36 carders those who prepared wool for spinning by combing out impurities and aligning the fibres
36 fullers those who beat cloth to clean and thicken it
37 life i.e. ways of making a living
39 Daring … th’teeth pushing the situation to the extreme, challenging matters to the limit
40 danger i.e. the potential for outright revolt
40 serves has joined ranks
46 single part individual role, i.e. only my share
46 aught anything
47 front … me merely march in the front rank along with others who keep the same pace
48 tell count
53 you … acquaintance you devise matters that are known to everyone, which are damaging to those who would rather not know of them but who are obliged to endure them nevertheless
54 have note be informed
55 bear carry
56 is … th’load i.e. is bowed down painfully by the burden
58 exclamation outcry, reproach
60 In what kind of what nature
62 venturous adventurous, daring
63 tempting of testing
63 boldened Under made bold by
64 grief grievance, complaint
66 substance wealth
67 pretence alleged reason/pretext
71 prayers i.e. for the king
72 tractable compliant
72 slave … will i.e. now governed by wrath
73 would wish
75 primer baseness greater manifestation of low, dishonorable behavior
77 pleasure wishes
80 single voice (his) individual vote/unanimous vote (of the Privy Council)
80 passed ratified, approved by
81 approbation consent
82 Traduced slandered, dishonored
83 faculties capabilities/qualities
85 place high office
85 brake thicket
86 stint restrain, withhold
88 To cope of encountering
88 censurers critics
90 new trimmed newly fitted out
91 vainly longing i.e. hoping in vain for the refurbished and seaworthy boat to sink and provide food
91 What … allowed malicious or essentially foolish interpreters often refuse to believe in or give us credit for our best actions
93 what … act our worst actions, which often appeal to baser people, are declared the best we ever did
96 In for
96 motion action/proposal
96 carped at complained of
98 state-statues images of statesmen
101 example precedent
101 issue outcome
103 Of for
104 rend … will i.e. force the subjects to obey the changing will of the monarch rather than the law
106 trembling fearful
107 lop lopped-off branch
109 The … sap i.e. the tree will die
110 questioned challenged, resisted
116 grace good will/mercy
116 commons common people
117 Hardly conceive think harshly
117 noised rumored, reported
118 our Wolsey uses the royal plural
118 revokement repeal
119 anon shortly
122 Is run in has incurred, come into
124 rare splendid/exceptional
125 To … bound no one is more indebted to nature for such qualities
127 out of beyond
129 disposed applied, directed
130 vicious wicked, immoral
131 complete accomplished, perfect
133 ravished entranced
135 monstrous unnatural
135 habits clothing/behavior, practices
138 gentleman in trust trusted servant
140 practices plots
141 hear too much i.e. for our own protection
143 careful dutiful, full of care (for the king)
143 collected picked up, gathered (as evidence)
148 issue children
148 carry manage
149 sceptre staff carried as a symbol of sovereignty
151 menaced threatened
154 conception intention, plan
155 Not … person not being gratified in his wish regarding you (i.e. that the king should die childless)
157 friends i.e. Wolsey
159 Deliver speak
161 How … fail? On what did he base his claim to the throne in the event of my death without an heir?
162 To this point on this subject
167 Chartreux Carthusian, i.e. one of a strict monastic order from Chartreux near Grenoble in France
172 the Rose the name of a manor house belonging to Buckingham
173 St Lawrence Poultney a church on Candlewick Street in London
174 speech talk, gossip, prevailing opinion
176 perfidious treacherous
177 To … danger resulting in danger for the king
177 presently instantly
178 doubted feared/suspected
182 choice chosen, appointed
183 moment importance
187 demure confidence grave assurance, solemn certainty
190 o’th’commonalty of the common people
195 spleen anger, malice
196 nobler i.e. as the immortal soul is more important than worldly rank
198 on go on
200 but only
204 forged formed, created (in)
205 much … do very likely to be carried out
207 failed died
210 rank foul, corrupt, gross
214 Greenwich a royal palace south of the River Thames
219 his as his own (instead of the king’s)
220 committed imprisoned
223 Richard i.e. Richard III
223 Salisbury town in Wiltshire, southwest England
224 suit a formal request
225 made … duty i.e. by kneeling before Richard in feigned respect
230 God mend all may God put everything right
233 stretched him stood fully upright
234 mounting raising
236 evil used badly treated
236 outgo surpass
238 irresolute shaky, undecided/not accomplished
239 period end, purpose
240 attached arrested
241 present immediate
244 to th’height in the highest degree
