35 the crutch i.e. old age (puns on “crotch”)

  41 Therefore for that reason

  44 service i.e. as a subject/sexually

  45 rests in me is in my power

  46 boon request

  47 except unless

  48 do plays on the sense of “perform sexually”

  50 plies her hard works on her persistently/works on her sexually with an erect penis

  51 red hot

  53 task duty, job/sexual action

  57 match agreement/sexual encounter

  58 fruits of love i.e. sex (Lady Grey understands “the obedience and devotion of a subject”)

  61 sue entreat, beg/woo

  64 troth faith

  68 aim aright guess correctly

  69 lie with have sex with

  72 honesty chastity, virtue

  72 dower widow’s portion (of her husband’s estate)

  73 that loss the loss of it (honesty)

  76 inclination attitude, disposition

  77 sadness seriousness

  82 knits her brows frowns

  83 bluntest most unceremonious, plainspoken

  84 argue her demonstrate her to be

  86 challenge call for, lay claim to

  88 love lover

  93 state majesty, royal status

  97 mean humble

  99 cavil quibble over details

  104 other some some others, i.e. illegitimate children

  107 ghostly holy, spiritual

  107 ghostly father priest

  107 done his shrift heard confession (plays on the sense of “had sex”)

  108 shriver confessor, priest/sexually active man

  108 for shift out of strategy, a trick/to get at women’s undergarments (puns on shrift)

  109 muse wonder/speculate

  114 ten … lasts proverbial: “a wonder lasts but nine days”

  116 in extremes excessive, much greater

  119 taken captured

  123 question … apprehension ask about his arrest

  124 use treat (Gloucester shifts the sense to “employ sexually”)

  126 wasted consumed with disease (particularly syphilis, which eats at the bones)

  126 marrow bone marrow/semen

  127 branch i.e. offspring, child (also with phallic connotations)

  128 cross thwart, hinder

  128 golden time i.e. kingship, the crown

  130 The … burièd i.e. once Edward is dead

  132 unlooked for unwanted/unforeseeable

  132 issue children, offspring

  133 rooms places, positions

  134 cold premeditation discouraging prospect

  136 promontory headland jutting into the sea

  138 were equal with could reach as far as

  139 chides chastises

  139 sunders separates

  140 lade drain, empty

  141 wish wish for

  142 means obstacle

  143 cut … off murder those in my way

  144 Flattering me deluding myself

  145 o’erweens is arrogant, presumptuous

  150 deck adorn

  150 gay ornaments bright, ostentatious attire

  151 witch bewitch, seduce

  153 accomplish get hold of

  154 forswore rejected

  155 for so that deal in have dealings with (plays on the sense of “have sex according to”)

  158 envious spiteful, malicious

  162 chaos shapeless mass

  162 unlicked bear-whelp bear cubs were thought to be licked into shape by their mothers

  163 impression … dam shape like that of the mother

  165 monstrous unnatural, deformed

  165 fault mistake

  167 check rebuke

  167 o’erbear dominate

  168 person appearance

  170 t’account to consider

  171 trunk body

  172 impalèd surrounded, enclosed

  174 home my target

  176 rents tears apart

  180 catch seize

  186 frame fashion, adapt

  187 mermaid the siren of classical mythology was said to sing sweetly in order to draw sailors onto rocks where they would drown

  188 basilisk mythical reptile whose gaze had the power to kill

  189 Nestor Greek leader who fought at Troy; famed for his wisdom and eloquence

  190 Ulysses King of Ithaca and hero of Homer’s Odyssey; noted for his cunning

  191 Sinon in Virgil’s Aeneid, the man who pretended to desert the Greeks and persuaded King Priam of Troy to admit the wooden horse into the city, as a result of which Troy was destroyed

  193 Proteus the sea god Neptune’s herdsman who had the ability to change shape at will

  194 set … school teach Machiavelli a few things

  194 Machevil an intriguer, an unscrupulous schemer (from Niccolò Machiavelli’s The Prince, a sixteenth-century treatise perceived as advocating ruthless political cunning)

  Act 3 Scene 3

  3.3 Location: the royal court, France

  2 state rank

  5 strike her sail humble herself (literally, lower a ship’s sail in deference to a vessel of greater importance)

  7 Albion’s England’s

  8 mischance misfortune

  10 like seat unto a place befitting

  15 be … thyself always behave in a manner that befits your position

  20 France i.e. the King of France

  25 of from

  26 forlorn destitute, abandoned person

  37 heavy burdensome/sorrowful

  38 storm i.e. of grief, passion

  40 stay wait, delay

  41 stay plays on the sense of “support”

  41 succour help

  42 waiteth on attends, accompanies descends i.e. from the throne, or dais on which it sits

