Henry VIII by William Shakespeare
Act 5 - Scene 2
Before the council-chamber. Pursuivants, Pages, &c.
Archbishop Cranmer : I hope I am not too late; and yet the gentleman,
[p]That was sent to
me from the council, pray'd me
[p]To make great haste. All fast? what
means this? Ho!
[p]Who waits there? Sure, you know me?
Keeper : Yes, my lord;
[p]But yet I cannot help you.
Archbishop Cranmer : Why?
Keeper : Your grace must wait till you be call'd for.
Archbishop Cranmer : So.
Doctor Butts : [Aside] This is a piece of malice. I am glad
[p]I came this way so
happily: the king
[p]Shall understand it presently.
Archbishop Cranmer : [Aside]. 'Tis Butts,
[p]The king's physician: as he pass'd
along,
[p]How earnestly he cast his eyes upon me!
[p]Pray heaven, he
sound not my disgrace! For certain,
[p]This is of purpose laid by some
that hate me--
[p]God turn their hearts! I never sought their
malice--
[p]To quench mine honour: they would shame to make me
[p]Wait
else at door, a fellow-counsellor,
[p]'Mong boys, grooms, and lackeys.
But their pleasures
[p]Must be fulfill'd, and I attend with patience.
Doctor Butts : I'll show your grace the strangest sight--
Henry VIII : What's that, Butts?
Doctor Butts : I think your highness saw this many a day.
Henry VIII : Body o' me, where is it?
Doctor Butts : There, my lord:
[p]The high promotion of his grace of
Canterbury;
[p]Who holds his state at door, 'mongst
pursuivants,
[p]Pages, and footboys.
Henry VIII : Ha! 'tis he, indeed:
[p]Is this the honour they do one
another?
[p]'Tis well there's one above 'em yet. I had thought
[p]They
had parted so much honesty among 'em
[p]At least, good manners, as not
thus to suffer
[p]A man of his place, and so near our favour,
[p]To
dance attendance on their lordships' pleasures,
[p]And at the door
too, like a post with packets.
[p]By holy Mary, Butts, there's
knavery:
[p]Let 'em alone, and draw the curtain close:
[p]We shall
hear more anon.
Previous: Act 5 - Scene 1
Next: Act 5 - Scene 3
