Henry vi part 2, p.34
Henry VI, Part 2, page 34
168. tongue: (1) language; (2) organ of speech
174. up: risen in rebellion
182. clouted shoon: hobnailed boots, or patched shoes
183. thrifty: respectable, worthy
184. take our parts: join us
185. They . . . order: i.e., the king’s forces are drawn up in battle order
186. in order: in normal condition
186–87. out of order: in disorder, in violation of recognized order
* * *
4.3 Cade defeats and kills the Staffords and marches on London.
0 SD. Alarums: calls to arms
6. as long again: i.e., twice as long
7. license to kill: Slaughter and sale of sheep and oxen (line 3) was forbidden in Lent except by special license
7–8. for a hundred lacking one: The usual lease was for 99 years. Here, the number may refer to years or to the number of animals or customers.
11. monument: token
18. Fear: doubt
* * *
4.4 King Henry flees London and Queen Margaret mourns Suffolk’s death. Lord Saye, whom the rebels hate, decides to hide in London.
0 SD. supplication: written petition
2. fearful: full of fears, apprehensive
9. entreat: enter into negotiations; or, persuade by pleading
10. simple: innocent
11. perish by the sword: See Matthew 26.52: “All that take the sword shall perish with the sword.”
12. cut them short: See 3.1.82 and note.
13. parley: speak
14. stay: wait
16. Ruled . . . me: In astrology, the planet under which one is born can exercise a fateful influence over one. wandering: orbiting in an irregular manner, as in Ptolemaic astronomy the planets were thought to do in circling the earth (See picture.)
18. That: i.e., who
23. fear me: i.e., fear (the ethical dative)
28. Southwark: district just south of the Thames, with access to London across London Bridge
34. hinds: rustics, servants; rude: uncivilized, violent
37.
A scholar, or “learnèd” clerk. (4.4.37; 4.7.71)
From Geoffrey Whitney, A choice of emblemes . . . (1586).
38. false: treacherous; caterpillars: extortionists, those who prey on society (Proverbial: “The caterpillars of the commonwealth.”)
39. graceless men: i.e., men lacking divine grace; they . . . do: See Luke 23.34: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
40. Killingworth: Kenilworth, near Warwick
41. power: army
43. appeased: pacified, quieted
44. hateth: i.e., hate
46. So: then
49. secret: hidden
50.
London Bridge. (4.4.50; 4.5.3; 4.6.14)
From Claes Jansz Visscher, Londinum florentissima Britanniae urbs . . . [c. 1625].
52. rascal people: rabble
54. spoil: sack, pillage
56. succor: help
60–61. The trust . . . resolute: Proverbial: “Innocence is bold.”
* * *
4.5 Citizens of London plead for military aid from Lord Scales, who commands forces at the Tower. He sends Matthew Gough, a famous warrior.
0 SD. Tower: the Tower of London, a fortress and armory (See picture.)
The Tower of London. (4.5.0 SD; 4.6.15)
From John Seller, A book of the prospects of the remarkable places in . . . London . . . [c. 1700?].
1. How now: i.e., how is it now
3. they: i.e., the rebels; the Bridge: i.e., London Bridge (See picture.)
4. craves aid of: begs aid from
9. essayed: tried
10. Smithfield: open space beyond London’s walls; gather head: raise an army
11. Matthew Gough: a renowned English military leader, who fought in Normandy
* * *
4.6 Cade enters London.
0 SD. London Stone: the central milestone of Roman London (See picture.)
“London Stone.” (4.6.0 SD)
An anonymous eighteenth-century rendering. From the Folger Library Collection.
2. charge: order
3. of: i.e., at; Pissing Conduit: popular name for a Cheapside water supply in a channel that ran with a small stream Pissing: paltry
4. claret wine: wine of yellowish or light red color (The day a newly crowned monarch entered London, the Cheapside conduit would run with wine.)
6. other: i.e., anything other
9. If . . . wise: Proverbial: “He is wise that is ware in time.”
* * *
4.7 Cade defeats and kills Gough. Lord Saye is captured and killed.
1. the Savoy: the London home of the duke of Lancaster (actually destroyed the previous century)
2. Inns of Court: the London law schools and property of the legal societies
3. suit: petition
4. lordship: title and land of a lord
7. Mass: i.e., by the Roman Catholic Mass (a strong oath); sore: severe (with the obvious pun)
9. whole: healed
15. biting: bitter, painful (with the obvious pun)
17–18. be in common: possessed equally by all
19. prize: captive of war
21. one-and-twenty fifteens: a tax of 140% (See note to 1.1.139.)
21–22. one shilling to the pound: a tax of 5%
The obverse and reverse of a shilling. (4.7.22)
From Edward Hawkins, The silver coins of England . . . (1841).
