Mark Twain
The Prince and the Pauper
A Tale for Young People of All Ages
To
Those GoodMannered and Agreeable Children
Susie and Clara Clemens
This Book
Is Affectionately Inscribed
by Their Father
The quality of mercy
is twice blessd
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes
Tis mightiest in the mightiest it becomes
The thronèd monarch better than his crown
Merchant of Venice
I will set down a tale as it was told to me by one who had it of his father
which latter had it of his father this last having in like manner had it of his
father and so on back and still back three hundred years and more the
fathers transmitting it to the sons and so preserving it It may be history it
may be only a legend a tradition It may have happened it may not have
happened but it could have happened It may be that the wise and the learned
believed it in the old days it may be that only the unlearned and the simple
loved it and credited it
Chapter 1
The Birth of the Prince and the Pauper
In the ancient city of London on a certain autumn day in the second quarter of
the sixteenth century a boy was born to a poor family of the name of Canty who
did not want him On the same day another English child was born to a rich
family of the name of Tudor who did want him All England wanted him too
England had so longed for him and hoped for him and prayed God for him that
now that he was really come the people went nearly mad for joy Mere
acquaintances hugged and kissed each other and cried everybody took a holiday
and high and low rich and poor feasted and danced and sang and got very
mellow and they kept this up for days and nights together By day London was
a sight to see with gay banners waving from every balcony and housetop and
splendid pageants marching along By night it was again a sight to see with its
great bonfires at every corner and its troops of revelers making merry around
them There was no talk in all England but of the new baby Edward Tudor Prince
of Wales who lay lapped in silks and satins unconscious of all this fuss and
not knowing that great lords and ladies were tending him and watching over him
and not caring either But there was no talk about the other baby Tom Canty
lapped in his poor rags except among the family of paupers whom he had just
come to trouble with his presence
Chapter 2
Toms Early Life
Let us skip a number of years
London was fifteen hundred years old and was a great town for that day
It had a hundred thousand inhabitants some think double as many The streets
were very narrow and crooked and dirty especially in the part where Tom Canty
lived which was not far from London Bridge The houses were of wood with the
second story projecting over the first and the third sticking its elbows out
beyond the second The higher the houses grew the broader they grew They were
skeletons of strong crisscross beams with solid material between coated with
plaster The beams were painted red or blue or black according to the owners
taste and this gave the houses a very picturesque look The windows were small
glazed with little diamondshaped panes and they opened outward on hinges
like doors
The house which Toms father lived in was up a foul little pocket called
Offal Court out of Pudding Lane It was small decayed and ricketty but it
was packed full of wretchedly poor families Cantys tribe occupied a room on
the third floor The mother and father had a sort of bedstead in the corner but
Tom his grandmother and his two sisters Bet and Nan were not restricted
they had all the floor to themselves and might sleep where they chose There
were the remains of a blanket or two and some bundles of ancient and dirty
straw but these could not rightly be called beds for they were not organized
they were kicked into a general pile mornings and selections made from the
mass at night for service
Bet and Nan were fifteen years old twins They were goodhearted girls
unclean clothed in rags and profoundly ignorant Their mother was like them
But the father and the grandmother were a couple of fiends They got drunk
whenever they could then they fought each other or anybody else who came in the
way they cursed and swore always drunk or sober John Canty was a thief and
his mother a beggar They made beggars of the children but failed to make
thieves of them Among but not of the dreadful rabble that inhabited the
house was a good old priest whom the king had turned out of house and home with
a pension of a few farthings and he used to get the children aside and teach
them right ways secretly Father Andrew also taught Tom a little Latin and how
to read and write and would have done the same with the girls but they were
afraid of the jeers of their friends who could not have endured such a queer
accomplishment in them
All Offal Court was just such another hive as Cantys house Drunkenness
riot and brawling were the order there every night and nearly all night long
Broken heads were as common as hunger in that place Yet little Tom was not
unhappy He had a hard time of it but did not know it It was the sort of time
that all the Offal Court boys had therefore he supposed it was the correct and
comfortable thing When he came home empty handed at night he knew his father
would curse him and thrash him first and that when he was done the awful
grandmother would do it all over again and improve on it and that away in the
night his starving mother would slip to him stealthily with any miserable scrap
or crust she had been able to save for him by going hungry herself
notwithstanding she was often caught in that sort of treason and soundly beaten
for it by her husband
No Toms life went along well enough especially in summer He only begged
just enough to save himself for the laws against mendicancy were stringent and
the penalties heavy so he put in a good deal of his time listening to good
Father Andrews charming old tales and legends about giants and fairies dwarfs
and genii and enchanted castles and gorgeous kings and princes His head grew
to be full of these wonderful things and many a night as he lay in the dark on
his scant and offensive straw tired hungry and smarting from a thrashing he
unleashed his imagination and soon forgot his aches and pains in delicious
picturings to himself of the charmed life of a petted prince in a regal palace
One desire came in time to haunt him day and night it was to see a real
prince with his own eyes He spoke of it once to some of his Offal Court
comrades but they jeered him and scoffed him so unmercifully that he was glad
to keep his dream to himself after that
He often read the priests old books and got him to explain and enlarge upon
them His dreamings and readings worked certain changes in him by and by His
dreampeople were so fine that he grew to lament his shabby clothing and his
dirt and to wish to be clean and better clad He went on playing in the mud
just the same and enjoying it too but instead of splashing around in the
Thames solely for the fun of it he began to find an added value in it because
