65 wont accustomed
73 composition state of health
76 meat food
77 watched remained awake/kept guard
83 inherits receives
84 nicely ingeniously, precisely
85 to mock in mocking
86 kill ... me i.e. by banishing Gaunt's son and heir
93 see thee ill see you imperfectly (as my sight is failing)/see the ill that is in you 101 compass circumference
102 verge limit, rim/the twelve-mile radius around the king's court/measure of land 103 waste wasteland/wastefulness/damage done to property by a tenant/waist 104 grandsire i.e. Edward III
105 his sons Edward's sons, Richard's uncles/Richard's own (as yet unborn) children 106 forth beyond
107 Deposing disinheriting, depriving possessed in possession of the crown (sense then shifts to "inhabited by the devil") 109 cousin kinsman regent ruler
111 for ... land insofar as your world consists of this land
114 state ... law absolute legal status (as king) is now subject to legal processes (as a result of leasing out land) 116 Presuming on taking advantage of ague fever and shaking 117 frozen cold, hostile/chilled by illness
120 seat throne/status
122 roundly bluntly/fluently
123 unreverent disrespectful
125 For that because
126 pelican the bird's offspring were thought to feed on her blood 127 tapped out drawn as from a barrel caroused drunk heartily/drunk toasts with 129 fair good, happiness
133 unkindness unnatural behavior
139 sullens sulks, gloomy moods
140 become befit, suit
143 dear As Harry as dearly as Gaunt holds Harry (but Richard interprets "as dearly as Harry holds Richard") 151 spent used up, exhausted
155 pilgrimage i.e. journey through life
157 supplant get rid of rug-headed shaggy-haired kerns lightly armed foot soldiers 160 ask some charge require some expenditure
161 seize take possession (legal term)
162 plate gold or silver tableware movables portable property 167 Gaunt's rebukes the rebukes given by Richard to Gaunt private wrongs wrongs done to individuals 168 Bullingbrook ... marriage Richard prevented the exiled Bullingbrook from marrying a cousin of the French king 171 bend one wrinkle direct one frown
178 Accomplished ... hours i.e. when he was your age Accomplished equipped 190 withal with that
191 seize take legal possession of
192 royalties rights granted by the king/rights due to one of royal blood 194 true loyal/legitimate (as heir)
198 His i.e. time's customary rights i.e. of inheritance and succession 199 ensue follow
204 Call ... patents revoke the documents signed by the king granting land or titles 205 By ... livery allowing him to sue, through his lawyers, for the right to his inheritance 206 homage avowal of allegiance, part of the formal process of receiving one's inheritance 207 pluck pull
209 prick spur
213 by nearby, present
215 courses i.e. of action
216 events consequences
218 repair come
219 see attend to Tomorrow next tomorrow/tomorrow morning 220 trow believe
230 great swollen with emotion with silence by keeping silent 231 liberal freely speaking
234 Tends ... to does what you want to say relate to
239 Bereft forcibly deprived, robbed gelded deprived of wealth/castrated 246 prosecute perform/pursue
248 piled most editors emend to "pilled" (stripped bare, plundered) 250 ancient long-standing
251 exactions means of enforcing payment
252 blanks blank charters benevolences forced loans wot know 253 this i.e. all the money that has been collected
255 basely ... compromise made concessions in a cowardly way
258 in farm for rent, on lease
259 broken financially ruined
267 sore sorely, threateningly
268 strike draw in the sails/strike blows in opposition securely overconfidently, heedlessly 271 suffering enduring, permitting
274 tidings news
281 Rainold ... Exeter in fact, it was the young Earl of Arundel who escaped from Exeter's custody; it seems likely that a line is missing here and many editors insert a line based on Shakespeare's source, Holinshed's Chronicles: "Thomas, son and heir to th'Earl of Arundel"
282 broke escaped
283 His i.e. the Earl of Arundel's
286 furnished equipped
287 tall large, grand
288 expedience haste
290 had ere this would have done already stay await 293 Imp out repair by inserting new feathers (falconry term)