1 spells magic charms
1 juggle trick, deceive, conjure
2 mysteries enigmatic behavior (i.e. the imitation of French courtly fashions)
5 let ’em be even if they are
7 late recent
8 fit … o’th’face one or two grimaces, contrived facial expressions
8 shrewd cunning, artful/sharp, clever
9 hold ’em assume such facial expressions
11 Pepin or Clotharius eighth- and sixth-century Kings of the Franks
11 keep state so maintain such affected dignity (presumably those referred to are walking around with their noses in the air)
12 legs i.e. ways of walking/bowing
12 take it think, assume/affirm, swear
13 spavin tumor on a horse’s leg caused by inflammation of cartilage
14 springhalt stringhalt, a disease of a horse’s hind legs, causing spasmodic muscle contractions
15 Death contracted form of the oath “by God’s death”
16 after … to’t fashioned in such a pagan manner
17 worn out exhausted (all the styles available in)
21 clapped placed
27 Louvre French royal palace in Paris
30 fool and feather foolishness and elaborate dress (such as feathers worn on hats)
31 honourable … ignorance foolish trivia they consider worthy (points plays on the sense of “laces used for fastening clothing”)
32 as such as
32 fights i.e. duels
32 fireworks fighting/whoring (perhaps also with associations o
f “elaborate pyrotechnic displays”)
33 Abusing dishonoring, mocking
34 Out … wisdom using the so-called wisdom they have gained abroad
34 renouncing clean they must now renounce totally
35 tall … breeches i.e. French fashions, playing on notion of venereal disease
35 blistered short and puffed/covered in blisters, symptomatic of venereal disease
36 types marks, indications
36 travel plays on sense of sexual travail, exertion
37 understand comprehend/stand up properly (with sexual connotations)
37 honest honorable/true
38 pack depart
38 playfellows (sexual) partners
39 cum privilegio “with immunity” (Latin; an abbreviated form of the phrase announcing the exclusive right of a printer to publish a book)
39 oui “yes” (French)
40 lag end latter part, tail end (with phallic connotations)
40 lewdness foolishness/wickedness/lechery
41 physic medicine, specifically perhaps a cure for venereal disease
44 trim vanities smart dandies/worthless fripperies/handsome playthings
45 marry by the Virgin Mary
46 whoresons bastards, wretches (a coarse term of abuse)
47 speeding successful/speedy
47 lay down seduce/have sex with
48 fiddle musical instrument/penis/mirth-maker, jester
48 fellow equal
49 fiddle play with/cheat
50 converting of ’em i.e. reforming their behavior
52 play performing music/sexual play
52 plainsong simple melody, i.e. straightforward manner of wooing
53 hearing i.e. audience (with a woman)
53 by’r lady by Our Lady (the Virgin Mary)
54 Held be considered
54 current fashionable
56 colt’s tooth youthful lust
56 cast discarded
58 stump remains of a tooth/penis
64 makes gives
68 fruitful generous
69 dews i.e. favors, benevolence (puns on “dues” or taxes)
71 black slanderous/sinful
71 other otherwise
72 he’s wherewithal he has the necessary means
73 Sparing frugality, economy
74 way way of life, i.e. as a cardinal
77 ones i.e. examples
77 stays waits
78 along i.e. come along
80 spoke to asked
81 comptrollers stewards, masters of ceremonies
82 your lordship’s i.e. entirely at your disposal
1.4 Location: York Place (now Whitehall)—Wolsey’s residence
1.4 Hautboys oboelike instruments
1.4 state canopy
1.4 divers various, several
4 bevy company
5 abroad out with her, from home
7 tardy slow, late
9 Clapped fixed
12 lay secular/sexual
13 running banquet hasty meal/rewarding sexual pursuit or sex itself
15 society group
16 confessor plays on the sense of “sexual partner”
19 easy penance with sexual connotations
21 down feather
23 Place you you arrange the seating
25 cold plays on the sense of “sexually unresponsive”
26 waking awake, lively (with suggestion of sexual activity)
29 thank I thank
30 wild erratically, madly/recklessly, excitably/lustfully
32 mad insane/uncontrollable, high-spirited
34 bite biting was thought to be a common trait of madmen
35 twenty i.e. twenty ladies
35 with a breath in one breath, in a very short space of time
36 said done
37 fairly properly/favorably/fully
39 Pass away leave
40 For as for
40 cure spiritual duty/remedy (for frowning)/ sexual remedy
41 Let me alone leave it to me
47 bowl i.e. full of wine
47 may as may
50 beholding beholden, indebted
50 cheer entertain/encourage/cheer up
56 gamester sporting, fun-loving person/gambler/one fond of sex
58 make my play score (in cards/in love)
59 pledge it drink to my toast
60 thing plays on the sense of “penis”
62 anon soon
62.1 chambers small cannon
65 voice i.e. noise
67 privileged protected
69 strangers foreigners
71 make make their way
76 heaven of beauty i.e. gathering of beautiful ladies
78 broken disrupted