of the washings and cleansings it afforded
Tom could always find something going on around the Maypole in Cheapside
and at the fairs and now and then he and the rest of London had a chance to see
a military parade when some famous unfortunate was carried prisoner to the
Tower by land or boat One summers day he saw poor Anne Askew and three men
burned at the stake in Smithfield and heard an exBishop preach a sermon to
them which did not interest him Yes Toms life was varied and pleasant enough
on the whole
By and by Toms reading and dreaming about princely life wrought such a
strong effect upon him that he began to act the prince unconsciously His
speech and manners became curiously ceremonious and courtly to the vast
admiration and amusement of his intimates But Toms influence among these young
people began to grow now day by day and in time he came to be looked up to
by them with a sort of wondering awe as a superior being He seemed to know so
much and he could do and say such marvelous things and withal he was so deep
and wise Toms remarks and Toms performances were reported by the boys to
their elders and these also presently began to discuss Tom Canty and to regard
him as a most gifted and extraordinary creature Full grown people brought their
perplexities to Tom for solution and were often astonished at the wit and
wisdom of his decisions In fact he was become a hero to all who knew him except
his own family these only saw nothing in him
Privately after a while Tom organized a royal court He was the prince
his special comrades were guards chamberlains equerries lords and ladies in
waiting and the royal family Daily the mock prince was received with elaborate
ceremonials borrowed by Tom from his romantic readings daily the great affairs
of the mimic kingdom were discussed in the royal council and daily his mimic
highness issued decrees to his imaginary armies navies and viceroyalties
After which he would go forth in his rags and beg a few farthings eat his
poor crust take his customary cuffs and abuse and then stretch himself upon
his handful of foul straw and resume his empty grandeurs in his dreams
And still his desire to look just once upon a real prince in the flesh
grew upon him day by day and week by week until at last it absorbed all other
desires and became the one passion of his life
One January day on his usual begging tour he tramped despondently up and
down the region round about Mincing Lane and Little East Cheap hour after hour
barefooted and cold looking in at cookshop windows and longing for the
dreadful porkpies and other deadly inventions displayed there for to him
these were dainties fit for the angels that is judging by the smell they were
for it had never been his good luck to own and eat one There was a cold
drizzle of rain the atmosphere was murky it was a melancholy day At night Tom
reached home so wet and tired and hungry that it was not possible for his father
and grandmother to observe his forlorn condition and not be moved after their
fashion wherefore they gave him a brisk cuffing at once and sent him to bed
For a long time his pain and hunger and the swearing and fighting going on in
the building kept him awake but at last his thoughts drifted away to far
romantic lands and he fell asleep in the company of jeweled and gilded
princelings who lived in vast palaces and had servants salaaming before them or
flying to execute their orders And then as usual he dreamed that he was a
princeling himself
All night long the glories of his royal estate shone upon him he moved
among great lords and ladies in a blaze of light breathing perfumes drinking
in delicious music and answering the reverent obeisances of the glittering
throng as it parted to make way for him with here a smile and there a nod of
his princely head
And when he awoke in the morning and looked upon the wretchedness about him
his dream had had its usual effect it had intensified the sordidness of his
surroundings a thousand fold Then came bitterness and heartbreak and tears
Chapter 3
Toms Meeting with the Prince
Tom got up hungry and sauntered hungry away but with his thoughts busy with the
shadowy splendors of his nights dreams He wandered here and there in the city
hardly noticing where he was going or what was happening around him People
jostled him and some gave him rough speech but it was all lost on the musing
boy By and by he found himself at Temple Bar the furthest from home he had
ever traveled in that direction He stopped and considered a moment then fell
into his imaginings again and passed on outside the walls of London The Strand
had ceased to be a country road then and regarded itself as a street but by a
strained construction for though there was a tolerably compact row of houses on
one side of it there were only some scattering great buildings on the other
these being palaces of rich nobles with ample and beautiful grounds stretching
to the river grounds that are now closely packed with grim acres of brick and
stone
Tom discovered Charing village presently and rested himself at the
beautiful cross built there by a bereaved king of earlier days then idled down
a quiet lovely road past the great cardinals stately palace toward a far
more mighty and majestic palace beyond Westminster Tom stared in glad wonder
at the vast pile of masonry the widespreading wings the frowning bastions and
turrets the huge stone gateway with its gilded bars and its magnificent array
of colossal granite lions and other the signs and symbols of English royalty
Was the desire of his soul to be satisfied at last Here indeed was a kings
palace might he not hope to see a prince now a prince of flesh and blood if
heaven were willing
At each side of the gilded gate stood a living statue that is to say an
erect and stately and motionless manatarms clad from head to heel in shining
steel armor At a respectful distance were many country folk and people from
the city waiting for any chance glimpse of royalty that might offer Splendid
carriages with splendid people in them and splendid servants outside were
arriving and departing by several other noble gateways that pierced the royal
enclosure
Poor little Tom in his rags approached and was moving slow and timidly
past the sentinels with a beating heart and a rising hope when all at once he
caught sight through the golden bars of a spectacle that almost made him shout
for joy Within was a comely boy tanned and brown with sturdy outdoor sports
and exercises whose clothing was all of lovely silks and satins shining with
jewels at his hip a little jeweled sword and dagger dainty buskins on his
feet with red heels and on his head a jaunty crimson cap with drooping plumes
fastened with a great sparkling gem Several gorgeous gentlemen stood near his
servants without a doubt O he was a prince a prince a living prince a real
prince without the shadow of a question and the prayer of the pauperboys
heart was answered at last
Toms breath came quick and short with excitement and his eyes grew big
