12 get the field win the battle

  14 Where whereas

  14 wont accustomed

  15 member limb

  16 earnest advance payment

  18 redress assistance, relief

  19 body … recompense with sexual connotations (to pay: to have sex)

  21 wonted furtherance usual assistance

  23 the foil defeat

  25 vail lower (in submission)

  25 lofty-plumèd crest helmet adorned with tall feathers

  27 ancient former/very old

  28 buckle fight (plays on the sense of “have sex”) Excursions sortie, bouts of fighting (during which Joan reenters)

  30 fast secure

  31 spelling conjuring

  33 devil’s grace favor; also touches on the paradoxical notion of the devil possessing divine grace

  34 bend her brows scowl

  35 with like

  35 Circe in Greek mythology, an island-dwelling sorceress who turned men into pigs with a magic potion

  37 proper handsome, perfect

  38 dainty fastidious, scrupulous

  39 plaguing mischief tormenting calamity

  41 in while

  42 Fell banning hag fierce cursing witch

  44 miscreant heretic

  44 in his hand led by the hand

  48 for to signify

  49 lay … side i.e. release her hand so that it hangs by her side

  55 allotted destined

  56 save protect

  58 usage treatment

  62 glassy mirror-like

  63 Twinkling causing to twinkle

  63 counterfeited mirrored, reflected

  67 de la Pole Suffolk’s family name

  67 disable devalue, disparage

  69 a woman’s sight the sight of a woman/the gaze of a woman

  71 Confounds that it destroys the power of

  71 rough dulls/agitated

  81 Fond foolish

  84 cooling card opponent’s card that, when played, ruins one’s hopes of winning (plays on the idea of “cooling” down hot desire)

  86 dispensation special permission from the Pope to dissolve a marriage

  89 wooden thing stupid idea/man (the king) not moved by passion/(Suffolk’s) erect penis

  91 fancy infatuation/love

  93 scruple difficulty

  98 disdain … much however disdainful they are

  101 enthralled taken captive

  107 captivate taken prisoner, both literally and metaphorically (either in love or servitude)

  109 cry you mercy beg your pardon

  109 quid for quo quid pro quo (Latin), i.e. tit for tat

  111 bondage happy imprisonment fortunate were you

  112 vile degraded, low (punned on in servility)

  113 servility slavery

  127 portion share, part (plays on the sense of “marriage portion, dowry”)

  127 choice an act of choice/object chosen

  129 An if if

  130 colours ensigns, bearers of military flags

  132 parley military negotiation between opposing sides

  136 what remedy i.e. there’s no help

  138 exclaim on accuse

  142 Whom refers to Margaret

  143 easy-held easily endured

  147 face deceive, show a false face

  148 warrant guarantee

  149 just honorable, worthy

  150 expect await

  150 below i.e. the main stage

  153 happy for fortunate in having

  156 her little worth her relative poverty, playing on the notion of moral value

  158 quietly peacefully

  163 counties i.e. regions, domains

  165 again in return

  166 deputy i.e. Suffolk

  167 plighted pledged, promised

  169 traffic business, trade

  171 attorney (legal) representative, advocate

  173 solemnized celebrated, formalized

  175 it becomes befits it

  181 princely commendations royal greetings, compliments

  184 placed arranged

  188 taint touched, tainted, stained

  189 withal in addition

  191 peevish foolish

  192 stay stop

  194 labyrinth … Minotaurs in Greek mythology, the Minotaur was a legendary monster with the head of a bull and the body of a man, living in the labyrinth of King Minos, in Crete

  195 Solicit urge, move

  195 her wondrous praise praise of her wondrous qualities

  196 Bethink thee reflect, remember

  196 surmount excel

  197 extinguish art outdo artifice

  198 Repeat their semblance recall, dwell on the image of them

  200 bereave deprive, rob

  Act 5 Scene 4

  5.4 Location: France, exact location unspecified

  3 sought every country searched every region

  4 chance fortune

  5 timeless untimely, premature

  7 miser miserable creature

  8 gentler nobler

  9 friend relative

  10 Out, out! expression of dismay and denial

  10 an’t if it

  11 beget conceive, father

  13 bach’lorship suggesting, either intentionally or unwittingly for comic purposes, that Joan was illegitimate; the Shepherd may intend “youth,” and the word can also mean “period as a novice or apprentice”

  15 argues demonstrates

  16 concludes proves/is a fitting end

  17 obstacle i.e. “obstinate,” an error that apparently demonstrates the Shepherd’s humble origins

  18 collop piece, part

  21 avaunt be gone

  21 suborned bribed, corrupted

  22 Of on

  23 noble gold coin

  27 nativity birth, with a particular emphasis on astronomy

  29 ratsbane rat poison

  30 keep look after

  30 afield in the field

  32 drab whore

  37 swain rustic

  38 progeny lineage

  41 exceeding exceptional

  42 to do plays on the sense of “sexual intercourse”