  55 vouchsafe permit, consent

  59 in on

  63 fame report late recently heedful attentive

  69 tyrants usurpers

  74 Look beware

  75 draw … thy do not bring on yourself

  76 sway the rule wield power

  78 Injurious slanderous, offensive

  82 disannuls cancels, ignores

  82 John of Gaunt father of Henry the Fourth, great-grandfather of Henry VI; he features in Richard II

  83 Which who

  85 mirror i.e. image, model

  89 haps happens, chances

  89 smooth plausible, glib

  93 tell recount

  94 threescore … years i.e. the sixty-two years between 1399, when Henry IV deposed Richard II, and 1461, when Edward IV deposed Henry VI

  94 silly meager, trifling

  95 prescription a claim founded on long use (legal term)

  97 thirty-and-six years a period that corresponds more fittingly to Warwick’s age (he was born in 1428) rather than his allegiance, as he had joined the Yorkists in 1455

  98 bewray betray, reveal

  99 fence protect

  100 buckler defend

  102 injurious doom wrongful judgment, sentence

  103 Aubrey Vere he and his father, the Earl of Oxford, were executed for treason by Edward IV in 1462

  104 more than so furthermore

  105 downfall decline

  105 mellowed ripened

  112 use engage in

  112 conference discussion

  112 aloof aside

  114 even justly, fully

  117 pawn pledge, stake

  117 credit reputation

  118 gracious esteemed, popular

  119 more that more so because

  120 dissembling duplicity, pretense

  121 for truth truly

  121 measure extent

  124 beseem befit

  126 external visible; some editors prefer Octavo’s “eternal”

  129 envy malice

  129 disdain (Bona’s possible) loathing, scorn

  130 quit end

  132 grant consent

  132 mine the decision I make—i.e. I will agree with whatever you think fit

  134 desert merits

  137 articles terms, conditions

  137 drawn drawn up

  138 Touching regarding

  138 jointure marriage settlement provided for the wife by the husband

  139 counterpoised matched, equaled

  143 device plot, strategy

  148 success fortune/outcome (plays on the sense of “succession to the throne”)

  150 late recently

  152 estate status

  155 quondam former

  160 hence go from here

  162 conveyance trickery, cunning

  162 Post messenger

  171 as as if

  174 unhoped unexpected

  177 soothe smooth over

  177 forgery deception

  180 scorn insult

  185 clear from innocent of

  189 untimely prematurely

  189 untimely … death Warwick’s father, the Earl of Salisbury, was executed after being captured fighting for the Yorkists at the battle of Wakefield

  190 th’abuse … niece Holinshed’s Chronicles, one of Shakespeare’s key sources, reports that Edward tried to “deflower” Warwick’s daughter or niece

  191 impale him encircle his head

  192 put force

  193 guerdoned rewarded

  194 my desert what I deserve

  198 servitor servant

  203 joy rejoice

  204 unfeignèd sincere, honest

  205 vouchsafe to furnish will consent to equip

  206 bands troops

  211 fall from abandon, turn against

  212 matching marrying

  224 post haste

  226 masquers performers of masques (courtly entertainments involving dancing and elaborate costume; often put on to celebrate aristocratic marriages)

  228 passed happened

  228 fear frighten

  228 withal with it

  230 willow garland token of a forsaken lover

  231 weeds garments

  234 ere’t be before

  235 reward payment

  238 bid challenge (to)

  239 occasion opportunity/events

  240 supply reinforcements

  245 eldest daughter historically Warwick’s second daughter, Anne, who was betrothed to Edward, although he died before they married

  246 bands bonds

  247 motion suggestion

  256 waft convey (by water)

  263 stale fool, mockery (of)

  Act 4 Scene 1

  4.1 Location: the royal court, London

  5 stay wait (spoken in irony)

  8 mind intend

  10 malcontent dissatisfied, discontented

  12 Which who

  13 abuse insult

  16 will wishes (plays on the sense of “sexual desire”)

  23 yoke are joined, coupled like oxen under a yoke (plays on the sense of “sexually united”)

  24 mislike displeasure

  32 gave in charge ordered

  35 invention scheme, plan

  40 true loyal, trustworthy

  44 fence defense

  45 only alone

  48 have … Hungerford marry the rich heiress, Mary, daughter of Lord Hungerford; historically, it was Hastings’ son who married her

  53 heir … bride the wealthy Lord Scales’ daughter, Elizabeth, was married to Lord Anthony Rivers, the new queen’s brother

  55 bury forget

  57 new wife’s son Sir Thomas Grey, married to the heir of Lord Harrington and Bonville