with wonder and delight Everything gave way in his mind instantly to one
desire that was to get close to the prince and have a good devouring look at
him Before he knew what he was about he had his face against the gatebars
The next instant one of the soldiers snatched him rudely away and sent him
spinning among the gaping crowd of country gawks and London idlers The soldier
said
»Mind thy manners thou young beggar«
The crowd jeered and laughed but the young prince sprang to the gate with
his face flushed and his eyes flashing with indignation and cried out
»How darst thou use a poor lad like that How darst thou use the king my
fathers meanest subject so Open the gates and let him in«
You should have seen that fickle crowd snatch off their hats then You
should have heard them cheer and shout »Long live the Prince of Wales«
The soldiers presented arms with their halberds opened the gates and
presented again as the little Prince of Poverty passed in in his fluttering
rags to join hands with the Prince of Limitless Plenty
Edward Tudor said
»Thou lookest tired and hungry thoust been treated ill Come with me«
Half a dozen attendants sprang forward to I dont know what interfere no
doubt But they were waved aside with a right royal gesture and they stopped
stock still where they were like so many statues Edward took Tom to a rich
apartment in the palace which he called his cabinet By his command a repast
was brought such as Tom had never encountered before except in books the
prince with princely delicacy and breeding sent away the servants so that his
humble guest might not be embarrassed by their critical presence then he sat
near by and asked questions while Tom ate
»What is thy name lad«
»Tom Canty an it please thee sir«
»Tis an odd one Where dost live«
»In the city please thee sir Offal Court out of Pudding Lane«
»Offal Court Truly tis another odd one Hast parents«
»Parents have I sir and a grandam likewise that is but indifferently
precious to me God forgive me if it be offense to say it Also twin sisters
Nan and Bet«
»Then is thy grandam not over kind to thee I take it«
»Neither to any other is she so please your worship She hath a wicked
heart and worketh evil all her days«
»Doth she mistreat thee«
»There be times that she stayeth her hand being asleep or overcome with
drink but when she hath her judgment clear again she maketh it up to me with
goodly beatings«
A fierce look came into the little princes eyes and he cried out
»What Beatings«
»O indeed yes please you sir«
»Beatings And thou so frail and little Harkye before the night come she
shall hie her to the Tower The king my father «
»In sooth you forget sir her low degree The Tower is for the great
alone«
»True indeed I had not thought of that I will consider of her punishment
Is thy father kind to thee«
»Not more than Gammer Canty sir«
»Fathers be alike mayhap Mine hath not a dolls temper He smiteth with a
heavy hand yet spareth me he spareth me not always with his tongue though
sooth to say How doth thy mother use thee«
»She is good sir and giveth me neither sorrow nor pain of any sort And
Nan and Bet are like to her in this«
»How old be these«
»Fifteen an it please you sir«
»The lady Elizabeth my sister is fourteen and the lady Jane Grey my cousin
is of mine own age and comely and gracious withal but my sister the lady Mary
with her gloomy mien and look you do thy sisters forbid their servants to
smile lest the sin destroy their souls«
»They O dost think sir that they have servants«
The little prince contemplated the little pauper gravely a moment then said
»And prithee why not Who helpeth them undress at night who attireth them
when they rise«
»None sir Wouldst have them take off their garment and sleep without
like the beasts«
»Their garment Have they but one«
»Ah good your worship what would they do with more Truly they have not
two bodies each«
»It is a quaint and marvelous thought Thy pardon I had not meant to
laugh But thy good Nan and thy Bet shall have raiment and lackeys enow and
that soon too my cofferer shall look to it No thank me not tis nothing
Thou speakest well thou hast an easy grace in it Art learned«
»I know not if I am or not sir The good priest that is called Father
Andrew taught me of his kindness from his books«
»Knowst thou the Latin«
»But scantly sir I doubt«
»Learn it lad tis hard only at first The Greek is harder but neither
these nor any tongues else I think are hard to the lady Elizabeth and my
cousin Thou shouldst hear those damsels at it But tell me of thy Offal Court
Hast thou a pleasant life there«
»In truth yes so please you sir save when one is hungry There be Punch
and Judy shows and monkeys oh such antic creatures and so bravely dressed
and there be plays wherein they that play do shout and fight till all are
slain and tis so fine to see and costeth but a farthing albeit tis main
hard to get the farthing please your worship«
»Tell me more«
»We lads of Offal Court do strive against each other with the cudgel like
to the fashion of the prentices sometimes«
The princes eyes flashed Said he
»Marry that would not I mislike Tell me more«
»We strive in races sir to see who of us shall be fleetest «
»That would I like also Speak on«
»In summer sir we wade and swim in the canals and in the river and each
doth duck his neighbor and spatter him with water and dive and shout and
tumble and «
»Twould be worth my fathers kingdom but to enjoy it once Prithee go on«
»We dance and sing about the Maypole in Cheapside we play in the sand
each covering his neighbor up and times we make mud pastry oh the lovely
mud it hath not its like for delightfulness in all the world we do fairly
wallow in the mud sir saving your worships presence«
»O prithee say no more tis glorious If that I could but clothe me in
raiment like to thine and strip my feet and revel in the mud once just once
with none to rebuke me or forbid meseemeth I could forego the crown«
»And if that I could clothe me once sweet sir as thou art clad just once
«
»Oho wouldst like it Then so shall it be Doff thy rags and don these
splendors lad It is a brief happiness but will be not less keen for that We
will have it while we may and change again before any come to molest«
A few minutes later the little Prince of Wales was garlanded with Toms
fluttering odds and ends and the little Prince of Pauperdom was tricked out in
the gaudy plumage of royalty The two went and stood side by side before a great
mirror and lo a miracle there did not seem to have been any change made They
stared at each other then at the glass then at each other again At last the
puzzled princeling said
»What dost thou make of this«
»Ah good your worship require me not to answer It is not meet that one of
my degree should utter the thing«
»Then will I utter it Thou hast the same hair the same eyes the same
voice and manner the same form and stature the same face and countenance that
I bear Fared we forth naked there is none could say which was you and which
the Prince of Wales And now that I am clothed as thou wert clothed it seemeth