  46 want lack

  47 straight instantly

  48 compass bring about

  49 No misconceivèd not wickedly created/illegitimate; some editors emend punctuation, e.g. to “No, misconceivèd!” meaning “No, you have misunderstood”

  50 tender young/mild, gentle

  52 rigorously effused savagely spilled

  56 Spare … faggots do not be miserly with the bundles of kindling (a bigger blaze made it more likely for a victim to lose consciousness from smoke inhalation before their flesh burned)

  57 pitch black tarlike substance (burning it would increase the amount of asphyxiating smoke produced)

  60 discover reveal

  60 infirmity weakness, vulnerability

  61 warranteth … privilege legally guarantees my exemption (as putting a pregnant woman to death would entail killing the innocent child)

  64 hale drag, haul

  65 forfend forbid

  67 preciseness morality, propriety

  68 juggling having sex

  69 refuge last resource, final defense

  74 machiavel i.e. intriguer/unscrupulous schemer (from Niccolò Machiavelli’s The Prince, a sixteenth-century treatise perceived as advocating ruthless political cunning)

  75 an if even if

  78 prevailed seduced me

  82 liberal and free licentious and promiscuous (perhaps with mocking play on the senses of “generous and innocent”)

  87 reflex reflect, shine

  92 consume be burned

  93 minister servant, agent

  95 commission warrant, authority to act

  97 remorse pity

  97 outrageous broils excessively violent turmoil

  99 aspiring ambitious

  102 travail labor, effort

  113 conclude resolve, settle

  114 covenants terms of agreement

  122 baleful deadly, poisonous

  123 enacted decreed

  124 in regard insofar as

  125 mere pure, entire

  125 lenity mildness, mercifulness

  126 distressful devastating, ruinous

  127 suffer permit

  128 liegemen loyal followers

  130 tribute (usually annual) payment made as an act of homage

  134 coronet small crown worn by members of the nobility

  136 but only

  137 proffer proposal, offer

  139 Gallian French

  140 reverenced for held in respect as

  141 lucre acquisition, gain

  141 the rest remaining territories (that are)

  146 cast excluded, driven

  149 compromise resolution

  150 upon comparison by insisting on comparing your current state with the one you are being offered/on comparing our position to yours

  152 Of benefit out of generosity/as a benefaction

  153 challenge of desert claim based on merit

  156 cavil dispute, raise quibbling objections

  157 neglected disregarded, underestimated

  163 compact agreement, contract

  165 condition terms of agreement

  167 reserved with the sole reservation that

  168 towns of garrison fortified towns

  174 ensigns military banners

  175 entertain accept, receive

  Act 5 Scene 5

  5.5 Location: the royal court, London

  4 settled rooted, firmly entrenched

  5 rigour the harshness

  6 Provokes impels

  6 hulk large vessel

  11 her worthy praise praise of her true worth

  15 conceit imagination

  17 full fully

  18 lowliness meekness

  25 flatter gloss over, mitigate

  27 lady of esteem i.e. the daughter of the Earl of Armagnac (see Act 5 Scene 1)

  28 contract betrothal

  29 reproach disgrace, shame

  31 triumph jousting tournament

  32 lists designated combat arena

  35 be broke broken off with

  42 confirm strengthen, entrench

  46 warrant guarantee

  47 Where whereas

  56 attorneyship legal practices, negotiations between lawyers

  57 will want

  57 affects loves, prefers

  61 preferred put forward, recommended, promoted

  65 pattern model

  68 feature physical appearance

  69 Approves proves

  72 issue … king giving a child to the king/giving birth to the future king

  75 resolve constancy, courage, resolution

  80 for that because

  81 attaint touched, affected

  84 dissension conflict

  87 post hurry

  88 procure ensure, contrive

  91 anointed marked with holy oil, the sign of monarchy

  92 charge money to spend

  93 tenth a tax of ten percent on income or property

  96 offence hostility, opposition

  97 censure judge (not necessarily negatively)

  97 what you were i.e. your own youthful impulsiveness

  100 from company alone

  101 revolve and ruminate consider, meditate on

  101 grief anxieties/love melancholy (Gloucester then intensifies the sense)

  104 Paris … Greece in Greek legend, Paris’ abduction of the beautiful Helen, wife of the king of Troy, provoked the devastating Trojan war with the Greeks

  105 like event same outcome

  Act 1 Scene 1

  1.1 Location: the royal court, London

  1.1 Flourish trumpet fanfare accompanying a person in authority

  1.1 hautboys oboelike instruments

  2 had in charge was commanded

  2 depart departure

  3 procurator to deputy, representative for

  4 marry i.e. by proxy on the king’s behalf

  4 for on behalf of

  5 Tours a city southwest of Orléans, located at the junction of the Rivers Cher and Loire

  6 Sicil Sicily

  7 Calaber Calabria, a region of southern Italy

  7 Bretagne Brittany

  9 espoused married

  14 shadow image, reflection

  15 happiest most fortunate

  15 marquis i.e. Suffolk

  18 kinder more natural, affectionate

  23 sympathy harmony, mutual feeling

  25 mutual conference intimate conversation

  27 beads i.e. prayers, said over a Catholic rosary (beads used as prompts in the reciting of prayers)