22. the last subsidy: i.e., the last time Parliament granted the king financial aid for special needs
24. thou say, . . . serge, . . . buckram lord: Cade plays with the fact that Lord Saye’s name sounds the same as say, a fine-textured, partly silk fabric; he then reduces him to a serge (woolen) lord, and then to a lord made of buckram (cloth stiffened with gum or paste).
25. point-blank: direct aim
27. Basimecu: vulgarization of the French baise mon cul (kiss my ass)
28–30. by these . . . Mortimer: a blending of (1) the Latin legal formula “by these present documents” (per has literas presentes) and (2) “in this presence,” i.e., in the presence of a person of superior rank, Lord Mortimer
30. besom: broom
33. grammar school: the kind of school established by sixteenth-century Humanists for the study of rhetoric (an anachronism in this play set in the fifteenth century, as is the mention of printing [line 35] and the paper mill [line 37], both of which postdate the events dramatized here)
35. score: notch cut in a stick of wood called the tally in order to keep accounts without writing
36–37. contrary to . . . dignity: a legal formula King his: i.e., king’s
38–39. usually: ordinarily
39. abominable: offensive
43. answer: make defense against
44. could not read: i.e., could not claim benefit of clergy to escape capital punishment
45. that cause: i.e., their illiteracy
47. a footcloth: i.e., a horse wearing a footcloth, large richly ornamented cloth
51. hose and doublets: breeches and tight-fitting jackets (See picture.)
56. bona terra, mala gens: good land, bad people (Latin, proverbial)
60. the . . . writ: Julius Caesar’s De bello gallico (Concerning the Gallic War)
61. civil’st: most civilized
63. liberal: generous
64. void of: lacking
67. favor: goodwill, mitigation of punishment
69. aught: anything; exacted: required (but also “required by force” or “extorted”)
71. learnèd clerks: scholars (See picture.)
72. book: learning; preferred me: won me preferment or advancement to the king’s service
76. cannot but: i.e., must; forbear to murder: refrain from murdering
78. behoof: benefit, advantage
79. field: battlefield
80. reaching hands: hands able to reach far (Proverbial: “Kings have long arms.”)
84. watching: staying awake at night
87. sitting: i.e., as a judge; determine: settle; causes: suits, subjects of litigation
89. hempen caudle: i.e., hangman’s rope caudle: a drink given to the sick (a thin warm gruel, mixed with wine or ale, sweetened or spiced)
90. help: remedy, cure; hatchet: i.e., executioner’s ax
92. palsy: tremulous paralysis in the aged
93. as who should: i.e., as one who would
98. affected: sought to obtain
102. guiltless blood-shedding: shedding the blood of the guiltless
105. remorse: compassion
106. an it be but: i.e., if only
107. familiar: demon who serves him
110. presently: immediately
119. peer: noble
121–22. There . . . it: a reference to the droit de seigneur, a feudal lord’s right to the first night with his vassal’s bride
123. hold of me: possess land from me; in capite: directly (This Latin legal phrase applied to land held directly from the Crown.) charge: order
124. free: unrestrained
124–25. as heart can wish . . . tell: proverbial
126–27. take up . . . bills: wordplay on “pick up goods with our weapons” and “buy goods on credit” bills: (1) long-handled bladed weapons; (2) notes of charges for goods
129. brave: splendid
134. spoil: sack, pillage
136. maces: staffs of office borne before, or carried by, certain officials
* * *
4.8 Lord Clifford and Buckingham persuade Cade’s followers to return to King Henry. Cade flees.
0 SD. retreat: a trumpet signal to withdraw; rabblement: rabble, mob
1. Fish Street: a street near London Bridge; Saint Magnus’ Corner: the location of Saint Magnus’ church at the lower end of Fish Street
2 SD. parley: trumpet signal calling for negotiations between the contending forces
9. pronounce: proclaim officially
11. relent: give way
14. Who: i.e., whoever; embrace: accept
21. brave: daring
22. Will you needs: must you
25. the White Hart: an inn, Cade’s headquarters
26. given out: i.e., surrendered
28. recreants: deserters; dastards: despicable cowards
30. over: from over
32. I will . . . one: i.e., I will secure myself (Proverbial: “I’ll shift for myself.”)
33. light: descend
38. meanest: lowliest born
40. the spoil: pillage
42. at jar: in discord
43. fearful: frightened; terrible
44. start: sudden invasion
45. Methinks: it seems to me; broil: turmoil
47. Villiago: coward (Italian)
48. miscarry: be destroyed
51. coast: country
53. God: i.e., with God
54. À Clifford: a rallying cry “to Clifford” À: to (French)
56–57. Was . . . fro: Proverbial: “As light as a feather” and “As wavering as a feather in the wind.”