I should be able the more nearly to feel as thou didst when the brute soldier
harkye is not this a bruise upon your hand«
»Yes but it is a slight thing and your worship knoweth that the poor
manatarms «
»Peace It was a shameful thing and a cruel« cried the little prince
stamping his bare foot »If the king stir not a step till I come again It is
a command«
In a moment he had snatched up and put away an article of national
importance that lay upon a table and was out at the door and flying through the
palace grounds in his bannered rags with a hot face and glowing eyes As soon
as he reached the great gate he seized the bars and tried to shake them
shouting
»Open Unbar the gates«
The soldier that had maltreated Tom obeyed promptly and as the prince
burst through the portal half smothered with royal wrath the soldier fetched
him a sounding box on the ear that sent him whirling to the roadway and said
»Take that thou beggars spawn for what thou gotst me from his highness«
The crowd roared with laughter The prince picked himself out of the mud and
made fiercely at the sentry shouting
»I am the Prince of Wales my person is sacred and thou shalt hang for
laying thy hand upon me«
The soldier brought his halberd to a presentarms and said mockingly
»I salute your gracious highness« Then angrily »Be off thou crazy
rubbish«
Here the jeering crowd closed around the poor little prince and hustled him
far down the road hooting him and shouting »Way for his royal highness way
for the Prince of Wales«
Chapter 4
The Princes Troubles Begin
After hours of persistent pursuit and persecution the little prince was at last
deserted by the rabble and left to himself As long as he had been able to rage
against the mob and threaten it royally and royally utter commands that were
good stuff to laugh at he was very entertaining but when weariness finally
forced him to be silent he was no longer of use to his tormentors and they
sought amusement elsewhere He looked about him now but could not recognize
the locality He was within the city of London that was all he knew He moved
on aimlessly and in a little while the houses thinned and the passersby were
infrequent He bathed his bleeding feet in the brook which flowed then where
Farringdon street now is rested a few moments then passed on and presently
came upon a great space with only a few scattered houses in it and a prodigious
church He recognized this church Scaffoldings were about everywhere and
swarms of workmen for it was undergoing elaborate repairs The prince took
heart at once he felt that his troubles were at an end now He said to
himself »It is the ancient Grey Friars church which the king my father hath
taken from the monks and given for a home forever for poor and forsaken
children and newnamed it Christs Church Right gladly will they serve the son
of him who hath done so generously by them and the more that that son is
himself as poor and as forlorn as any that be sheltered here this day or ever
shall be«
He was soon in the midst of a crowd of boys who were running jumping
playing at ball and leapfrog and otherwise disporting themselves and right
noisily too They were all dressed alike and in the fashion which in that day
prevailed among servingmen and prentices1 that is to say each had on the
crown of his head a flat black cap about the size of a saucer which was not
useful as a covering it being of such scanty dimensions neither was it
ornamental from beneath it the hair fell unparted to the middle of the
forehead and was cropped straight around a clerical band at the neck a blue
gown that fitted closely and hung as low as the knees or lower full sleeves a
broad red belt bright yellow stockings gartered above the knees low shoes
with large metal buckles It was a sufficiently ugly costume
The boys stopped their play and flocked about the prince who said with
native dignity
»Good lads say to your master that Edward Prince of Wales desireth speech
with him«
A great shout went up at this and one rude fellow said
»Marry art thou his graces messenger beggar«
The Princes face flushed with anger and his ready hand flew to his hip
but there was nothing there There was a storm of laughter and one boy said
»Didst mark that He fancied he had a sword belike he is the prince
himself«
This sally brought more laughter Poor Edward drew himself up proudly and
said
»I am the prince and it ill beseemeth you that feed upon the king my
fathers bounty to use me so«
This was vastly enjoyed as the laughter testified The youth who had first
spoken shouted to his comrades
»Ho swine slaves pensioners of his graces princely father where be your
manners Down on your marrow bones all of ye and do reverence to his kingly
port and royal rags«
With boisterous mirth they dropped upon their knees in a body and did mock
homage to their prey The prince spurned the nearest boy with his foot and said
fiercely
»Take thou that till the morrow come and I build thee a gibbet«
Ah but this was not a joke this was going beyond fun The laughter ceased
on the instant and fury took its place A dozen shouted
»Hale him forth To the horsepond to the horsepond Where be the dogs
Ho there Lion ho Fangs«
Then followed such a thing as England had never seen before the sacred
person of the heir to the throne rudely buffeted by plebeian hands and set upon
and torn by dogs
As night drew to a close that day the prince found himself far down in the
closebuilt portion of the city His body was bruised his hands were bleeding
and his rags were all besmirched with mud He wandered on and on and grew more
and more bewildered and so tired and faint he could hardly drag one foot after
the other He had ceased to ask questions of any one since they brought him
only insult instead of information He kept muttering to himself »Offal Court
that is the name if I can but find it before my strength is wholly spent and I
drop then am I saved for his people will take me to the palace and prove that
I am none of theirs but the true prince and I shall have mine own again« And
now and then his mind reverted to his treatment by those rude Christs Hospital
boys and he said »When I am king they shall not have bread and shelter only
but also teachings out of books for a full belly is little worth where the mind
is starved and the heart I will keep this diligently in my remembrance that
this days lesson be not lost upon me and my people suffer thereby for
learning softeneth the heart and breedeth gentleness and charity«2
The lights began to twinkle it came on to rain the wind rose and a raw
and gusty night set in The houseless prince the homeless heir to the throne of
England still moved on drifting deeper into the maze of squalid alleys where
the swarming hives of poverty and misery were massed together
Suddenly a great drunken ruffian collared him and said
»Out to this time of night again and hast not brought a farthing home I
warrant me If it be so an I do not break all the bones in thy lean body then
am I not John Canty but some other«