  28 alderliefest most beloved

  29 salute address/greet

  30 wit skill, intellect

  30 ruder unaccomplished, unpolished

  31 minister supply, provide

  32 Her sight the sight of her

  33 yclad decked out, clothed

  34 wond’ring marveling, admiring

  39 Protector surrogate ruler of the realm, while the new king was too young to reign (Henry VI had inherited the throne as a baby)

  39 so if

  40 articles terms, conditions

  40 contracted formally agreed

  42 concluded resolved, settled

  43 Imprimis “in the first place” (Latin)

  48 ere before

  49 Item “likewise” (Latin)

  53 qualm sudden feeling of nausea/fit of misgiving

  54 that so that

  55 Uncle technically, Henry’s great-uncle

  58 of at

  59 proper personal

  63 gird invest (with the title)

  64 Cousin a common form of address used among nobles

  65 regent one who rules in the king’s absence

  67 full fully

  71 entertainment hospitality princely royal

  72 provide prepare

  74 Brave noble, splendid/valiant

  77 Henry i.e. Henry V

  79 lodge dwell, sleep

  83 policy skillful political strategy

  88 Council i.e. the Privy Council of the king’s ministers and advisers

  91 awe subjection, dread

  96 counsel advice, plans

  97 league union, alliance

  98 fame honor, reputations

  100 Razing erasing

  100 characters written records

  101 monuments records, memorials

  102 as as though

  104 peroration rhetorical speech

  104 circumstance elaborate details

  110 large style grand title

  112 him … all i.e. Christ

  114 wherefore why

  122 Mort Dieu! “God’s death!” (a French oath)

  123 For as for

  123 suffocate suffocated (puns on Suffolk)

  125 rent ripped up

  130 match marry

  130 vantages advantages, assets

  131 proper fine, resounding

  132 fifteenth tax of one-fifteenth of the value of income or property

  136 hot angry, worked up

  137 pleasure will, desire

  143 ancient former, long-standing

  144 Lordings my lords

  150 next of blood next in line (to the throne; Henry VI does not, at this point, have children, and Gloucester is his father’s brother)

  153 wealthy … west i.e. Spanish possessions in the Americas (an anachronism)

  155 smoothing flattering, ingratiating, plausible

  162 flattering gloss deceptively attractive appearance

  165 He i.e. Henry VI

  169 brook tolerate

  170 presently immediately

  173 haughty proud, aspiring

  175 Than than that of

  177 Or either

  179 Pride i.e. the cardinal

  179 ambition i.e. Buckingham and Somerset

  180 preferment advancement

  181 Behoves it it is appropriate for

  182 I … but I have always seen that

  183 him himself

  186 as as if

  186 stout arrogant, haughty

  187 demean behave, conduct

  190 plainness openness, frankness

  190 housekeeping hospitality

  192 Excepting none but with the exception only of that shown to

  193 brother brother-in-law (York was married to Salisbury’s sister, Cecily Neville)

  195 late recent

  199 bridle control, restrain

  202 cherish encourage, nurture

  203 tend promote, encourage, tend to

  205 common communal, general

  206 cause i.e. as one with a claim to the throne

  207 look … main see to the most important business at hand (from the dice game of hazard where the “main” was the successful throw)

  208 Maine French province lost as part of the recent treaty

  209 main sheer

  215 tickle precarious

  216 concluded settled, decided

  218 change exchange

  220 thine your inheritance (York addresses himself)

  221 make … pillage barter their booty for virtually nothing

  222 purchase friends i.e. through such generosity

  222 courtesans prostitutes; plays on the original meaning “one attached to the court of a prince”

  223 Still continually

  224 While as while

  224 silly helpless

  225 hapless unfortunate

  226 trembling frightened

  226 aloof to one side (unable to intervene)

  228 Ready about

  232 proportion relation

  234 Althaea … Calydon in Greek mythology, it was prophesied that Meleager, Prince of Calydon, would only live for as long as a log burned in the fire; his mother, Althaea, snatched the brand out, but cast it back into the flames when, years later, Meleager killed her brothers

  239 Nevilles’ i.e. Salisbury and Warwick’s

  242 mark target

  243 Lancaster i.e. Henry VI

  244 childish Henry was only nine months old when he was crowned

  245 diadem crown

  246 church-like humours pious disposition

  247 still quiet, patient

  247 time do serve an opportunity arises

  248 Watch remain awake/be on guard

  250 surfeiting overindulging

  251 dear-bought expensive, obtained at too high a price

  252 at jars into conflict, discord

  253 milk-white rose emblem of the House of York

  255 standard military banner, battle flag

  256 grapple struggle, wrestle

  257 force perforce through violence, by compulsion

  258 bookish studious (perhaps with particular reference to religious texts)