294 broking pawn being pledged to a pawnbroker
295 gilt gold (puns on "guilt")
297 post haste Ravenspurgh a former Yorkshire port on the River Humber 298 faint lose heart, are nervous
301 Hold ... horse as long as my horse holds out
3 heaviness sorrow
4 entertain maintain/receive
14 shadows mirrored reflections, insubstantial things
16 glazed glassed over/covered with a film
17 thing entire to complete thing into
18 perspectives optical devices incorporating mirrors that produce distorted images/seemingly distorted paintings that only become clear when viewed from a particular angle rightly directly, from the front 19 awry obliquely, from the side
20 Distinguish form make their shape clear, reveal order
22 himself the original grief/Richard's departure wail bewail, lament 25 More for more
27 for in place of/because of
30 heavy weightily/sorrowfully
31 on ... think dwelling anxiously on nothing, on the absence of thought 33 conceit imagination (the queen shifts the sense to "thought, understanding") 34 nothing less i.e. far from it still always 36 begot conceived, created something substantial, actual 37 grieve grieve for, feel sorrow over
38 in reversion i.e. as a legacy, not yet inherited
40 wot know, believe
45 wherefore why
46 retired pulled back (from Ireland)
48 strongly with a powerful military force
49 repeals himself recalls himself from exile/revokes his sentence of banishment 50 uplifted arms arms raised in prayer/brandished weapons
60 staff i.e. the symbol of his role as Steward of the king's household 61 household i.e. royal establishment
64 heir child, offspring
65 prodigy portent/monster
71 cozening deceitful (may play on "cousin")
73 bands bonds
74 lingers draws out, causes to linger in extremity to the very end/the final moments of life 77 careful anxious, care-filled
78 comfortable comforting
80 crosses obstacles
81 save protect (his rule in Ireland)
83 underprop support, prop up
85 surfeit excess, overindulgence
86 try put to the test
87 son i.e. the Duke of Aumerle
89 cold unenthusiastic/unmoved
91 Sirrah sir (used to an inferior) sister sister-in-law 92 presently immediately
93 take my ring i.e. as a sign that the message is genuinely from York 99 Heav'n i.e. I pray heaven (God)
101 would wish
102 So provided that untruth disloyalty
103 brother's i.e. the murdered Gloucester's
104 posts messengers
105 do manage, provide
109 muster assemble in readiness for action
113 oath i.e. of allegiance
116 kindred kinship, family bond
117 somewhat something
118 Dispose of make arrangements for
120 Berkeley Castle a castle in Gloucestershire, near Bristol
123 at ... seven in chaos
124 sits i.e. blows
125 power troops
129 those those who
133 generally universally/by t
he people
134 judgement ... we they are to be judges, then our fate lies in their hands 136 straight (go) straightaway
138 office service
139 hateful hate-filled
140 curs dogs
143 presages forebodings vain wrong, in vain
145 as depends on how
9 Cottshold the Cotswolds, rural area covering part of Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire 10 In by wanting lacking
11 beguiled whiled away
12 tediousness and process tedious course
16 By this in this way/with this hope
22 whencesoever wherever he may be
26 forsook abandoned, rejected
35 levied raised
36 repair go
42 tender offer (sense then shifts to "youthful, inexperienced")
45 approved proven
46 gentle noble/courteous/kind
49 fortune success, luck/wealth
50 still always
52 stir events, activity
54 yond yonder, that tuft clump
57 estimate repute
59 spurring i.e. the blood of the horses they have spurred on so hard 60 wot know
62 unfelt i.e. not yet expressed through material reward which i.e. which treasury
66 thanks ... poor i.e. gratitude is the only wealth the poor have 67 comes to years reaches the age of maturity
71 my ... Lancaster Bullingbrook will respond only to his proper title (Duke of Lancaster), inherited from his father, John of Gaunt 74 aught anything
76 raze erase/scrape title puns on "tittle," i.e. tiniest part 77 what ... will whatever the title you wish me to use
78 glorious illustrious, important
79 pricks spurs