The prince twisted himself loose unconsciously brushed his profaned
shoulder and eagerly said
»O art his father truly Sweet heaven grant it be so then wilt thou
fetch him away and restore me«
»His father I know not what thou meanst I but know I am thy father as
thou shalt soon have cause to «
»O jest not palter not delay not I am worn I am wounded I can bear
no more Take me to the king my father and he will make thee rich beyond thy
wildest dreams Believe me man believe me I speak no lie but only the
truth put forth thy hand and save me I am indeed the Prince of Wales«
The man stared down stupefied upon the lad then shook his head and
muttered
»Gone stark mad as any Tom o Bedlam« then collared him once more and
said with a coarse laugh and an oath »But mad or no mad I and thy Gammer Canty
will soon find where the soft places in thy bones lie or Im no true man«
With this he dragged the frantic and struggling prince away and disappeared
up a foul court followed by a delighted and noisy swarm of human vermin
Chapter 5
Tom as a Patrician
Tom Canty left alone in the princes cabinet made good use of his opportunity
He turned himself this way and that before the great mirror admiring his
finery then walked away imitating the princes highbred carriage and still
observing results in the glass Next he drew the beautiful sword and bowed
kissing the blade and laying it across his breast as he had seen a noble knight
do by way of salute to the Lieutenant of the Tower five or six weeks before
when delivering the great lords of Norfolk and Surrey into his hands for
captivity Tom played with the jeweled dagger that hung upon his thigh he
examined the costly and exquisite ornaments of the room he tried each of the
sumptuous chairs and thought how proud he would be if the Offal Court herd
could only peep in and see him in his grandeur He wondered if they would
believe the marvelous tale he should tell when he got home or if they would
shake their heads and say his overtaxed imagination had at last upset his
reason
At the end of half an hour it suddenly occurred to him that the prince was
gone a long time then right away he began to feel lonely very soon he fell to
listening and longing and ceased to toy with the pretty things about him he
grew uneasy then restless then distressed Suppose some one should come and
catch him in the princes clothes and the prince not there to explain Might
they not hang him at once and inquire into his case afterward He had heard
that the great were prompt about small matters His fears rose higher and
higher and trembling he softly opened the door to the antechamber resolved to
fly and seek the prince and through him protection and release Six gorgeous
gentlemenservants and two young pages of high degree clothed like butterflies
sprung to their feet and bowed low before him He stepped quickly back and shut
the door He said
»O they mock at me They will go and tell O why came I here to cast away
my life«
He walked up and down the floor filled with nameless fears listening
starting at every trifling sound Presently the door swung open and a silken
page said
»The lady Jane Grey«
The door closed and a sweet young girl richly clad bounded toward him
But she stopped suddenly and said in a distressed voice
»O what aileth thee my lord«
Toms breath was nearly failing him but he made shift to stammer out
»Ah be merciful thou In sooth I am no lord but only poor Tom Canty of
Offal Court in the City Prithee let me see the prince and he will of his grace
restore to me my rags and let me hence unhurt O be thou merciful and save me«
By this time the boy was on his knees and supplicating with his eyes and
uplifted hands as well as with his tongue The young girl seemed
horrorstricken She cried out
»O my lord on thy knees and to me«
Then she fled away in fright and Tom smitten with despair sank down
murmuring
»There is no help there is no hope Now will they come and take me«
Whilst he lay there benumbed with terror dreadful tidings were speeding
through the palace The whisper for it was whispered always flew from menial
to menial from lord to lady down all the long corridors from story to story
from saloon to saloon »The prince hath gone mad the prince hath gone mad«
Soon every saloon every marble hall had its groups of glittering lords and
ladies and other groups of dazzling lesser folk talking earnestly together in
whispers and every face had in it dismay Presently a splendid official came
marching by these groups making solemn proclamation
»IN THE NAME OF THE KING Let none list to this false and foolish matter
upon pain of death nor discuss the same nor carry it abroad In the name of the
king«
The whisperings ceased as suddenly as if the whisperers had been stricken
dumb
Soon there was a general buzz along the corridors of »The prince See the
prince comes«
Poor Tom came slowly walking past the lowbowing groups trying to bow in
return and meekly gazing upon his strange surroundings with bewildered and
pathetic eyes Great nobles walked upon each side of him making him lean upon
them and so steady his steps Behind him followed the court physicians and some
servants
Presently Tom found himself in a noble apartment of the palace and heard
the door close behind him Around him stood those who had come with him Before
him at a little distance reclined a very large and very fat man with a wide
pulpy face and a stern expression His large head was very gray and his
whiskers which he wore only around his face like a frame were gray also
His clothing was of rich stuff but old and slightly frayed in places One of
his swollen legs had a pillow under it and was wrapped in bandages There was
silence now and there was no head there but was bent in reverence except this
mans This sterncountenanced invalid was the dread Henry VIII He said and
his face grew gentle as he began to speak
»How now my lord Edward my prince Hast been minded to cozen me the
good king thy father who loveth thee and kindly useth thee with a sorry jest«
Poor Tom was listening as well as his dazed faculties would let him to the
beginning of this speech but when the words me the good king fell upon his
ear his face blanched and he dropped as instantly upon his knees as if a shot
had brought him there Lifting up his hands he exclaimed
»Thou the king Then am I undone indeed«
This speech seemed to stun the king His eyes wandered from face to face
aimlessly then rested bewildered upon the boy before him Then he said in a
tone of deep disappointment
»Alack I had believed the rumor disproportioned to the truth but I fear me
tis not so« He breathed a heavy sigh and said in a gentle voice »Come to
thy father child thou art not well«
Tom was assisted to his feet and approached the majesty of England humble
and trembling The king took the frightened face between his hands and gazed
earnestly and lovingly into it a while as if seeking some grateful sign of
returning reason there then pressed the curly head against his breast and
patted it tenderly Presently he said
