhaps, quiet and unobserved

  2. by and by: immediately; soon

  3. supplications: formal petitions; in the quill: in a body, in concert

  5 SD. red rose: badge of the house of Lancaster, to which Henry VI belongs (For the fictional account of how the red rose became the badge of the House of Lancaster, see Henry VI, Part 1, 2.4; for Henry VI’s personal adoption of the red rose, see Henry VI, Part 1, 4.1.)

  6. methinks: it seems to me

  7. sure: i.e., surely

  10. fellow: term of address to a lower-class person

  17. an ’t please your Grace: a formula of politeness

  18. man: follower

  23. enclosing: fencing in as private property

  24. commons: undivided land belonging to the community as a whole; Melford: Long Melford in Suffolk

  25–26. petitioner of: i.e., petitioner on behalf of

  32. forsooth: truly

  33. he: i.e., the Duke of York (lines 30–31)

  36. Take . . . in: i.e., arrest this fellow

  36–37. send . . . pursuivant: i.e., have his master sent for by an officer

  37. presently: immediately

  38. matter: business, affair; before: in the presence of

  40. grace: favor

  41. suits: petitions; sue to: petition

  42. base: menial, unworthy; cullions: rascals (literally, testicles)

  44. guise: style

  45. Is this: i.e., are these

  47. Albion’s: England’s

  48. still: always

  49. governance: control, mastery

  50. style: ceremonial designation

  52. Pole: i.e., de la Pole, Suffolk’s family name

  53. rann’st atilt: engaged in mounted combat with lances

  55. had: i.e., would have

  56. courtship: courtliness of manners; proportion: figure, shape

  58. Ave Marys: Hail Marys (prayers to the Virgin Mary); beads: rosary (See picture.)

  59. champions: men of valor

  60. saws: sayings, proverbs; sacred writ: the Bible

  61. tiltyard: enclosed space for combat

  62. brazen images: brass statues; canonized: accent on second syllable

  63. I would: i.e., I wish

  65. triple crown: papal tiara

  66. state: high position, office; his holiness: (1) his piety; (2) his Holiness, the pope’s title

  67. patient: calm

  69. work: effect, bring about; full: complete; content: pleasure, satisfaction

  70. Beaufort: i.e., the Cardinal

  71. imperious: overbearing, domineering

  74. he . . . all: i.e., the most powerful of those you named

  76. simple: ordinary; peers: nobles

  78. dame: lady

  79. sweeps it: moves majestically

  82. Strangers: foreigners; take her for: i.e., assume she is

  83. She . . . back: proverbial for wearing very expensive clothes: “He wears a whole lordship on his back.”  revenues: accent on second syllable

  86. Contemptuous: perhaps, disdainful; or, perhaps, contemptible; callet: strumpet

  87. vaunted: boasted; minions: favorites

  88. very train: i.e., train alone; her . . . gown: i.e., the worst gown she wears

  89. better worth: of greater worth

  90. gave: i.e., gave Reignier, the queen’s father

  91. limed a bush: i.e., smeared a bush with birdlime, to which birds’ feet stick

  93. light: descend and settle; lays: songs

  95. let her rest: i.e., think no more about her

  96. am bold: i.e., will presume

  97. fancy not: do not like

  99. in disgrace: i.e., into disgrace

  100. late: recent

  101. make . . . benefit: i.e., do little to further his good

  103. happy: fortunate

  103 SD. Sennet: trumpet fanfare to signal a ceremonial entrance or exit

  105. Or: either; all’s one: i.e., it’s all the same

  106. ill . . . himself: conducted himself badly

  107. regentship: rule (i.e., of France)

  108. place: position, office