"Here are the copies of the treaty, your Majesty, and here is the bill on Backwell.

The Abbe du Boise instructed me to ask your Majesty to sign his copy of the treaty immediately and return it to him.

He waits in a boat at the foot of the privy stairs, and is anxious to go down the river to his ship before the tide turns." "Waits at the foot of the stairs ?" exclaimed the king.

"Odds fish! What is he doing there?
But it shall be done at once.

I had the Great Seal brought to me, so that I might fully execute the treaty without delay.