»Dost not know thy father child Break not mine old heart say thou
knowst me Thou dost know me dost thou not«
»Yea thou art my dread lord the king whom God preserve«
»True true that is well be comforted tremble not so there is none
here would hurt thee there is none here but loves thee Thou art better now
thy ill dream passeth ist not so And thou knowest thyself now also ist
not so Thou wilt not miscall thyself again as they say thou didst a little
while agone«
»I pray thee of thy grace believe me I did but speak the truth most dread
lord for I am the meanest among thy subjects being a pauper born and tis by
a sore mischance and accident I am here albeit I was therein nothing blameful
I am but young to die and thou canst save me with one little word O speak
it sir«
»Die Talk not so sweet prince peace peace to thy troubled heart thou
shalt not die«
Tom dropped upon his knees with a glad cry
»God requite thy mercy oh my king and save thee long to bless thy land«
Then springing up he turned a joyful face toward the two lords in waiting and
exclaimed »Thou heardst it I am not to die the king hath said it« There
was no movement save that all bowed with grave respect but no one spoke He
hesitated a little confused then turned timidly toward the king saying »I
may go now«
»Go Surely if thou desirest But why not tarry yet a little Whither
wouldst go«
Tom dropped his eyes and answered humbly
»Peradventure I mistook but I did think me free and so was I moved to
seek again the kennel where I was born and bred to misery yet which harboreth
my mother and my sisters and so is home to me whereas these pomps and
splendors whereunto I am not used oh please you sir to let me go«
The king was silent and thoughtful a while and his face betrayed a growing
distress and uneasiness Presently he said with something of hope in his voice
»Perchance he is but mad upon this one strain and hath his wits unmarred as
toucheth other matters God send it may be so We will make trial«
Then he asked Tom a question in Latin and Tom answered him lamely in the
same tongue The king was delighted and showed it The lords and doctors
manifested their gratification also The king said
»Twas not according to his schooling and ability but sheweth that his mind
is but diseased not stricken fatally How say you sir«
The physician addressed bowed low and replied
»It jumpeth with mine own conviction sire that thou hast divined aright«
The king looked pleased with this encouragement coming as it did from so
excellent authority and continued with good heart
»Now mark ye all we will try him further«
He put a question to Tom in French Tom stood silent a moment embarrassed
by having so many eyes centred upon him then said diffidently
»I have no knowledge of this tongue so please your majesty«
The king fell back upon his couch the attendants flew to his assistance
But he put them aside and said
»Trouble me not it is nothing but a scurvy faintness Raise me there
tis sufficient Come hither child there rest thy poor troubled head upon thy
fathers heart and be at peace Thoult soon be well tis but a passing
fantasy fear thou not thoult soon be well« Then he turned toward the
company his gentle manner changed and baleful lightnings began to play from
his eyes He said
»List ye all This my son is mad but it is not permanent Overstudy hath
done this and somewhat too much of confinement Away with his books and
teachers see ye to it Pleasure him with sports beguile him in wholesome
ways so that his health come again« He raised himself higher still and went
on with energy »He is mad but he is my son and Englands heir and mad or
sane still shall he reign And hear ye further and proclaim it whoso speaketh
of this his distemper worketh against the peace and order of these realms and
shall to the gallows Give me to drink I burn this sorrow sappeth my
strength There take away the cup Support me there that is well Mad
is he Were he a thousand times mad yet is he Prince of Wales and I the king
will confirm it This very morrow shall he be installed in his princely dignity
in due and ancient form Take instant order for it my lord Hertford«
One of the nobles knelt at the royal couch and said
»The kings majesty knoweth that the Hereditary Great Marshal of England
lieth attainted in the Tower It were not meet that one attainted «
»Peace Insult not mine ears with his hated name Is this man to live
forever Am I to be balked of my will is the prince to tarry uninstalled
because forsooth the realm lacketh an earl marshal free of treasonable taint
to invest him with his honors No by the splendor of God Warn my parliament to
bring me Norfolks doom before the sun rise again else shall they answer for it
grievously«3
Lord Hertford said
»The kings will is law« and rising returned to his former place
Gradually the wrath faded out of the old kings face and he said
»Kiss me my prince There what fearest thou Am I not thy loving
father«
»Thou art good to me that am unworthy oh mighty and gracious lord that
in truth I know But but it grieveth me to think of him that is to die and
«
»Ah tis like thee tis like thee I know thy heart is still the same
even though thy mind hath suffered hurt for thou wert ever of a gentle spirit
But this duke standeth between thee and thine honors I will have another in his
stead that shall bring no taint to his great office Comfort thee my prince
trouble not thy poor head with this matter«
»But is it not I that speed him hence my liege How long might he not live
but for me«
»Take no thought of him my prince he is not worthy Kiss me once again and
go to thy trifles and amusements for my malady distresseth me I am aweary and
would rest Go with thine uncle Hertford and thy people and come again when my
body is refreshed«
Tom heavyhearted was conducted from the presence for this last sentence
was a deathblow to the hope he had cherished that now he would be set free
Once more he heard the buzz of low voices exclaiming »The prince the prince
comes«
His spirits sank lower and lower as he moved between the glittering files of
bowing courtiers for he recognized that he was indeed a captive now and might
remain forever shut up in this gilded cage a forlorn and friendless prince
except God in his mercy take pity on him and set him free
And turn where he would he seemed to see floating in the air the severed
head and the remembered face of the great Duke of Norfolk the eyes fixed on him
reproachfully
His old dreams had been so pleasant but this reality was so dreary
Chapter 6
Tom Receives Instructions
Tom was conducted to the principal apartment of a noble suite and made to sit
down a thing which he was loth to do since there were elderly men and men of
high degree about him He begged them to be seated also but they only bowed
their thanks or murmured them and remained standing He would have insisted
but his uncle the Earl of Hertford whispered in his ear
»Prithee insist not my lord it is not meet that they sit in thy
presence«
The lord St John was announced and after making obeisance to Tom he said
