100 hard close

  102 encountered i.e. in combat

  103 a he

  104 No i.e. no, nothing but a knight

  105 presently immediately

  105 Drum drummer

  108 hinds peasants

  110 groom servant (i.e. Cade)

  111 revolt turn back (to your former allegiance)

  114 pass care

  119 shearman one who shears excess fiber from woolen cloth as it is made

  120 Adam in the Bible, the first man; he looked after the Garden of Eden

  125 two … birth i.e. twins

  127 question problem

  128 put to nurse given to a wet-nurse to be breastfed (noble women did not generally breastfeed their own babies)

  135 alive still there

  142 Go to expression of impatient dismissal

  144 span-counter game in which a player tried to throw a counter or coin as close to that of his opponent as possible (and within the distance of the span of a hand) French crowns coins/syphilitic baldness/monarch’s crowns (refers to the campaigns against the French under Henry V)

  145 Protector legal and political guardian

  148 mained maimed (puns on Maine)

  149 fain to go obliged to walk

  149 puissance power

  150 gelded castrated

  153 miserable contemptible, pitiable

  156 tongue language

  158 gentle peaceable

  161 up up in arms

  162 That so that

  164 for as

  169 clouted shoon patched or hobnailed shoes (i.e. workingmen’s footwear)

  170 thrifty respectable, worthy

  172 order battle formation

  173 out of order rebellious

  Act 4 Scene 3

  7 Lent … one during Lent, the forty-day period before Easter when Christians were to eat fish rather than meat, butchers required a special license to slaughter animals; Cade promises to double the length of Lent and grants Dick the right to kill ninety-nine animals/supply ninety-nine customers/hold a license for ninety-nine years

  19 brigandine body armor

  10 monument memorial trophy

  16 Fear doubt

  16 warrant assure

  Act 4 Scene 4

  4.4 Location: the royal court, London

  4.4 supplication formal petition

  12 parley negotiate

  15 wandering unfixed, having its own motion

  17 That who

  26 Southwark area just south of the Thames, on the outskirts of the City

  36 false caterpillars treacherous parasites

  37 graceless rough, ignorant/lacking divine grace

  37 they … do echoes Christ’s words from the cross (Luke 23:34)

  38 Killingworth Kenilworth Castle, near Coventry in Warwickshire

  39 power army

  41 appeased pacified

  44 So then

  50 rascal people rabble

  52 spoil plunder, loot

  Act 4 Scene 5

  4.5 Location: the Tower of London

  3 the bridge i.e. London Bridge

  4 craves requests/begs

  9 gather head raise an army

  10 Matthew Gough historically a very experienced soldier

  Act 4 Scene 6

  4.6 Location: Cannon Street, London

  4.6 London Stone central City landmark located in Cannon Street

  2 of at

  3 Pissing Conduit the nickname for Little Conduit, a water fountain used by the lower-class Londoners

  Act 4 Scene 7

  4.7 Location: Smithfield, London

  1 Savoy the London residence of the Duke of Lancaster

  2 Inns of Court series of buildings west of the City where young men studied law

  4 lordship title and estate of a lord

  8 whole healed, healthy

  14 biting severe/gnawed, bitten with teeth

  18 towns i.e. Anjou and Maine

  19 pay … fifteens a tax of 140 percent on each person’s assets

  19 subsidy levying of taxation to meet a special requirement, e.g. war

  21 say fine part-silk fabric (puns on Saye)

  21 serge hard-wearing woolen fabric

  21 buckram coarse linen

  22 point-blank direct range

  24 Basimecu i.e. baise mon cul, French for “kiss my ass”

  25 Be … presence the standard legal phrase used at the beginning of a document (where “these presents” refers to the document) is confused with the royal “presence”

  26 besom broom (puns on “basimecu”)

  30 score … tally means of keeping accounts where sticks were scored, or notched, with a total, then split into halves (tallies) so that debtor and creditor had one each

  30 printing … paper-mill an anachronism: the printing press (1476) and the paper mill (1495) were not established in England until the late fifteenth century

  33 usually habitually

  39 only … live if a criminal could prove that he could read Latin he could claim “benefit of clergy” and avoid being hanged

  40 foot-cloth stately ornamental cloth draped over the back of a horse

  42 Marry by the Virgin Mary

  43 hose and doublets breeches and jackets (with no outer garment)

  49 ‘bona … gens’ “a good land, bad people” (Italian catchphrase used of England and the English)

  51 bear (then) take

  52 commentaries Caesar writ Julius Caesar’s Commentarii de Bello Gallico describes his campaigns from 58 to 52 BC; in Golding’s 1564 translation the people of Kent are described as the “civilest” in England

  55 liberal generous

  59 favour leniency, compassion

  61 aught anything

  61 exacted enforced (payment of taxes)

