15. if it please: a politeness formula

  19. stouter champion: more formidable fighting man

  20. we: i.e., I (the royal we); resolvèd: convinced; truth: allegiance, loyalty

  22. our: i.e., my (the royal plural)

  23. reguerdoned: rewarded

  25. deserts: meritorious actions, excellences

  27. our coronation: ceremony of my being crowned

  27 SD. Sennet: trumpet fanfare marking the ceremonial exit

  28. hot: angry

  29. Disgracing of: reviling; these colors: colored device, badge (here, the white rose)

  31. the former . . . spak’st: i.e., the words you spoke earlier

  32. patronage: defend

  33. envious: malicious; saucy: insolent

  35. Sirrah: term of address to a social inferior (in this case, an insult)

  37. in witness: as testimony

  38. law of arms: See longer note.

  39. whoso: whoever; present: immediate

  40. broach: draw off as if through a hole in a cask

  41. I’ll unto: i.e., I’ll go to; crave: i.e., ask earnestly that

  42. venge: avenge

  43. meet: fight a duel with

  44. miscreant: vile wretch

  45. after: afterward; would: wish

  ACT 4

  * * *

  Scene 1

  4.1  Henry VI is crowned. Fastolf arrives with a letter from Burgundy and, because of his earlier cowardice in battle, is stripped of his Garter by Talbot and banished by Henry. The letter from Burgundy announces his defection, and Henry sends Talbot to attack him. Vernon and Basset seek royal permission to fight a duel, as in turn do their patrons York and Somerset. Henry denies permission to them. He then dons the red rose of Somerset’s party but says he inclines no more to Somerset than to York. Henry orders York and Somerset to join forces against the French.

  0 SD. Flourish: a fanfare to announce the king’s entrance

  4. elect: choose

  6. pretend: present, bring

  7. practices: schemes, machinations

  9. Callice: Calais (See picture.)

  A view of Callice, or Calais. (4.1.9)

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

  15. Garter: badge of the highest order of English knighthood, a dark-blue velvet garter worn just below the left knee, edged and buckled with gold (See picture.)

  The Garter. (4.1.15, 33–34)

  From Elias Ashmole, The institution, laws & ceremonies of the . . . Order of the Garter . . . (1672).

  17. installèd: formally instated or invested; degree: rank

  19. battle of Patay: See 1.1.107–43.

  20. but in all . . . strong: i.e., I was in all only six thousand strong

  23. Like to: i.e., like; trusty: trustworthy (ironic); squire: term of contempt

  25. divers: several

  28. whether that: i.e., whether

  30. fact: deed, crime

  31. ill beseeming: not appropriate for; common man: i.e., commoner, one in the lower ranks of society

  32. captain: military commander

  33. Order: i.e., the Order of the Garter; ordained: instituted, established

  35. haughty: exalted

  36. were grown . . . wars: i.e., had achieved reputation in battle

  37. for distress: because of adversity or affliction

  38. most extremes: i.e., the greatest extremities

  39. sort: way (i.e., with courage, resolution, etc.)

  43. degraded: debased, lowered in rank; hedge-born: i.e., born in the shelter of a hedge for lack of a house (a proverbial expression); swain: farm laborer

  44. gentle: noble

  45. Stain: disgrace; doom: condemnation

  46. packing: gone

  49. uncle, Duke of Burgundy: The families of Henry and Burgundy were linked through marriage.

  50. style: tone

  54. Pretend: portend, presage

  57. Moved: emotionally stirred; wrack: ruin

  63. alliance: family relationship

  65. revolt: change allegiance

  69. talk with: rebuke (understatement)

  72. am prevented: i.e., have been anticipated

  74. strength: military power; straight: straightaway, immediately

  75. ill we brook: i.e., I take offense at (literally, harshly I tolerate)

  77. still: always

  78. confusion: destruction, ruin

  79. the combat: i.e., the right to trial by combat

  81. servant: attendant, follower

  85. wherefore: why; crave: demand, beg

  91. envious: malicious

  93. leaves: i.e., petals

  95. repugn: reject, contend against

  96. a certain question in the law: See 2.4 and 2.5.45–50.

  99. rude: ignorant, unlearned

  101. benefit of law of arms: i.e., duel

  103. forgèd: fabricated; quaint: cunning; conceit: device

  104. set a gloss upon: i.e., give an attractive semblance to

  108. Bewrayed: exposed

  109. left: forsaken, abandoned

  110. out: be suddenly revealed

  114. emulations: contentions between rivals

  115. cousins: i.e., kinsmen

  117. tried by fight: subject to trial by combat

  122. it: the quarrel; rest: remain; where . . . began: i.e., between Vernon and Basset

  124. Confounded: i.e., cursed

  125. audacious: shameless

  127. immodest: impudent, arrogant; outrage: insolence; disorder

  130. objections: charges

  131. take occasion . . . mouths: i.e., take advantage of the opportunity provided by their words