»I come upon the kings errand concerning a matter which requireth privacy
Will it please your royal highness to dismiss all that attend you here save my
lord the Earl of Hertford«
Observing that Tom did not seem to know how to proceed Hertford whispered
him to make a sign with his hand and not trouble himself to speak unless he
chose When the waiting gentlemen had retired lord St John said
»His majesty commandeth that for due and weighty reasons of state the
princes grace shall hide his infirmity in all ways that be within his power
till it be passed and he be as he was before To wit that he shall deny to none
that he is the true prince and heir to Englands greatness that he shall
uphold his princely dignity and shall receive without word or sign of protest
that reverence and observance which unto it do appertain of right and ancient
usage that he shall cease to speak to any of that lowly birth and life his
malady hath conjured out of the unwholesome imaginings of oerwrought fancy
that he shall strive with diligence to bring unto his memory again those faces
which he was wont to know and where he faileth he shall hold his peace
neither betraying by semblance of surprise or other sign that he hath forgot
that upon occasions of state whensoever any matter shall perplex him as to the
thing he should do or the utterance he should make he shall show naught of
unrest to the curious that look on but take advice in that matter of the lord
Hertford or my humble self which are commanded of the king to be upon this
service and close at call till this commandment be dissolved Thus saith the
kings majesty who sendeth greeting to your royal highness and prayeth that God
will of His mercy quickly heal you and have you now and ever in His holy
keeping«
The lord St John made reverence and stood aside Tom replied resignedly
»The king hath said it None may palter with the kings command or fit it
to his ease where it doth chafe with deft evasions The king shall be obeyed«
Lord Hertford said
»Touching the kings majestys ordainment concerning books and such like
serious matters it may peradventure please your highness to ease your time with
lightsome entertainment lest you go wearied to the banquet and suffer harm
thereby«
Toms face showed inquiring surprise and a blush followed when he saw lord
St Johns eyes bent sorrowfully upon him His lordship said
»Thy memory still wrongeth thee and thou hast shown surprise but suffer
it not to trouble thee for tis a matter that will not bide but depart with
thy mending malady My lord of Hertford speaketh of the citys banquet which the
kings majesty did promise some two months flown your highness should attend
Thou recallest it now«
»It grieves me to confess it had indeed escaped me« said Tom in a
hesitating voice and blushed again
At this moment the lady Elizabeth and the lady Jane Grey were announced The
two lords exchanged significant glances and Hertford stepped quickly toward the
door As the young girls passed him he said in a low voice
»I pray ye ladies seem not to observe his humors nor show surprise when
his memory doth lapse it will grieve you to note how it doth stick at every
trifle«
Meantime lord St John was saying in Toms ear
»Please you sir keep diligently in mind his majestys desire Remember all
thou canst seem to remember all else Let them not perceive that thou art much
changed from thy wont for thou knowest how tenderly thy old playfellows bear
thee in their hearts and how twould grieve them Art willing sir that I
remain and thine uncle«
Tom signified assent with a gesture and a murmured word for he was already
learning and in his simple heart was resolved to acquit himself as best he
might according to the kings command
In spite of every precaution the conversation among the young people became
a little embarrassing at times More than once in truth Tom was near to
breaking down and confessing himself unequal to his tremendous part but the
tact of the princess Elizabeth saved him or a word from one or the other of the
vigilant lords thrown in apparently by chance had the same happy effect Once
the little lady Jane turned to Tom and dismayed him with this question
»Hast paid thy duty to the queens majesty today my lord«
Tom hesitated looked distressed and was about to stammer out something at
hazard when lord St John took the word and answered for him with the easy
grace of a courtier accustomed to encounter delicate difficulties and to be
ready for them
»He hath indeed madam and she did greatly hearten him as touching his
majestys condition is it not so your highness«
Tom mumbled something that stood for assent but felt that he was getting
upon dangerous ground Somewhat later it was mentioned that Tom was to study no
more at present whereupon her little ladyship exclaimed
»Tis a pity tis such a pity Thou wert proceeding bravely But bide thy
time in patience it will not be for long Thoult yet be graced with learning
like thy father and make thy tongue master of as many languages as his good my
prince«
»My father« cried Tom off his guard for the moment »I trow he cannot
speak his own so that any but the swine that wallow in the styes may tell his
meaning and as for learning of any sort soever « He looked up and encountered
a solemn warning in my lord St Johns eyes He stopped blushed then continued
low and sadly »Ah my malady persecuteth me again and my mind wandereth I
meant the kings grace no irreverence«
»We know it sir« said the princess Elizabeth taking her brothers hand
between her two palms respectfully but caressingly »trouble not thyself as to
that The fault is none of thine but thy distempers«
»Thourt a gentle comforter sweet lady« said Tom gratefully »and my
heart moveth me to thank thee fort an I may be so bold«
Once the giddy little lady Jane fired a simple Greek phrase at Tom The
princess Elizabeths quick eye saw by the serene blankness of the targets front
that the shaft was overshot so she tranquilly delivered a return volley of
sounding Greek on Toms behalf and then straightway changed the talk to other
matters
Time wore on pleasantly and likewise smoothly on the whole Snags and
sandbars grew less and less frequent and Tom grew more and more at his ease
seeing that all were so lovingly bent upon helping him and overlooking his
mistakes When it came out that the little ladies were to accompany him to the
Lord Mayors banquet in the evening his heart gave a bound of relief and
delight for he felt that he should not be friendless now among that multitude
of strangers whereas an hour earlier the idea of their going with him would
have been an insupportable terror to him
Toms guardian angels the two lords had had less comfort in the interview
than the other parties to it They felt much as if they were piloting a great
ship through a dangerous channel they were on the alert constantly and found
their office no childs play Wherefore at last when the ladies visit was
drawing to a close and the lord Guilford Dudley was announced they not only
felt that their charge had been sufficiently taxed for the present but also