  58 speed get on, fare/succeed

  63 broker marriage broker, agent

  64 mind intend

  65 tarry stay

  71 meaner humbler people, those of lower rank

  73 dislikes disapproval

  73 would wish to

  74 danger hurt/apprehension

  75 fawn … frowns i.e. try to ingratiate yourself, win them round

  77 friend supporter/lover

  89 Go to expression of impatience

  90 guess reconstruct from memory

  96 brave daring, insolent, defiant

  103 in place present

  104 done over with, no longer worn

  106 Amazon member of a legendary race of female warriors

  107 injuries insults

  109 discharged dismissed

  118 Belike probably

  119 sit you fast sit tight, hold on to your throne

  121 want lack

  129 needful necessary

  131 prepare preparation

  133 straight straightaway

  135 twain two

  139 hollow insincere

  142 in suspect under suspicion

  146 withstand resist

  149 power army

  Act 4 Scene 2

  4.2 Location: England (historically, near Warwick)

  1 hitherto thus far

  4 suddenly immediately

  8 rest remain

  9 pawned pledged

  11 proceedings course of action

  13 in night’s coverture under cover of darkness

  14 carelessly without concern/without proper military precautions

  15 lurking idling

  16 but only

  17 surprise ambush, seize

  18 the … easy venturing into Edward’s camp is simple/there is little hazard

  21 Ulysses … steeds in Homer’s Iliad, Ulysses and Diomede sneak under cover of night into the camp of the Thracian leader, Rhesus, and steal his horses, an oracle having predicted that Troy would not fall to the Greeks as long as the horses of Rhesus grazed on the plains of Troy

  21 stout bold

  21 sleight cunning

  21 fatal fated, part of destiny/causing death

  23 At unawares suddenly, unexpectedly

  28 sort manner

  Act 4 Scene 3

  4.3 Location: King Edward’s camp (historically, near Warwick)

  1 my masters gentlemen

  1 stand post, position

  2 this this time

  2 set sat

  13 about around

  14 keeps lodges, sleeps

  16 worship dignified ease

  18 estate situation

  18 he i.e. Edward

  19 doubted feared

  20 halberds long-handled weapons with axelike heads

  20 shut up prevent, bar passage progress

  21 wherefore why

  25 But only, merely

  25 gown dressing gown or nightgown/loose upper garment for men

  28 What who

  34 embassade ambassadorial mission

  35 degraded lowered in rank

  44 down fall

  46 complices accomplices

  48 fortune’s … wheel fortune was traditionally depicted as a blind woman turning a wheel that raised humans up and cast them down

  48 state sovereignty

  49 compass range, circumference

  50 for i.e. in

  60 abide endure

  61 boots not is useless

  Act 4 Scene 4

  4.4 Location: London

  1 makes … change is the reason for your sudden change in mood

  4 pitched planned, designated

  8 falsehood disloyalty, treachery

  9 surprised at captured

  11 to i.e. to the custody of

  11 Bishop i.e. Archbishop

  12 Fell fierce, cruel

  12 by that therefore

  16 hinder delay, prevent

  19 bridle reign in, restrain

  19 passion intense feeling, grief

  19 blood-sucking sighs each sigh was thought to drain a drop of blood from the heart

  23 blast blight, wither

  25 where … become what has become of/where is Warwick

  28 down fall

  29 tyrant’s usurper’s

  31 sanctuary churches and associated Church-owned buildings provided sanctuary from arrest; the historical sources Shakespeare drew on say that Elizabeth went to Westminster

  32 right title to the throne

  33 secure protected

  33 fraud trickery, treachery

  Act 4 Scene 5

  4.5 Location: Yorkshire, at hunting grounds belonging to the Archbishop of York

  2 Leave off cease

  3 chiefest largest, most dense

  3 park private hunting ground

  4 case circumstances

  6 hath good usage is well treated

  7 but only

  8 disport entertain, amuse

  9 advertised informed, alerted

  11 colour pretext

  11 game hunting

  14 game prey, quarry

  17 close concealed

  21 Lynn King’s Lynn, a town on the Norfolk coast

  24 requite reward forwardness eagerness, zeal

  28 ado fuss, time-wasting

  Act 4 Scene 6

  4.6 Location: the Tower of London

  4.6 Lieutenant the second-in-command at the Tower of London

  5 enlargement release

  5 due fees wealthy prisoners could pay for special food or service

  6 challenge require, ask

  11 For that because

  13 Conceive begin to experience

  13 moody melancholy, somber

  14 notes … harmony filling the house with song, singing in a manner that is harmonious with their domestic environment

  18 author creator, originator

  20 low humbly

  22 thwarting stars bad fortune

  26 still always

  26 famed for renowned as being

  28 spying spying out/foreseeing

  29 temper … stars allow themselves to conform to their fate, mold their dispositions to their fate

  31 in place present

  32 sway power, influence

  34 Adjudged awarded

  34 olive branch a symbol of peace

  34 laurel crown a symbol of victory

  36 yield grant

  36 free consent willing agreement

  37 only alone

  37 Protector one who governs in the absence of the monarch

  40 dissension dissent, disagreement

  43 devotion prayer, religious commitment

  43 latter last, remaining

  47 repose myself depend, rely

  49 yoke join

  50 supply fill

  56 What else? i.e. “yes, of course”

  57 Clarence … part if the Lancastrian claim were set aside, Edward attainted for treason, and his unborn child disregarded, then Clarence would have a significant claim to the throne

  57 want lack

  62 doubtful apprehensive

  67 Henry … Richmond Henry Tudor, the future Henry VII, whose kingship put an end to the Wars of the Roses

  69 divining foreseeing, prophetic

  70 pretty fine, handsome

  78 brother i.e. the Archbishop of York