123. gracious: acceptable, popular

  126. for truth: i.e., truthfully

  129. beseem: befit

  132. Whereof the root: i.e., the root of which

  134. Exempt . . . disdain: i.e., unaffected by malice but not by (Lady Bona’s) scorn or contempt

  135. quit his pain: i.e., take away his pain by returning his love

  137. grant: consent

  140. desert: excellence

  141. Mine . . . desire: i.e., what I heard has invited my judgment to desire him

  143. forthwith: at once; articles: a formal agreement; drawn: i.e., drawn up, written out

  144. Touching: concerning

  145. with . . . counterpoised: i.e. shall equal her dowry

  149. device: scheme, stratagem

  150. make void my suit: render my petition worthless

  154. good success: achievement

  156. late: just now

  158. estate: dignity, status

  163. better ’twere: i.e., it would be better that

  164. impudent: insolently disrespectful

  168. conveyance: underhand dealing, cunning contrivance

  169. birds . . . feather: proverbial

  169 SD. Post: one who travels express carrying letters; within: offstage

  178. mark: observe; as . . . nettled: i.e., as if he were angry

  180. what are: Here, news is treated as plural.

  181. unhoped: unanticipated

  184. soothe: smooth or gloss over; forgery: deception, lie

  185. persuade: advise, counsel

  192. clear from: innocent of

  194. most himself: i.e., dishonors himself most of all (line 193)

  198. impale him: i.e., encircle his head

  199. native right: i.e., right belonging to him by virtue of his birth

  200. guerdoned: rewarded

  201. my desert: what I deserve

  205. true servitor: loyal servant

  209. faults: offences

  213. bands: troops

  215. tyrant: usurper

  218. fall from him: i.e., desert Edward

  219. matching: marrying

  231. in post: at express speed, in haste

  233. maskers: participants in a masque or masquerade (See picture.)

  “Maskers.” (3.3.233; 4.1.95)

  From Giacomo Franco, Habiti d’huomeni . . . venetiane . . . [1609?].

  234. revel it: make merry

  235. Thou seest what’s passed: i.e., you have seen what has taken place; fear: frighten; withal: with it

  236. in hope: i.e., hoping; prove: turn out to be

  237. wear the willow garland: The willow garland symbolized the grief of lost love.

  238. weeds: garments

  246. bid . . . battle: challenge false Edward to fight

  248. a fresh supply: i.e., reinforcements

  255. motion: proposition, proposal

  256. fair: beautiful

  258. faith: promise

  261. pledge: guarantee the performance of

  262. stay we: do we delay

  264. waft: convey, carry; over: i.e., over the water

  265. long till: am impatient until; mischance: disaster, calamity

  266. dame: woman of rank, lady

  269. charge: task, duty

  270. answer: encounter hostilely; demand: request

  271. none: no one; stale: decoy, cover for (Edward’s) sinister designs

  273, 274. chief: i.e., foremost or most influential person

 

  * * *

 

  4.1  King Edward learns of Warwick’s defection and orders that troops be levied in preparation for war. Clarence decides to join Warwick in return for the hand of Warwick’s younger daughter in marriage.

  5. stay: wait, put off (the marriage [line 2])

  8. mind: intend, plan

  8 SD. Four . . . other: Presumably Edward stands (or sits) between the two groups of four.

  10. pensive: melancholy; malcontent: mutinous, rebellious

  11. As well as: i.e., as well as do

  12. Which: i.e., who

  13. abuse: injury, wrong

  17. because: i.e., because you are

  23. yoke: are joined (in marriage), with wordplay on the yoking of draft animals (See picture.)

  The yoke of matrimony. (4.1.23)

  From Henry Peacham, Minerua Britanna . . . [1612].

  32. gave in charge: ordered, commanded

  35. invention: a scheme or plan

  42. backed with: aided or supported by

  45. fence: defense, bulwark

  46. their helps only: i.e., their aid alone

  49. have the heir: i.e., have married the heir

  50. grant: promise

  51. stand for law: be valid; be of force, hold good

  53. give: i.e., give in marriage

  59. speed: succeed or prosper

  63. being shallow: i.e., since it is shallow; give me leave: permit me

  64. play the broker: i.e., negotiate (literally, act as middleman or agent)

  65. mind: plan, intend

  66. Leave . . . tarry: i.e., whether you go or stay

  69. state: status, condition, rank

  70. Do me but right and: i.e., if you do me right

  71. ignoble of descent: i.e., of low birth or rank

  72. meaner: those of humbler background

  74. dislikes: disapproval

  75. Doth: i.e., do

  84 SD. Post: courier, letter carrier

  88. But such as: except for those that

  90. Go to: an expression of impatience; we: the royal plural

  91. guess: i.e., conjecturally reconstruct

  92. our letters: i.e., my letter

  93. depart: departure

  97. Belike: perhaps, no doubt

  103. the wrong: injustice

  104. in place: present, at hand

  106. done: i.e., laid aside (3.3.238)

  108. minds: plans, intends; Amazon: female warrior (See picture.)