80 absent time i.e. time during which the king is absent
81 native natural, inherent (with connotations of birth) self-born originating with you, brandished for your own cause (also "self-borne"--carried by yourself) 85 deceivable deceptive
87 Grace ... grace don't speak to me of "grace" (since your behavior is so ungracious)
89 ungracious unmannerly/wicked/lacking in spiritual grace
91 dust particle of dust
95 ostentation of despised display of despicable (because traitorous) 101 Black Prince Edward, Richard's father and son of Edward III 104 palsy weakness of the body, accompanied at times with tremor 107 On ... wherein? What point of law have I contravened and how?/What personal flaw am I deemed to have and how has it manifested itself? condition legal stipulation/personal quality; York shifts the sense to "circumstances"
112 braving defiant, boastfully flaunted
114 for as/to claim the title of
116 indifferent impartial
121 perforce forcibly
122 unthrifts spendthrifts, wasteful people (with moral connotations) 128 rouse expose, chase from hiding (hunting term) bay last stand (where the cornered animal turns on its hunters) 129 denied ... liv'ry refused the right to legally claim my inheritance 130 letters patents documents signed by the king granting land or titles (Bullingbrook's have been revoked by Richard) 131 distrained confiscated by law
132 amiss wrongly
134 challenge law claim my legal rights
136 of free descent through legal succession
138 stands ... upon is the responsibility of your grace
139 endowments i.e. wealth and property (that has now been given to others) 143 kind manner
144 Be ... way i.e. act on his own authority, help himself (literally, carve his own piece of meat) 152 issue outcome
154 power army ill left left in disordered, poor condition 156 attach arrest stoop i.e. kneel for mercy
159 as neuter neutral
163 win persuade
166 caterpillars i.e. parasites
1 stayed waited
2 hardly with difficulty
8 bay-trees bay leaves were associated with victory and immortality 9 meteors regarded as bad omens
11 lean-looked gaunt, lean-looking
13 The one i.e. rich men
20 firmament sky
22 Witnessing betokening, indicating
23 wait upon offer allegiance to
24 crossly adversely
3 presently immediately part depart from
4 urging insisting on, emphasizing pernicious wicked, destructive 7 causes of legal reasons for
9 happy fortunate
10 unhappied made unfortunate, ruined clean completely 11 in manner as it were, in a way
12 divorce breach, separation
13 Broke ... bed i.e. interfered with marital union and happiness 20 clouds mists of breath/climates, skies
22 signories estates
23 Disparked my parks opened my enclosed hunting grounds for other uses 24 coat coat of arms (often emblazoned on stained or painted windows) 25 imprese heraldic family emblem
29 death death penalty (legal term)
35 dispatched dealt with/killed
37 entreated treated
38 commends regards
41 at large (expressed) in full
colours military flags (and those carrying them)
1 Barkloughly Castle actually Harlech Castle
2 brooks likes (technically "tolerates")
9 fondly affectionately/foolishly
13 sense appetite
14 spiders like toads, they were thought to be poisonous 16 annoyance harm
20 Guard protect/trim with an ornamental border prithee pray thee 21 double forked mortal deadly
23 senseless conjuration appeal to the unfeeling earth/foolish entreaty 25 native rightful, legitimately crowned
30 security overconfidence
32 Discomfortable discouraging
33 eye ... world when, to us, the sun is hidden beneath the earth, lighting the underside of the world 49 rude turbulent
50 balm consecrating oil, used to anoint a king at his coronation 53 pressed conscripted
54 shrewd sharp, biting steel sword
56 angel puns on the sense of "gold coin"
59 Nor near no nearer
60 Discomfort sorrow/discouragement
63 happy fortunate
67 state kingship, power
71 But now only a moment ago
72 triumph rejoice, exult
83 high noble in rank (sense then shifts to "proud, ambitious")
85 power ... turn sufficient troops for our needs
86 betide befall, come to
87 care-tuned tuned by sorrow/tuned to a sorrowful key deliver report to 90 care burden, source of anxiety