  63 clerks scholars

  64 book learning, education

  64 preferred me gained me preferment, recommended me

  68 forbear desist, refrain

  69 parleyed unto negotiated with

  70 behoof benefit, advantage

  71 field battlefield

  72 reaching far-reaching, influential

  74 come behind a dishonorable way to attack an enemy

  75 watching remaining awake, on guard

  78 sitting i.e. as a judge

  78 determine settle, decide

  78 causes lawsuits, cases

  80 hempen caudle i.e. hangman’s rope

  80 caudle strengthening medicinal gruel

  81 hatchet the executioner’s axe

  83 palsy illness characterized by trembling

  84 who one who

  84 even fair, forthright/steady, unwavering

  88 affected loved, aimed at

  92 guiltless bloodshedding the shedding of innocent blood

  95 remorse pity

  96 bridle restrain

  96 an … but if only

  97 familiar attendant spirit, demon

  98 a in

  104 obdurate unyielding

  109 tribute payment made to a monarch as an act of homage

  110 pay … it alludes to the “droit de seigneur,” the right of a feudal lord to have sex with the bride of a vassal on her wedding night

  110 maidenhead virginity

  111 hold hold property

  111 in capite directly from the crown (legal term); puns on Latin caput, i.e. “head/maidenhead”

  112 free sexually available

  115 take … bills acquire goods on credit or by means of force/spear decapitated heads on our weapons/have sex with whores

  115 bills financial accounts/long-handled bladed weapons/penises

  117 brave marvelous, fine

  122 spoil looting, plunder

  123 maces staffs of office

  Act 4 Scene 8

  4.8 Location: near London Bridge, on the north side of the River Thames rabblement riotous followers

  1 Fish Street on the north side of London Bridge, across the river from Southwark

  1 St Magnus’ Corner site of St. Magnus’ Church, by London Bridge at the bottom of Fish Street

  1 parley trumpet summons for negotiation between opposing sides, during which fighting was to stop

  8 pronounce formally declare, proclaim

  13 Who whoever

  17 Shake he let him shake (in defiance)

  19 brave audacious

  23 White Hart an inn on Borough High Street in Southwark, south of the Thames, at which Cade had lodged; its name plays on the sense of “coward”

  24 out up

  25 recreants deserters

  26 dastards cowards

  28 ravish rape

  29 make … one look out for myself

  35 meanest lowliest, most humble

  37 the spoil looting, plunder

  39 at jar in discord

  40 fearful frightened

  41 start sudden invasion

  42 broil turmoil, battle

  44 ‘Villiago!’ version of the Italian (here generally “foreign”) word for coward, vigliacco

  45 miscarry perish, come to harm

  51 A to

  53 hales hauls, drags

  55 surprise capture

  56 despite spite

  57 have through here I come through

  60 betake me take

  64 mean way, means

  Act 4 Scene 9

  4.9 Location: unspecified, presumably Kenilworth Castle terrace i.e. the upper staging level or gallery

  1 joyed enjoyed

  8 surprised seized

  9 retired retreated

  9 halters nooses

  10 powers forces, soldiers

  12 Expect await

  12 doom judgment, sentence

  13 ope open

  14 entertain receive

  18 infortunate unfortunate

  21 several countries various regions

  23 advertisèd warned

  24 newly recently, just

  25 puissant powerful

  26 galloglasses Irish soldiers armed with axes

  26 stout bold, hardy

  26 kerns lightly armed Irish foot soldiers

  27 array readiness for combat

  28 still continually

  31 state situation/country/kingship distressed afflicted with adversity

  33 calmed becalmed

  35 second support, reinforce

  37 of for

  38 Duke Edmund i.e. Somerset

  44 rough in terms harsh in your choice of language

  45 brook tolerate

  46 deal negotiate

  47 redound unto turn out for

  49 yet so far, up until now

  Act 4 Scene 10

  4.10 Location: Iden’s garden, Kent

  1 Fie expression of angry impatience

  2 famish starve

  3 durst dared

  3 laid set with traps

  5 stay wait, delay

  7 sallet salad (leaves and vegetables)

  7 while time

  8 stomach appetite

  8 word possible pun on “wort,” i.e. edible herb or vegetable

  10 sallet light helmet

  10 brain-pan skull

  10 brown bill long-handled weapon with an axe-like blade, either painted or varnished brown, or stained with dried blood

  11 dry thirsty

  14 turmoiled harried, in a state of upheaval

  18 wax grow

  18 waning diminishing, loss

  19 I … envy regardless of others’ envy or malice

  20 Sufficeth that it is enough that what

  21 well pleasèd i.e. with plenty of food

  22 lord … soil i.e. owner of the estate

  23 stray trespasser

  23 fee-simple land or property that is owned outright, and may be passed on to heirs in such a condition

  24 of from

  26 eat … ostrich it was popularly thought that ostriches did so; Cade means that he will stab Iden

  28 rude companion lowly, rough fellow

  33 brave defy

  33 saucy insolent

  35 broached shed

  35 beard defy (literally, pull insultingly by the beard)

  35 eat eaten

  36 meat food

  40 esquire a gentleman ranking below a knight

  41 Took odds accepted such an unequal challenge

  43 outface defy

  46 truncheon thick staff, i.e. Iden’s leg

  49 if … earth i.e. if I but raise my arm, you are as good as dead

  50 whose … words either “whose power is only inflicted upon mere words” or “the power of this (my sword) answers them”