  132. mutiny: dispute, quarrel

  136. charge: command, order

  141. within: among

  142. stomachs: dispositions

  143. rebel: rebellion

  145. certified: informed

  146. toy: trifle; regard: importance

  149. conquest of my father: i.e., my father’s conquests

  151. That . . . that: i.e., for a trifle that which

  152. umpire: arbitrator; doubtful: uncertain, undecided; strife: dispute

  157. As . . . crown: i.e., they could just as well blame me for wearing my crown

  163. institute: appoint

  166. foot: foot soldiers

  168. digest: disperse

  175. promise: assure

  176. methought: it seemed to me; play the orator: proverbial

  181. iwis: indeed, truly

  185. deciphered: revealed

  188. simple: common (as opposed to noble or gentle)

  189. jarring: (1) wrangling; (2) inharmonious; discord: (1) strife; (2) musical dissonance

  190. shouldering: jostling

  191. bandying: contention; favorites: followers

  192. ill event: disastrous outcome

  193. ’Tis much . . . children’s hands: Proverbial: “Woe to the land whose king is a child.”  much: onerous

  194. more: worse; envy: malice; unkind division: hostile dissension

  195. confusion: destruction, overthrow

  ACT 4

  * * *

 

  4.2  As Talbot draws up his troops before Bordeaux, he learns that he is surrounded by much greater French forces.

  0 SD. Trump and Drum: i.e., trumpeter and drummer

  1.

  A view of Bordeaux. (4.2.1)

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

  3. captains: leaders

  5. would: i.e., wills, decrees

  8. bloody: cruel, bloodthirsty; power: army

  11. quartering: cutting (including cutting the body up into four parts)

  12. even: level

  13. air-braving: i.e., air-defying

  14. forsake: decline, refuse

  15. fearful: frightening; owl of death: Proverbial: “The screeching owl bodes death.” (See picture.)

  The “owl of death.” (4.2.15)

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

  17. period: end; tyranny: violence

  18. On us: i.e., into our city

  21. retire: retreat; well appointed: well equipped (i.e., with many troops)

  22. snares: devices for capturing birds and animals (Here begins a series of terms from hunting—tangle, pitched, flight—that continues into line 26 [spoil] and again becomes prominent in lines 45–54.)

  23. On either hand thee: i.e., on both sides of you; pitched: positioned to fight

  25. turn thee: i.e., turn; redress: aid

  26. front: confront; apparent: clear, palpable; spoil: i.e., slaughter (literally, the slaughter of the quarry and its division among the hunting dogs)

  27. pale Destruction: See Revelation 6.8: “I . . . behold a pale horse, and his name that sat on him was Death.” meets thee in the face: i.e., directly confronts you

  28. ta’en the Sacrament: i.e., taken Holy Communion as a confirmation of their vow

  29. rive: burst

  33. latest: last

  34. due thee withal: endow you with

  35–36. For . . . hour: i.e., before an hour has passed (literally, before sand finishes running through an hourglass) See picture.  process: progress, course  his: i.e., its

  An hourglass. (4.2.35–36)

  From August Casimir Redel, Apophtegmata symbolica . . . [n.d].

  37. well-colorèd: i.e., with a healthy complexion

  40. heavy: distressing

  41. departure: i.e., death

  42. fables not: i.e., does not lie or talk idly

  43. Out: away; light: lightly armed (and therefore swift); peruse: survey, inspect; wings: divisions, one on each side of the main body of an army

  44. discipline: military skill or training

  45. parked: enclosed, surrounded; bounded in a pale: i.e., confined as if within a fenced area (The phrases anticipate reference to the English as deer in line 46.)

  47. Mazed: dazed, crazed; kennel: pack

  48. in blood: in full vigor

  49. rascal-like: A rascal is (1) a young, lean or inferior deer; (2) a scoundrel. pinch: bite (i.e., of a hunting dog)

  50. moody-mad: high-spirited, obstinate, angry

  51. bloody: bloodthirsty

  52. at bay: like hunted animals defending themselves, unable to flee further

  53. Sell every man: i.e., let every man sell; as dear as mine: i.e., at as great cost as I do mine

  54. dear: costly; glorious, honorable

  55. Saint George: England’s patron saint (See picture.)

  56. Prosper: promote the success of; colors: flags, banners (and the national interest they represent)

  ACT 4

  * * *

 

  4.3  Sir William Lucy urges York to help Talbot, but York refuses to march until Somerset unites his cavalry with York’s army, blaming Somerset for Talbot’s sure defeat.

  0 SD. Trumpet: i.e., trumpeter

  3. give it out: report

  4. is marched: i.e., has marched; power: army

  6. espials: scouts, spies

  7. troops: bodies of soldiers

  10. A plague upon: i.e., may a pestilence light on

  11. my promisèd supply: the reinforcement I have been promised (See line 4.1.166.)