58. hales: draws; mischiefs: evils, calamities
59. desolate: alone
59–60. lay . . . together: conspire (proverbial)
60. surprise: capture
61. despite: spite
62. have through: a threat to attack
63. want: lack
65. betake me: take
69. crowns: gold coins worth five shillings or a quarter of a pound
* * *
4.9 As King Henry rejoices at Cade’s defeat, a messenger announces York’s approach with an Irish army ostensibly seeking Somerset’s arrest for treason. Buckingham is sent to tell York that Somerset has been imprisoned in the Tower.
0 SD. on the terrace, aloft: i.e., in the gallery above and behind the stage
1. Was ever: i.e., was there ever a; joyed: enjoyed
2. content: satisfaction, pleasure
7. tidings: news
8. surprised: captured
9. is he but retired: i.e., has he only retreated; him: i.e., himself
10. powers: forces
12. Expect: wait for; doom: judgment
14. entertain: receive, accept
15. Soldiers: i.e., Cade’s soldiers
18. still: always
19. infortunate: unlucky
20. unkind: cruel
22. several countries: various regions
24. advertisèd: informed, warned
25. newly: recently
26. puissant: potent, strong; power: army
27. gallowglasses: heavily armed and well-trained Irish soldiers; stout: fierce; brave; kerns: lightly armed Irish foot soldiers (See picture.)
28. proud: valiant; array: martial order
29. still: i.e., repeatedly
32. state: government; condition; ’twixt: between
35. straightway: immediately; calmed: becalmed, delayed by absence of wind; with: i.e., by
36. But: just
37. second him: take his place, succeed him
39. of: i.e., for
40. Duke Edmund: Edmund Beaufort, duke of Somerset
46. rough: harsh; terms: i.e., the conditions or stipulations you propose
47. brook: endure; hard: severe
48. deal: negotiate
51. yet: i.e., as yet, till now
* * *
4.10 A starving Cade is killed in a fight with the Kentish gentleman Alexander Iden, in whose garden Cade looked for food.
1. Fie: an exclamation of reproach
3. hid me: i.e., hid; durst: dared
4. laid: i.e., on the watch
5–6. if . . . years: i.e., even if I were guaranteed I would live a thousand years (Proverbial: “No man has a lease of his life.”)
6. stay: wait
7. Wherefore: for which reason
A garden with a brick wall. (4.10.7–8)
From [Thomas Hill,] The gardeners labyrinth . . . (1577).
8. sallet: salad (In line 12, the word means “helmet.”)
9. another while: yet again
12. brainpan: skull
13. brown bill: long-handled axe used by both soldiers and constables brown: varnished or painted; dry: thirsty
17. turmoilèd: in agitation or commotion
18. And may: i.e., when he might
21. wax: grow
22. I care not with what: i.e., without regard for; envy: malice
23. Sufficeth that I: i.e., it suffices that what I; state: condition
24. well pleasèd: i.e., with alms
26. stray: i.e., stray animal; fee-simple: land belonging to the owner and heirs forever
27–28. get . . . of: receive a thousand crowns from
29. eat iron . . . ostrich: See picture.
An ostrich eating a nail. (4.10.29)
From Gabriele Simeoni, Le sententiose imprese . . . (1560).
32. rude: violent, harsh; uncivilized; companion: fellow
37. brave: challenge, defy; saucy: insolent
38–39. by . . . broached: an oath on Jesus’ blood broached: set running, as if it were liquor from a cask that has been pierced
39. beard: openly oppose, affront
40. eat: i.e., eaten; meat: food
42. dead as a doornail: proverbial
45. esquire: the higher order of the gentry, just below a knight
46. odds: advantage (i.e., the help of his five men)
48. outface me: stare or face me down
49. Set: compare
50. a finger to: i.e., a finger’s width in comparison to
51. truncheon: short thick staff (i.e., Iden’s leg)
53. heavèd: raised
55. answers: i.e., can do no more than merely answer
56. report: account for; forbears: refrains from
57. complete: accomplished; champion: fighting man
58. turn: blunt
59. burly-boned: corpulent; clown: country boor; chines: joints
62. Famine: starvation (here personified); no other: no one else
68. monstrous: unnatural
69. hallow thee: treat you with reverence
72. herald’s coat: Heralds wore red coats.
73. emblaze: make resplendent; set forth by means of heraldic devices
80. as: i.e., just as, in the same way that; thrust . . . sword: i.e., thrust my sword into your body
82. headlong: head downmost
84. ungracious: graceless, wicked
* * *
5.1 Buckingham seemingly placates York, and King Henry rewards Iden. York, seeing Somerset at liberty, announces his claim to the throne, and his supporters openly oppose those of King Henry.
0 SD. Colors: battle standards or flags
1. right: i.e., right to the throne
4. entertain: hospitably receive
5. sancta maiestas: holy majesty (Latin); dear: at great cost
6. Let . . . knows: i.e., let those obey who know
7. naught: nothing; gold: i.e., regalia, the emblems and symbols of monarchy
