King John & Henry VIII (64 page)

158
Bretagne
Brittany

163
it
its

165
fig
fruit/something valueless/rude gesture

169
coil
turmoil, fuss

170
shames
dishonors, embarrasses

173
pearls
i.e. tears

174
in … fee
as a bribe for divine support

175
beads
teardrops (plays on the sense of “prayer beads on a rosary”)

177
monstrous
unnatural

180
dominations
dominions

180
royalties
royal rights

181
eldest son’s son
eldest grandson

182
Infortunate
unfortunate

183
visited
punished

184
canon … law
scriptural rule (that the sins of the parents will be visited upon their children)

185
but
only

186
Removèd
distant

187
Bedlam
i.e. madwoman

190
her sin
implies John, whom Constance suggests was conceived adulterously (in sin)

191
removèd issue
relative at one remove, i.e. Arthur

191
for
because of

192
his injury
harm done to Arthur

193
beadle
parish officer entitled to punish minor offences, i.e. punisher

195
for
because of/instead of

196
unadvisèd
rash, thoughtless

197
title
legal claim

199
will
willfulness, wish

199
cankered
corrupt

200
temperate
calm

201
beseems
befits

201
presence
royal company

201
cry aim
shout encouragement (archery term)

202
ill-tunèd
harsh-sounding

202
repetitions
repeated accusations

203
trumpet
trumpeter

205
admit
grant, recognize

206
warned
summoned

207
France, for England
i.e. the French king on behalf of Arthur (who should be King of England)

211
gentle
peaceful/noble

211
parle
negotiation

213
advancèd
raised, displayed

214
prospect
view

215
endamagement
damage, detriment

216
bowels
entrails

222
stones
i.e. city walls

223
waist
belt

224
ordinance
artillery

225
lime
mortar

226
dishabited
dislodged

227
bloody power
violent, fierce troops

229
much expedient
very hasty

230
countercheck
rebuke/check to oppose (the course of something)

232
amazed
stunned/overwhelmed

232
vouchsafe
permit

233
bullets
cannonballs

235
folded … smoke
i.e. concealed in deceitful rhetoric

236
faithless error
untrustworthy lie

237
accordingly
in the same manner/as it deserves

238
laboured
exhausted with hard work

239
Forwearied
worn out

240
harbourage
shelter

241
said
finished speaking

242
Lo
see

243
right
i.e. just claim

246
enjoys
possesses

247
For
on behalf of

247
downtrodden equity
oppressed right

247
tread
picks up on
downtrodden

248
greens
grassy areas

250
constraint
compulsion

254
owes
owns

256
Save
except

256
aspect
appearance

256
offence
hostility, harm

256
sealed up
i.e. prevented

257
spent
expended, fired

259
unvexed
untroubled/unimpeded

259
retire
retreat

260
unhacked
unused/undamaged (from battle)

261
lusty
vigorous

264
fondly
foolishly

264
pass
pass up, disregard

265
roundure
roundness, circumference

266
messengers of war
i.e. cannonballs

267
Though
even if

267
discipline
skill in warfare

268
rude
rough

270
In … which
on behalf of him (Arthur) for whom

276
proves
proves to be

282
else
others, suchlike

284
bloods
hot-blooded fellows/noble men

286
in his face
against him

287
compound
agree

288
for
on behalf of

288
hold
withhold

290
everlasting residence
i.e. the grave, death

291
fleet
pass, fly off

292
dreadful
terrifying, daunting

292
trial
contest, putting to the proof

293
chevaliers
knights

294
Saint George
patron saint of England who famously slew a dragon

294
swinged
beat, thrashed

295
Sits … door
i.e. as a tavern sign

295
hostess
tavern landlady

296
fence
fencing skill

297
lioness
i.e. Austria’s wife; also means “whore”

298
set … hide
i.e. give Austria the cuckold’s horns by sleeping with his wife

299
monster
because a combination of lion and ox

303
appointment
order, arrangement

304
advantage
superior military position/opportunity

306
God … right!
a battle cry

306.1
excursions
fighting (across the stage)

306.2
Trumpets
trumpeters

309
by … France
with the help of the French king

312
grovelling
prostrate, face down

316
displayed
drawn up (if referring to the troops)/ unfurled (if referring to the banners)

321
Commander
victor

321
malicious
violent, hostile

322
hence
from here

323
gilt
coated/glittering

324
crest
i.e. helmet

325
staff
spear/lance

326
colours
battle flags

328
like … huntsmen
traditionally huntsmen smeared their hands with blood of the kill

333
onset and retire
attack and retreat

335
censured
judged

338
alike
equally

338
like
approve

343
passage
progress, course

344
native
natural, habitual

344
o’erswell
flood (John threatens French territory)

347
progress
journey (may play on the sense of “official royal tour”)

351
sways
rules

351
climate
part of the sky

352
just-borne
justly carried

353
put thee down
defeat you

354
royal number
i.e. a king’s name

355
tells of
records/counts

357
towers
soars, mounts (falconry term)

359
chaps
jaws

361
mousing
tearing at (like a cat or an owl with its prey)

362
undetermined differences
unresolved disagreements

363
fronts
faces

364
havoc
a call for general slaughter

365
potents
potentates, rulers

366
confusion
overthrow, destruction

366
part
side

367
peace
i.e. victory

368
yet admit
now recognize

371
hold up
support

372
that … here
i.e. John has no need for a spokesperson, representing himself as rightful king

374
presence
own existence/majesty

378
Kings of
i.e. ruled by

379
some certain
i.e. one or the other/the particular rightful

379
purged and deposed
refers to the
fears

380
scroyles
scoundrels

380
flout
mock, insult

383
industrious
ingenious/painstaking/hard-working

383
acts
deeds/theatrical actions/parts of a play

385
mutines
mutineers, rebels

385
mutines of Jerusalem
rival Jewish factions who united to fight the Romans besieging Jerusalem in AD 70

386
conjointly bend
jointly aim

388
mount
raise/prepare for firing

389
chargèd
loaded

390
soul-fearing
terrifying

390
brawled down
destroyed noisily

392
play
torment by firing at

392
jades
wretches (literally, worthless horses)

393
unfencèd
without walls, i.e. unprotected

393
desolation
barren ruin/despondency

394
vulgar
common

397
point
i.e. sword point

398
cull forth
select

399
happy minion
fortunate favorite

400
day
i.e. victory

402
wild
irregular/audacious

402
states
sovereigns

403
Smacks … something
has it not a flavor

403
the policy
stratagem

405
knit
unite

406
lay
level, flatten

407
who
i.e. to determine who

408
An if
if

408
mettle
spirit, disposition

409
peevish
obstinate/foolish

411
saucy
insolent

412
when that
when

413
pell-mell
headlong/in hand-to-hand combat

414
ourselves
i.e. each other

414
heaven or hell
i.e. eternal life or damnation

419
thunder
i.e. cannon

420
drift
shower, deluge

421
discipline
military strategy

424
vouchsafe
agree, grant

425
league
alliance, friendship

427
breathing lives
i.e. living people

429
Persever
persevere, proceed