SCENE II
Before the council-chamber. Pursuivants, Pages, &c. attending.
[Enter CRANMER]
CRANMER
I hope I am not too late; and yet the gentleman,
That was sent to me from the council, pray’d me
To make great haste. All fast? what means this? Ho!
Who waits there? Sure, you know me?
I hope I am not too late; and yet the gentleman,
That was sent to me from the council, pray’d me
To make great haste. All fast? what means this? Ho!
Who waits there? Sure, you know me?
[Enter Keeper]
Keeper
Yes, my lord;
But yet I cannot help you.
Yes, my lord;
But yet I cannot help you.
CRANMER
Why?
Why?
[Enter DOCTOR BUTTS]
Keeper
Your grace must wait till you be call’d for.
Your grace must wait till you be call’d for.
CRANMER
So.
So.
DOCTOR BUTTS
I came this way so happily: the king
Shall understand it presently.
| [Aside] | This is a piece of malice. I am glad |
Shall understand it presently.
[Exit]
CRANMER
[Aside]’Tis Butts,
The king’s physician: as he pass’d along,
How earnestly he cast his eyes upon me!
Pray heaven, he sound not my disgrace! For certain,
This is of purpose laid by some that hate me –
God turn their hearts! I never sought their malice –
To quench mine honour: they would shame to make me
Wait else at door, a fellow-counsellor,
’Mong boys, grooms, and lackeys. But their pleasures
Must be fulfill’d, and I attend with patience.
[Aside]’Tis Butts,
The king’s physician: as he pass’d along,
How earnestly he cast his eyes upon me!
Pray heaven, he sound not my disgrace! For certain,
This is of purpose laid by some that hate me –
God turn their hearts! I never sought their malice –
To quench mine honour: they would shame to make me
Wait else at door, a fellow-counsellor,
’Mong boys, grooms, and lackeys. But their pleasures
Must be fulfill’d, and I attend with patience.
[Enter the KING HENRY VIII and DOCTOR BUTTS at a window above]
DOCTOR BUTTS
I’ll show your grace the strangest sight –
I’ll show your grace the strangest sight –
KING HENRY VIII
What’s that, Butts?
What’s that, Butts?
DOCTOR BUTTS
I think your highness saw this many a day.
I think your highness saw this many a day.
KING HENRY VIII
Body o’ me, where is it?
Body o’ me, where is it?
DOCTOR BUTTS
There, my lord:
The high promotion of his grace of Canterbury;
Who holds his state at door, ’mongst pursuivants,
Pages, and footboys.
There, my lord:
The high promotion of his grace of Canterbury;
Who holds his state at door, ’mongst pursuivants,
Pages, and footboys.
KING HENRY VIII
Ha! ’tis he, indeed:
Is this the honour they do one another?
’Tis well there’s one above ’em yet. I had thought
They had parted so much honesty among ’em
At least, good manners, as not thus to suffer
A man of his place, and so near our favour,
To dance attendance on their lordships’ pleasures,
And at the door too, like a post with packets.
By holy Mary, Butts, there’s knavery:
Let ’em alone, and draw the curtain close:
We shall hear more anon.
Ha! ’tis he, indeed:
Is this the honour they do one another?
’Tis well there’s one above ’em yet. I had thought
They had parted so much honesty among ’em
At least, good manners, as not thus to suffer
A man of his place, and so near our favour,
To dance attendance on their lordships’ pleasures,
And at the door too, like a post with packets.
By holy Mary, Butts, there’s knavery:
Let ’em alone, and draw the curtain close:
We shall hear more anon.
[Exeunt]