  13. expect: await

  14. louted: treated with contempt; disgraced

  15. chevalier: knight (French)

  16. necessity: hardship, difficulty

  17. miscarry: die

  18. strength: military power

  19. needful: necessary

  21. waist: i.e., belt (with wordplay on waste or “vast expanse”)

  24. Else: otherwise

  25. that: i.e., if only

  26. stop: prevent the departure of; cornets: companies of cavalry

  29. Mad: angry

  30. remiss: negligent

  32. my warlike word: i.e., my word as a soldier

  33. get: gain, win

  34. long: because

  36. who: i.e., whom; since: ago

  37. warlike: valiant

  38. This: i.e., these; seven years: proverbial expression for a long time

  42. Vexation: grief, affliction

  43. sundered: separated; friends: relatives; greet: i.e., should greet

  44. No more . . . can: i.e., my luck is such that I can do no more

  45. the cause: i.e., Somerset

  47. Long all: i.e., all because

  48. sedition: violent party strife

  50. neglection: negligence, neglect; loss: ruin, destruction

  51. scarce-cold: i.e., only recently dead

  52. ever-living man of memory: i.e., man of ever-living memory (transferred epithet)

  53. they: i.e., York and Somerset; cross: thwart

  ACT 4

  * * *

 

  4.4  Sir William Lucy chastises Somerset for not having helped Talbot, but Somerset blames York, who has apparently refused to communicate with him.

  1. them: i.e., the cavalry

  2. This expedition: i.e., against Bordeaux

  3. plotted: planned, devised; general force: whole army

  4. a sally . . . town: i.e., a sudden attack by the town’s garrison, unaided by the approaching reinforcements

  5. buckled with: engaged, fought with

  6. honor: fame

  7. unheedful: heedless

  8. set him on: incited him

  9. That: i.e., so that; bear the name: have a reputation

  13. Whither: Since this word means “to which place,” Lucy’s “From . . . Talbot” is a deliberate rejection of Somerset’s question, or Lucy is using whither to mean “whence, or from which place.” bought and sold: betrayed (proverbial, with a possible allusion to the betrayal of Jesus by Judas for a bribe)

  16. his weak regions: i.e., the territory he weakly controls (Regions is often emended to legions.)

  “Assailing Death.” (4.4.16)

  From Imagines mortis . . . (1557).

  17. captain: leader

  18. bloody sweat: See Luke 22.44, describing Jesus on the night before his death: “His sweat was like drops of blood.”

  19. in advantage ling’ring: perhaps, “suffering deadly pains (ling’ring) while holding a temporary advantage”; perhaps, “prolonging (ling’ring) the battle by exploiting every possible advantage”

  20. trust: trustees

  21. emulation: rivalry

  23. levied succors: mustered reinforcements

  25. odds: strife

  28. by: i.e., because of

  30. upon your Grace exclaims: accuses you

  31. host: army (perhaps an error for horse [line 33], a reading supported by 4.3.11–12)

  33. sent: i.e., sent a message; horse: cavalry

  35. take . . . him: i.e., disdain to flatter him (The word foul is an intensifier.) sending: i.e., sending the forces (without his specific request); or, perhaps, sending a message to him

  36. fraud: faithlessness

  40. straight: straightaway, immediately

  42. ta’en: i.e., taken, captured

  43. fly: flee; would: i.e., wished to

  44. might: could, was able to

  ACT 4

  * * *

 

  4.5  Talbot has been joined by his son John Talbot, whom he urges to flee certain death. John Talbot refuses to leave.

  5. thy father . . . chair: i.e., thy father drooping to his chair (transferred epithet) The word chair is here used as an attribute of old age (line 4).

  6. malignant: i.e., malign, having an evil influence

  7. feast of Death: “field where death will be feasted with slaughter” (Samuel Johnson)

  8. unavoided: unavoidable, inevitable

  13. fly: flee

  15. make a bastard: i.e., make people call me illegitimate; slave: figure of contempt

  17. stood: kept his ground without budging

  22. Your loss: i.e., the loss of you; your regard: i.e., care of you

  23. known: revealed

  25. in you: i.e., in your death

  27. that: i.e., who

  28. for vantage: i.e., in order to secure a tactical advantage

  29. bow: retreat, go

  32. mortality: death

  42. charge: command

  43. being slain: i.e., if you are dead

  44. death be so apparent: i.e., death is so obviously the outcome

  46. age: lifetime

  50. like: same

  52. fair son: a term of respectful, courteous address

  53. eclipse: extinguish

  ACT 4

  * * *

 

  4.6  Talbot again urges his son to flee and is again rebuffed.

  0 SD. Excursions: skirmishes; hemmed about: surrounded

  2. The Regent: i.e., York

  3. France his: i.e., France’s

  8. warlike: valiant; despite: in spite

  9. To my . . . date: i.e., you extended the term of my life  determined: appointed, ordained  date: limit, end of a period of time

  10. crest: helmet

  12. leaden age: i.e., old age

  13. spleen: impetuosity, passion

  15. pride: best; Gallia: France

  17–18. had the maidenhood / Of: i.e., first drew blood from you in

  20. disgrace: reproach, disparagement

  21. Bespoke: addressed

  23. Mean: ignoble; right: quite, very

  25. purposing: i.e., I intending

  26. Came: i.e., there came; care: object of concern

  29. sealed: authenticated; chivalry: bravery in war, martial distinction and glory

  31. one: i.e., John Talbot; stands me in little stead: provides me with little support