38. pouncet-box: pomander, perfume box with perforated lid.
2. Unapt: slow.
3. found me: i.e., found me so mild.
5. myself: i.e., my kingly self.
6. my condition: my (naturally mild) disposition.
10. Our house: i.e., the Percy family. —The Percies (the Earl of Worcester, and his brother, the Earl of Northumberland, Hotspur's father) had supported King Henry (then Henry Bolingbroke, the Duke of Hereford) in his struggle with Richard II.
13. holp: helped. portly: stately; prosperous, with a suggestion of over-prosperity.
16. Danger: defiance.
17. peremptory: imperious.
19. moody frontier: i.e., frowning forehead (moody = passionate, angry; frontier = outwork or fortification, here with a play on the word front or brow).
25. strength: vehemence.
26. delivered: reported.
27. envy: malice. misprision: misunderstanding.
34. chin new reap'd: i.e., beard freshly clipped according to the latest fashion, not like a soldier's beard.
35. Show'd: looked. harvest-home: end of harvest, fields being neat and bare.
36. milliner: man dealing in fancy articles.
38. pouncet-box: pomander, perfume box with perforated lid.
40. Who: which (i.e., his nose).
41. Took it in snuff: (1) snuffed it up (literately, the nose sniffs in the perfume. This snuff is not tobacco, but perfumed herbs.); (2) was offended. still: continually.
44. corse: corpse.
46. many holiday and lady terms: much dainty, ladylike, effeminate language.
47. questioned: prattled to. the rest: other things.
50. popinjay: parrot.
51. grief: pain.
52. neglectingly: without considering.
56. God save the mark: God forbid. Probably originally a formula to avert evil omens; here, an expression of impatience.
57. sovereignest thing: most efficacious remedy.
58. parmaceti: ointment made of spermaceti or whale sperm.
62. tall: brave.
63. but: except.
65. bald: trivial.
68. Come current: be accepted as valid.
71. had: may have.
75. impeach: discredit.
76. so: provided that.
78. But with proviso and exception: unless on the condition.
79. charge: expense. straight: immediately.
80. brother-in-law: —Hotspur's wife was the sister of Sir Edmund Mortimer (who married Glendower's daughter).
83. magician: —According to Holinshed, Shakespeare's source, Glendower reportedly used magic to raise foul weather which enabled him to evade capture by King Henry.
84. Earl of March: There were two Edmund Mortimers (also in line 80); Shakespeare confuses them and combines their stories. It was the uncle (1378-1409?) who was captured by Glendower and married Glendower's daughter; it was the nephew (1391-1425), fourth Earl of March, who had been proclaimed heir to King Richard II.
87. indent with fears: i.e., come to terms with persons who have given us cause to fear them (indent = bargain, make an indenture).
92. revolted: rebellious.
97. mouthed: gaping.
100. confound: consume.
101. changing hardiment: matching valor, exchanging blows.
102. breath'd: stopped to get their breath.
106. crisp head: curled head; i.e., rippled surface.
108. policy: cunning, trickery.
112. revolt: i.e., accusation of rebellion.
113. belie: not tell the truth about.
126. after straight: go after him at once.
129. choler: anger.
132. Want: lack.
133. on his part: in his behalf.
137. cank'red: spoiled, malignant.
140. forsooth: indeed.
149. Whose wrongs in us: i.e., the wrongs that we did to him (by supporting Bolingbroke, the future Henry IV).
151. intercepted: interrupted (by Bolingbroke's return from exile).
154. scandalized: defamed.
162. detested: detestable.
163. murderous subornation: the suborning of murder or inciting to murder.
168. line: rank; also, hangman's rope. predicament: dilemma, dangerous situation; also, category.
169. range: i.e., are classified.
173. gage: pledge. them both: i.e., nobility and power.
176. canker: wild, unfragrant rose, considered to be an invasive weed; also, ulcer.
183. disdain'd: disdainful.
185. answer: discharge.
189. to your quick-conceiving discontents: i.e., to you, who in your disaffection will be quick to understand me.
194. he: i.e., the man attempting such a crossing. good night! or sink or swim: i.e., such a man, walking over a roaring stream, is done for if he falls in, whether he sinks or stays afloat (for a time).
196. So: provided that.
200. patience: self-control.
206. redeem: rescue.
207. corrival: rival, competitor; also, partner.
208. But out upon this half-fac'd fellowship: i.e., down with this business of sharing honors with others. (half-fac'd = thin, meagre)
209. apprehends: seizes on. figures: figures of speech (an allusion to Hotspur's highly figurative language).
210. attend: be intent upon.
212. cry you mercy: beg your pardon.
228. studies: concerns, pursuits. defy: renounce.
230. sword-and-buckler: —Like the "pot of ale" in line 233, an allusion to the Prince's disreputable associates, for in Shakespeare's time swords and bucklers were used only by the lowest class of soldiers. These arms were improper for a Prince, who should carry rapier and dagger.
240. pismires: ants.
241. vile politician: contemptible, deceitful schemer.
244. kept: dwelled, resided.
248. Ravenspurgh: Ravenspur, at the mouth of the Humber in Yorkshire, where Henry landed on his return from exile.
251. candy deal: sugary lot; flattering.
255. cozeners: cheats (with obvious pun on "cousins").
258. stay your leisure: wait until you have time to listen.
260. Deliver them up: liberate them. straight: at once.
261-162. the Douglas' son: i.e., Murdac Stewart. —Then, as now, the head of a prominent Scottish family was designated by his surname preceded by the definite article. mean / For powers: agent for raising troops.
268. The archbishop: Richard Scroop (1350?-1405), one of the most prominent of the Percies' allies in their insurrection.
270. bears hard: greatly resents.
271. Bristow: Bristol.
272. estimation: (mere) conjecture, guesswork.
276. occasion: opportunity.
278. thou still le'st slip: you always let loose the dogs.
282. aim'd: planned.
284. head: army.
285. even: prudently, carefully.
286. him: himself.
288. home: fully.
294. suddenly: soon.
296. powers at once: united forces.
302. fields: battlefields.