King John & Henry VIII (76 page)

25
conformable
compliant, obedient

26
dislike
displeasure

27
countenance
facial expression/favor/disposition

33
to him derived
drawn upon himself

38
many children
Katherine had six children by Henry, of whom only one (Mary) survived infancy

40
honour
good name

40
aught
anything

42
Against
toward

48
wit
wisdom

49
one The wisest
the very wisest

54
Wherefore
for which reason

60
reverend fathers
clergymen

62
elect
best, most choice men

63
bootless
useless

64
longer
any longer

64
desire
request (i.e. the trial’s postponement)

65
quiet
peace of mind

69
session
court, judicial gathering

77
certain
certainly

81
before
i.e. before you are humble (which you’ll never be)

84
challenge
formal objection (legal term)

86
blown this coal
i.e. stirred up trouble (proverbial)

88
abhor
reject

94
stood to
upheld

97
spleen
malice

104
gainsay
deny

105
worthily
justly

107
free
innocent

107
report
condemnation, allegation

108
your wrong
the wrong you do me in making such statements

111
in
about, with regard to

117
sign
display

117
in full seeming
to all appearances

121
slightly
with ease

122
powers
officials in power/power of position

122
retainers
servants

123
Domestics
servants

123
as’t … office
in whatever manner you wish, as soon as you utter their tasks

125
tender
regard, are concerned with

126
that
so that

129
cause
legal case

130
offers
attempts, makes to

132
Stubborn
resistant

132
apt
quick, ready

138
keep your way
keep going

141
tarry
stay, linger

148
rare
excellent/exceptional

149
government
control (of self and others)

150
Obeying in commanding
behaving with restraint even when issuing orders/behaving both like a queen and a dutiful wife

150
parts … else
other superior and pious qualities

150
Sovereign
excellent/royal

151
speak thee out
declare themselves as being in you

154
Carried
conducted

156
require
request

160
satisfied
compensated

166
prejudice
detriment

166
state
situation/rank

167
touch
taint, stain

169
excuse
exonerate

170
you … taught
i.e. you know full well

172
curs
dogs

178
passages
proceedings

179
speak
support

182
mark th’inducement
note what persuaded me

183
tenderness
sensitivity

187
’twixt
between

189
determinate resolution
conclusive outcome

191
advertise
notify, discuss with

193
dowager
i.e. Katherine, the widow of Henry’s brother Arthur

194
Sometimes
formerly

196
spitting
piercing, stabbing

198
mazed considerings
bewildered thoughts, confused wonderings

200
smile
i.e. favor

203
offices
duties, services

2.4
two … pillars
like the
mace
, emblems of Wolsey’s role as cardinal

205
Or
either

206
This … them
i.e. birth

209
gladded
made glad

211
issue’s
offspring’s

212
throe
pain (a word often used of labor pains)

212
hulling
drifting (with sails furled)

217
full
very

217
yet
still (now)

219
doctors
scholars

221
oppression
burdensome distress

221
reek
sweat

222
moved
put the matter to, appealed to

225
satisfied
reassured

228
Bearing … dread
given that it concerned a matter of great importance and potentially alarming consequences

229
committed … doubt
questioned the most extreme, audacious advice I was inclined to give (i.e. to pursue divorce)

237
particular
individual

238
Under … seals
i.e. with your formal written agreement

238
hands
signatures

242
Prove but
if you can only prove

244
wear … come
spend our remaining life (or perhaps “our earthly sovereignty”)

245
primest
most supreme (perhaps plays on the sense of “youngest, freshest”)

246
paragoned
put forth as an ideal model

248
a needful fitness
necessarily appropriate behavior

249
further
another

250
motion
request

252
his holiness
i.e. the Pope

255
dilatory
delaying (with specifically legal sense of entering a dilatory plea to delay proceedings)

257
return
the clergyman Thomas
Cranmer
was at this point in Europe, gathering support for Henry’s divorce

259
set on
advance, proceed

3.1
Location: the royal court, London

1
lute
stringed musical instrument played like a guitar

2
leave
stop

3
Orpheus
legendary Greek poet, whose music had the power to charm trees, animals, and stones

3
made
i.e. made them bow

7
as
as if

10
billows
swelling waves

11
lay by
subsided, became calm

13
Killing
fatal, deadly

17
presence
royal reception chamber

19
willed
ordered

20
Pray
ask (politely)

24
as righteous
i.e. as their goodness

27
part of
partly

28
all
i.e. wholly a housewife

28
against
in anticipation of

28
worst
i.e. divorce from Henry (which would necessitate careful domestic and economic management for a woman living alone)

35
corner
i.e. secrecy

36
free
innocent

37
happy
fortunate

38
a number
many others

40
Envy
malice

41
even
straightforward, constant

42
that … in
it concerns my wifely status

44
Tanta … serenissima
“So great is my integrity toward you, most serene queen” (Latin)

46
truant
negligent student

46
coming
i.e. to England from Spain

48
strange
foreign

52
willing’st
most deliberate

57
all
only

57
faith
loyalty, integrity, honesty

58
by the way
for the purpose of

62
minded
inclined

62
difference
disagreement

64
free
honorable, upright

76
suddenly
immediately, spontaneously

78
wit
intelligence

80
set
seated

81
looking
prepared

83
her … been
i.e. my sake as the queen I was till now

84
fit
brief period

90
profit
benefit

93
desperate
reckless

94
live a subject
i.e. continue to be treated as a loyal subject to Henry (despite supporting the queen)

94
forsooth
in truth

95
weigh out
counterbalance, compensate for/outweigh/assess fully

106
part away
depart

109
Out upon ye
dismissive exclamation, “Away with you”

112
mistakes
causes you to misunderstand

114
cardinal virtues
there were four of these: justice, prudence, temperance, and fortitude

115
cardinal sins
the seven deadly sins: pride, covetousness, envy, wrath, gluttony, sloth, and lechery (
cardinal
, as well as playing on the men’s ecclesiastical titles, may pun on “carnal”)

117
cordial
heart-restoring remedy

121
at once
suddenly/all at once

123
mere distraction
complete frenzy

124
envy
hatred, ill will

126
professors
those who profess to be Christians

128
habits
garments, i.e. the mere outer appearance

130
his
from his

132
fellowship
partnership/sexual intimacy

134
above
more than

134
studies
efforts

137
speak
speak for, defend

139
vainglory
boasting

141
full affections
complete love

142
Still
always, with constancy

142
next
next to

143
fondness
affection/foolishness

143
superstitious
excessively devoted, idolatrous

150
wander from
stray from/mistake

154
dignities
nobleness, high rank

156
Would
I wish

168
ends
intentions

170
places
(Church) positions

175
carriage
behavior

179
temper
temperament

180
even
level

180
calm
calm sea

184
casts
rejects (plays on sense of melting metal to form coins)

188
studies
efforts

190
used
conducted

193
do my service
pay my respects

197
That
who

197
set footing here
arrived in England

2
force
urge, press

2
a constancy
persistence