  114. Durst: dared

  123. sit you fast: i.e., sit firmly (on your throne)  fast: so as not to be moved or shaken

  125. That: i.e., so that; want: lack

  134. prepare: i.e., preparation

  135. They: i.e., the forces from France

  136. straight: straightaway, immediately

  138. doubt: perhaps, fear; perhaps, uncertainty

  139. blood: kinship

  143. hold: observe, abide by

  145. suspect: suspicion

  149. despite: defiance

  152. power: army, forces

 

  * * *

 

  4.2  Warwick and Clarence prepare to surprise King Edward, who awaits the French troops in a lightly guarded camp.

  1. hitherto: as yet, up to this time

  2. by numbers: i.e., in great number

  3. comes: i.e., come

  4. suddenly: at once

  5. Fear: doubt

  6. gentle: a complimentary form of address

  8. rest: remain; where: in a case in which

  9. pawned: pledged

  11. feignèd: insincere, false

  12. sweet: a complimentary form of address

  14. rests: remains; in night’s coverture: under night’s protective covering

  16. lurking: idling

  17. but attended by: i.e., attended only by; simple: small

  19. adventure: venture

  20–22. Ulysses . . . steeds: In the Iliad, Ulysses and Diomedes carried off Rhesus’ horses, under cover of night, to prevent the prophecy that if the horses grazed in Troy, Greece’s siege would fail.  stout: brave  sleight: cunning  manhood: courage  fatal: entwined with fate (the prophecy)

  24. At unawares: suddenly, unexpectedly

  25. himself: i.e., him

  26. but only: i.e., merely; surprise: capture

  29. in silent sort: i.e., silently

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

 

  * * *

 

  4.3  Warwick, Clarence, and their troops capture King Edward, remove his crown, and send him captive to the Archbishop of York. They then prepare to march to London to free King Henry.

  1. my masters: i.e., sirs, gentlemen; stand: position, place

  2. by this: i.e., by this time; is set him down: i.e., has seated himself

  3. What: an interjection introducing a question

  6. suppressed: vanquished

  7. belike: probably

  14. keeps: remains in

  16. worship: renown

  18. in . . . stands: i.e., King Edward’s situation

  19. doubted: feared

  20. halberds: military weapons that combine the spear and the battle-ax (See picture.); or, perhaps, soldiers carrying halberds; did shut up his: barred Warwick’s

  Halberds and similar weapons. (4.3.20)

  From Louis de Gaya, A treatise of the arms . . . (1678).

  21. wherefore: why

  22. his person: i.e., him

  24. my masters: See note to line 1.

  25. But: merely, only

  27 SD. gown: dressing gown; flies: i.e., fly, flee

  34. embassade: mission as ambassador

  38. use: treat

  41. study for: be concerned about

  42. shroud: protect

  44. needs must down: i.e., must of necessity fall

  46. complices: accomplices

  48. Fortune’s . . . state: See notes to 1.4.117 and 2.3.32.

  49. My mind . . . wheel: i.e., my mind is not controlled by her (The goddess Fortuna is often pictured as controlling human lives by turning a large wheel to which they are bound. See picture.)  compass: scope, reach

  50. for his mind: i.e., so far as concerns his mind

  52. shadow: delusive semblance or image

  60. Fates: the personification of the agency that predetermines human destiny (See picture.)

  61. boots not: does no good

 

  * * *

 

  4.4  King Edward’s wife, Queen Elizabeth, hearing of Edward’s capture, fears for her life and that of her unborn child. She seeks sanctuary.

  1. what makes you in: perhaps, what is the cause of (Some editors change “you in” to “in you.”)

  3. late: recent

  4. pitched battle: a battle planned by the two sides

  8. falsehood: faithlessness

  9. surprised at unawares: captured without warning

  10. have to understand: am given to understand

  11. new committed to: recently consigned to the custody of

  12. Fell: cruel; by that: therefore

  13. These news: these tidings; this news

  16. fair hope: perhaps, hope of future success; or, perhaps, flattering hope; hinder: prevent, slow the progress of

  17. the rather: the more readily; wean me: detach myself

  19. bridle passion: control my grief

  20. my misfortune’s cross: i.e., the burden of my misfortune

  21–24. for this . . . fruit: wordplay on fruit as offspring and as fruit tree, with tears and sighs threatening the fetus as rain and wind threaten vegetation   draw in: restrain   blood-sucking sighs: Sighs were thought to draw blood from the heart.  blast: blow on malignantly, blight, wither

  25. where . . . become: i.e., what has become of Warwick

  29. down: i.e., fall

  30. prevent: forestall; tyrant’s: usurper’s

  32. forthwith: immediately; the sanctuary: i.e., the protection offered by law to a fugitive who sought shelter in a church (According to the chronicles, Queen Elizabeth sought sanctuary in Whitehall, where she gave birth to a son named Edward.)