94 fellow equal/servant
95 mend remedy
104 his applies both to rage and to Bullingbrook
105 Bullingbrook probably puns on "brook" fearful frightened 107 Whitebeards i.e. old men
109 big with deep voices (like men) clap place, thrust female feminine, i.e. youthful 110 arms armor
111 beadsmen almsmen who were paid to pray on behalf of another 112 double-fatal doubly deadly (the wood of the yew was used to make bows; its leaves and berries were poisonous) 113 distaff-women women occupied in spinning (a distaff was a staff used to hold wool) bills long-handled weapons with blades at the ends 114 seat throne
120 Measure our confines travel over our territories peaceful i.e. unopposed 122 I warrant I'm sure, I'll guarantee
127 Judas the disciple who betrayed Jesus Christ
129 spotted stained (with sin)
130 property essence, own nature
133 hands used to sign a document or swear an oath
135 graved buried
148 model microcosm, replica/mold
149 paste and cover pastry covering/pie crust
151 sad solemn/sorrowful stories historical narratives 156 rounds encircles mortal human/destined for death 157 antic grotesque buffoon
158 his state at the king's regality
160 monarchize act the monarch
161 self self-made/self-centered conceit imaginings, concept (of himself) 163 humoure
d thus Death having amused himself in this way/Death, being so inclined/Death, having allowed the king to indulge himself in this way 171 Subjected under the dominion of grief/turned into a mere subject (rather than being a king) 174 presently immediately prevent ... wail seek to forestall the routes to (or sources of) grief 177 And ... yourself this line is omitted in Folio, seemingly as a printer's error rather than a deliberate cut 178 No ... fight nothing worse (than being slain) can come from fighting 179 death destroying death i.e. defying death by dying nobly (and, perhaps, being remembered in such a way)/by conquering death's power to make one afraid 182 a ... limb i.e. a great fighting force out of a small number of soldiers 183 chid'st reprove, upbraid
184 change exchange doom destiny
185 ague acute or violent fever/fit of shaking or shivering over-blown blown over 191 heavy gloomy, sorrowful
193 by ... small by increments, little by little
200 Beshrew curse forth Of out of
205 Flint Castle situated in northeast Wales
207 power forces, troops discharge dismiss
208 ear plow, cultivate
1 So that Bullingbrook enters in mid-conversation
7 beseem befit
14 to as to
15 taking ... head treating the head of state in such a manner/being headstrong/omitting the king's title your by your 16 Mistake misunderstand (puns on "mistake")
17 Take seize/presume
18 mistake fail to understand that
26 lies dwells, is
30 who i.e. who he is
31 belike probably
33 rude rough, rugged ribs i.e. walls
34 brazen brass (plays on the sense of "audacious, shameless") parle parley, negotiation between enemy forces (or the trumpet call signifying this) 35 his its (the castle's, but possibly also referring to Richard) ruined battered 41 my ... again the revoking of my banishment and restoration of my lands 43 th'advantage ... power the superiority of my military force
44 lay flatten, subdue
47 such that such a bedrench drench thoroughly, soak 49 tenderly gently, peacefully/lovingly
53 tattered battered, old/jagged
54 fair appointments fine military provision
57 fire and water i.e. lightning and rain
60 rain puns on "reign"
62 mark note, observe Parley trumpet summons to negotiation 64 blushing i.e. in anger
66 envious hostile
67 stain obscure, dim tract course
68 occident west (where the sun sets)
70 lightens forth flashes out, like lightning
73 amazed astounded, bewildered
74 watch expect, wait for fearful full of reverence 77 awful full of awe
78 hand sign/signature
82 profane sin, commit sacrilege
84 torn i.e. ruined, damned turning ... us i.e. betraying me 88 strike blight, afflict with plague (pestilence) 89 unbegot not yet conceived
90 That of you who vassal servile, slavish
94 ope open
95 purple testament bloody legacy
97 crowns heads (plays on crown in the previous line) 99 maid-pale virgin white, pale as a young girl
Richard II (Folger Shakespeare Library) Page 21