  51 forbears refrains from, cannot express

  52 complete consummate, accomplished champion defender of a person or cause

  53 turn the edge fail to cut

  54 chines joints

  55 turned to hobnails melted down and turned into the nails used in boots

  62 monstrous unnatural

  63 hallow consecrate, bless

  66 herald’s coat heraldic device

  67 emblaze set forth by means of a heraldic device

  73 bare bore, gave birth to

  74 thrust … sword thrust my sword into your body

  78 ungracious lacking divine grace

  80 trunk body

  Act 5 Scene 1

  5.1 Location: St. Albans

  5.1 Drum drummer

  5.1 Colours flagbearers

  4 entertain welcome

  5 sancta majestas “sacred majesty” (Latin)

  7 gold i.e. the official regalia of kingship

  9 Except unless

  10 have I as sure as I have

  11 toss impale

  11 flower-de-luce fleur-de-lis, the heraldic lily of the French royal coat of arms

  13 dissemble deceive, disguise the truth

  16 of pleasure on your own initiative, to please yourself

  23 choler anger

  25 abject lowly, despicable

  26 Ajax Telamonius a hero of the Trojan war, Ajax, son of Telamon, flew into a mad fit of rage when the armor of Achilles was awarded to Odysseus rather than himself; in his frenzy he slaughtered a flock of sheep, thinking they were his enemies

  27 spend expend

  28 better born i.e. have a superior claim to the throne

  30 make fair weather pretend to be agreeable

  46 St George’s Field area between Southwark and Lambeth on the south side of the Thames

  49 Command demand, send for

  50 fealty loyalty

  53 so provided that

  54 kind proper, noble

  55 twain two

  63 discomfited defeated

  64 rude … condition ignorant and of such low rank

  70 wrought created for

  72 an’t like if it please

  73 degree rank

  79 marks a mark was an accounting unit, rather than a coin, worth two thirds of a pound

  80 will desire

  86 front confront

  92 how hardly with what difficulty

  92 brook abuse tolerate deception, abide insult

  95 Which who

  96 become befit

  97 palmer’s pilgrim’s; carrying a staff signaled that one had visited the Holy Land

  98 awful awe-inspiring

  99 engirt encircle

  100 Achilles’ spear having received a fatal wound from the spear of the Greek hero, Telephus was able to cure it with rust from the same weapon

  103 act enact, bring about

  103 controlling i.e. firm, effective

  107 capital punishable by death

  109 these may refer to attendants/sons/weapons

  110 brook permit

  110 man any man

  112 ward custody

  113 enfranchisement liberty

  114 amain quickly

  115 if that whether

  117 blood-bespotted warmongering, bloodthirsty

  117 Neapolitan Margaret was the daughter of Reignier, the titular King of Naples

  118 scourge punishment, whip

  120 bane destruction, poison

  131 Bedlam the hospital of Saint Mary of Bethlehem in London, an institution for the insane

  132 bedlam mad

  132 humour mood, temperament

  134 to be sent to

  135 factious pate rebellious head

  142 glass mirror

  143 false-heart treacherous, disloyal

  144 stake … bears an image from bear-baiting, a popular entertainment at which a bear was chained to a stake and set upon by dogs

  146 astonish terrify

  146 fell-lurking curs fierce dogs waiting to attack

  149 bearherd bear keeper, handler (i.e. York)

  150 baiting place bear pit

  151 o’erweening overexcited, presumptuous

  152 Run … bite i.e. twist round and bite the dog handler

  153 suffered released/hurt

  153 fell savage, fierce

  155 piece of service sort of action

  156 oppose yourselves set yourselves in opposition

  156 match fight/equal the strength of

  157 lump possibly continues bear imagery as newborn cubs were popularly supposed to be licked into shape by their mother

  158 crooked … shape Richard is famed for a hunched back and various other physical deformities or ailments

  159 heat you make things hot for you/make you hot from fighting

  165 spectacles eyes/eyeglasses (suggests the failing eyesight of Salisbury’s old age)

  167 frosty i.e. white-haired

  168 harbour refuge

  174 mickle great

  177 repute consider

  181 dispense with obtain dispensation from/disregard, do without

  187 reave rob

  188 wring force customed right legally sanctioned rights of inheritance

  191 subtle cunning, skillful sophister one who makes skillful use of false logic, a specious reasoner

  194 dignity honor, high rank, kingship

  197 field battlefield

  200 burgonet light helmet, often bearing a crest

  201 know recognize, identify household badge family crest

  202 father’s father-in-law’s

  203 rampant rearing, on hind legs

  203 ragged rough-hewn

  204 aloft mounted on

  204 burgonet visored helmet

  205 shows is visible, shows itself

  208 rend tear, rip

  212 complices accomplices

  215 stigmatic criminal who has been branded, i.e. deformed one

  Act 5 Scene 2

  4 dead dying

  8 afoot on foot

  11 carrion kites birds of prey that feed on dead flesh

  13 Of for

  14 chase prey

  16 nobly i.e. may you fight nobly

  21 fast firmly