  33. right: claim to the throne

  34. rest: remain; fraud: trickery; faithlessness

  35. fly: flee

 

  * * *

 

  4.5  Richard rescues King Edward from his captivity. They prepare to sail to Flanders.

  2. Leave off to wonder: i.e., stop asking; or, stop wondering

  3. park: private hunting preserve

  6. usage: treatment

  7. but attended with: i.e., attended only by

  8. this way: i.e., toward this place; disport: enjoy, amuse

  9. advertised: informed

  10. make: proceed

  11. color: pretext; game: sport of hunting

  12. horse: i.e., horses; men: servants, attendants

  14. game: bird or animal being hunted, quarry

  18. close: concealed

  19. case: circumstance

  22. Lynn: King’s Lynn, a port city in Norfolk; shipped: i.e., take ship

  23. Flanders: a province in present-day Belgium

  24. meaning: intention

  25. forwardness: eagerness, zeal

  26. wherefore stay we: why do we delay

  27. go along: i.e., come with us

  30. thee: yourself

 

  * * *

 

  4.6  Warwick rescues King Henry from imprisonment in the Tower of London. Henry turns over the government to Warwick and Clarence.

  5. our enlargement: my release from confinement; due: proper, merited (A released prisoner paid for his care in prison.)

  6. challenge: demand, claim

  7. prayer: petitioner, one who prays

  11. For that: because

  13. Conceive: i.e., feel (literally, are affected by or possessed with)

  14. by . . . harmony: i.e., through the harmonic sounds of the household

  16. after . . . free: i.e., you are next in importance to God in freeing me

  17. chiefly: i.e., more than any others

  18. author: originator, cause; instrument: means, agent

  20. low: i.e., at the bottom of Fortune’s wheel (See note to 4.3.49 and picture.)

  22. with . . . stars: i.e., by the adverse stars that control my fate

  24. government: authority to rule

  25. fortunate: favored by Fortune

  26. still: always; famed for: renowned as

  28. spying: discovering, observing closely

  29. rightly: properly; temper with the stars: “conform their ‘temper’ to their destiny” (Samuel Johnson)

  31. in place: i.e., on the spot, in position, available

  32. sway: sovereign power

  33. the heav’ns in thy nativity: i.e., the conjunction of stars and planets when you were born (astrological language) See picture.

  Plotting a person’s horoscope or “nativity.” (4.6.33)

  From Jakob Rüff, De conceptu et generatione hominis . . . (1580).

  34. Adjudged: granted; olive branch: symbol of peace; laurel crown: reward for victory in war (line 35) See pictures.

  Peace holding an olive branch and sword. (4.6.34)

  From Gilles Corrozet, Hecatongraphie . . . (1543).

  A “laurel crown.” (4.6.34; 5.3.0 SD)

  From Giacomo Lauri, Antiquae vrbis splendor . . . (1612–15).

  35. As likely: i.e., since you were likely

  37. only: alone

  41. government: (proper) exercise of authority over the kingdom

  44. latter: final

  45. rebuke: disgrace, reproach

  48. repose myself: i.e., rely

  50. yoke: join, become linked

  51. supply: fill

  56. confiscate: appropriated to the use of the sovereign

  57. What else: i.e., I agree; succession: i.e., the order by which the kingship will be inherited

  58. therein: perhaps, in the decision; or, perhaps, in the succession; want: lack

  63. doubtful fear: apprehension

  69. England’s hope: In the near future, Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond, will defeat Richard of Gloucester (as Richard III) and become King Henry VII, founder of the Tudor dynasty.

  71. but truth: no more than truth; divining: prophesying, inspired

  72. prove: turn out to be

  74. framed: formed, shaped

  81. as he: i.e., as Warwick’s brother, the Archbishop of York; Burgundy: the duchy of Burgundy

  83. conveyed: stolen away

  84. attended: waited for

  85. forest side: outskirts of the forest

  88. charge: (1) man for whom he was responsible; (2) responsibility

  90. betide: happen

  91. like not of: do not like, am displeased by

  92. Burgundy: i.e., the Duke of Burgundy (historically, an ally not of Edward but of Henry VI)

  94. late: recent; presaging: portentous

  100. Forthwith: immediately; Brittany: a duchy comprising the northwestern peninsula of France, which tried to remain neutral in the 15th-century wars between England and France

  101. civil enmity: hostility between factions within the nation

  103. like: likely; down: fall

 

  * * *

 

  4.7  Edward, having returned from Flanders with a supporting army, enters the city of York, claiming that he wants only his dukedom. Once inside the gates, and at the urging of his followers, he again asserts his right to the crown.

  2. maketh us amends: pays me restitution or compensation (See picture of Fortune.)

  4. wanèd: diminished; state: status, rank

  5. passed: i.e., crossed

  8. Ravenspurgh Haven: a harbor in northeastern England

  9. as into: i.e., as if I were entering (Edward is Duke of York.)

  10. made fast: locked

  11. stumble at the threshold: an expression that meant “meet with an ominous restraint at the beginning of an enterprise”