80 Masquers costumed nobles taking part in a courtly entertainment involving dancing
80 habited dressed
81 pleasures wills, desires
83 fame report, rumor
87 conduct guidance, permission
89 revels merriment/courtly entertainment
99 this place i.e. the chair of state
100 but only
106 it i.e. the chair of state
111 fair fine/virtuous/beautiful
112 You … unhappily i.e. if you were not a rightfully minded clergyman, I should look unfavorably upon this gathering of beautiful women
115 pleasant merry
117 Prithee please (literally “I pray thee”)
118 An’t if it
119 her highness’ women i.e. lady-in-waiting to Queen Katherine
120 dainty delicately pretty
121 take you out i.e. to dance
122 health toast
124 banquet separate course of sweetmeats after the main feast, served in a different room
125 I’th’privy chamber i.e. in a private inner room
128 heated hot, but in his reply Henry plays on the sense of “lustful, hot-blooded”
133 forsake leave, give up
135 measure slow stately dance
136 dream focus on/conjecture
137 best in favour best-looking/most popular with the ladies
137 knock it strike up
2.1 Location: a street in Westminster, London
2.1 several separate
3 hall i.e. Westminster Hall
16 passed it did the trial proceed
17 a little brief
18 to his accusations in response to the accusations brought against him
19 still consistently
19 alleged brought forward
20 law i.e. case against him
22 examinations testimonies, statements
22 proofs evidence
23 divers various, several
24 him brought i.e. have brought to him
24.1 viva voce “in person, in live speech” (Latin)
32 fain gladly
37 pitied in him i.e. prompted useless pity
37 forgotten i.e. was ineffectual
40 knell funeral bell, i.e. death sentence
41 sweat sweated
42 choler anger
42 ill unfavorable/wicked/bitter
43 fell to recovered
50 end root, bottom
52 Kildare’s attainder the accusation and disgrace of the Earl of Kildare; he was imprisoned on a number of charges and his role as Lord Deputy in Ireland was given to the Earl of Surrey, Buckingham’s son-in-law
53 deputy governor
55 father father-in-law
56 trick of state political contrivance
57 envious malicious
58 his i.e. Surrey’s
59 requite avenge, repay
60 generally universally, by all
64 perniciously deeply, desiring his death or ruin
67 mirror image, model
67.1 Tipstaves court officers, named after their badge of office, a metal-tipped staff
67.2 axe … him signifying that the prisoner had been condemned to death
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br /> 67.3 Halberds i.e. halberdiers, carrying long-handled weapons topped with a combination of spearhead and axe blade
70 close out of sight/quietly
73 lose forget
74 judgement sentence
76 sink ruin/damn
79 premises evidence (submitted in court)
80 more better
82 look beware, watch out
83 evils wrongdoings, evil careers/hovels or privies
86 sue plead
87 More … faults i.e. much greater than the magnitude of offense I would dare to commit
90 only … dying the only thing that is bitter to him, the only real death he experiences
92 divorce of steel i.e. separation of body and soul by the axe
93 sacrifice offering
101 take make
101 envy malice
105 Yet still
105 forsake leaves (my body)
107 tell count
109 old time perhaps a personification here
110 monument tomb
112 charge duty, role
113 undertakes takes responsibility for
116 furniture furnishings, equipment
119 state rank
122 base dishonorable, unworthy/low-born
123 truth loyalty/honesty
123 seal confirm, ratify
126 head an army
126 Richard i.e. Richard III
135 stroke action/executioner’s blow
138 happier more fortunate
142 end purpose
143 from … certain the words of a dying man were considered especially wise or prophetic
144 liberal of generous with
145 loose careless
147 rub obstacle (bowling term)
149 But except
156 authors originators, causes
159 fall happens
162 faith reliability, trustworthiness
167 am confident i.e. trust you
168 shall i.e. shall have it
168 late recent
169 buzzing rumor
171 held not did not stand firm, did not last
173 straight straight away
174 allay subdue, silence
178 held for it is thought
179 venture at it risk acting on it
180 about him near who are close to him
181 possessed … scruple put a doubt into his mind (perhaps with connotations of demonic possession; the doubt is that Henry’s marriage is invalid because Katherine had originally been married to his older brother Arthur; marrying one’s brother’s widow is prohibited in Leviticus 20:21)
183 Cardinal Campeius the Pope’s legate sent from Rome to determine the legality of the king’s marriage
186 emperor Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, Queen Katherine’s nephew
188 purposed intended, planned
189 have … mark i.e. are accurate
189 mark target (in archery)
190 smart pain
193 open exposed, public
2.2 Location: the royal court, London
King John & Henry VIII Page 45