that they themselves were not in the best condition to take their ship back and
make that anxious voyage all over again So they respectfully advised Tom to
excuse himself which he was very glad to do although a slight shade of
disappointment might have been observed upon my lady Janes face when she heard
the splendid stripling denied admittance
There was a pause now a sort of waiting silence which Tom could not
understand He glanced at lord Hertford who gave him a sign but he failed to
understand that also The ready Elizabeth came to the rescue with her usual
easy grace She made reverence and said
»Have we leave of the princes grace my brother to go«
Tom said
»Indeed your ladyships can have whatsoever of me they will for the asking
yet would I rather give them any other thing that in my poor power lieth than
leave to take the light and blessing of their presence hence Give ye good den
and God be with ye« Then he smiled inwardly at the thought »Tis not for
naught I have dwelt but among princes in my reading and taught my tongue some
slight trick of their broidered and gracious speech withal«
When the illustrious maidens were gone Tom turned wearily to his keepers
and said
»May it please your lordships to grant me leave to go into some corner and
rest me«
Lord Hertford said
»So please your highness it is for you to command it is for us to obey
That thou shouldst rest is indeed a needful thing since thou must journey to
the city presently«
He touched a bell and a page appeared who was ordered to desire the
presence of Sir William Herbert This gentleman came straightway and conducted
Tom to an inner apartment Toms first movement there was to reach for a cup
of water but a silkandvelvet servitor seized it dropped upon one knee and
offered it to him on a golden salver Next the tired captive sat down and was
going to take off his buskins timidly asking leave with his eye but another
silkandvelvet discomforter went down upon his knees and took the office from
him He made two or three further efforts to help himself but being promptly
forestalled each time he finally gave up with a sigh of resignation and a
murmured »Beshrew me but I marvel they do not require to breathe for me also«
Slippered and wrapped in a sumptuous robe he laid himself down at last to
rest but not to sleep for his head was too full of thoughts and the room too
full of people He could not dismiss the former so they staid he did not know
enough to dismiss the latter so they staid also to his vast regret and
theirs
Toms departure had left his two noble guardians alone They mused a while with
much headshaking and walking the floor then lord St John said
»Plainly what dost thou think«
»Plainly then this The king is near his end my nephew is mad mad will
mount the throne and mad remain God protect England since she will need it«
»Verily it promiseth so indeed But have you no misgivings as to as
to «
The speaker hesitated and finally stopped He evidently felt that he was
upon delicate ground Lord Hertford stopped before him looked into his face
with a clear frank eye and said
»Speak on there is none to hear but me Misgivings as to what«
»I am full loth to word the thing that is in my mind and thou so near to
him in blood my lord But craving pardon if I do offend seemeth it not strange
that madness could so change his port and manner not but that his port and
speech are princely still but that they differ in one unweighty trifle or
another from what his custom was aforetime Seemeth it not strange that madness
should filch from his memory his fathers very lineaments the customs and
observances that are his due from such as be about him and leaving him his
Latin strip him of his Greek and French My lord be not offended but ease my
mind of its disquiet and receive my grateful thanks It haunteth me his saying
he was not the prince and so «
»Peace my lord thou utterest treason Hast forgot the kings command
Remember I am party to thy crime if I but listen«
St John paled and hastened to say
»I was in fault I do confess it Betray me not grant me this grace out of
thy courtesy and I will neither think nor speak of this thing more Deal not
hardly with me sir else am I ruined«
»I am content my lord So thou offend not again here or in the ear of
others it shall be as though thou hadst not spoken But thou needst not have
misgivings He is my sisters son are not his voice his face his form
familiar to me from his cradle Madness can do all the odd conflicting things
thou seest in him and more Dost not recal how that the old Baron Marley being
mad forgot the favor of his own countenance that he had known for sixty years
and held it was anothers nay even claimed he was the son of Mary Magdalene
and that his head was made of Spanish glass and sooth to say he suffered none
to touch it lest by mischance some heedless hand might shiver it Give thy
misgivings easement good my lord This is the very prince I know him well
and soon will be thy king it may advantage thee to bear this in mind and more
dwell upon it than the other«
After some further talk in which the lord St John covered up his mistake
as well as he could by repeated protests that his faith was thoroughly grounded
now and could not be assailed by doubts again the lord Hertford relieved his
fellow keeper and sat down to keep watch and ward alone He was soon deep in
meditation And evidently the longer he thought the more he was bothered By
and by he began to pace the floor and mutter
»Tush he must be the prince Will any he in all the land maintain there can
be two not of one blood and birth so marvelously twinned And even were it so
twere yet a stranger miracle that chance should cast the one into the others
place Nay tis folly folly folly«
Presently he said
»Now were he impostor and called himself prince look you that would be
natural that would be reasonable But lived ever an impostor yet who being
called prince by the king prince by the court prince by all denied his
dignity and pleaded against his exaltation No By the soul of St Swithin
no This is the true prince gone mad«
Chapter 7
Toms First Royal Dinner
Somewhat after one in the afternoon Tom resignedly underwent the ordeal of
being dressed for dinner He found himself as finely clothed as before but
everything different everything changed from his ruff to his stockings He was
presently conducted with much state to a spacious and ornate apartment where a
table was already set for one Its furniture was all of massy gold and
beautified with designs which well nigh made it priceless since they were the
work of Benvenuto The room was half filled with noble servitors A chaplain
said grace and Tom was about to fall to for hunger had long been
constitutional with him but was interrupted by my lord the Earl of Berkeley
who fastened a napkin about his neck for the great post of Diaperers to the
Princes of Wales was hereditary in this noblemans family Toms cupbearer was
present and forestalled all his attempts to help himself to wine The Taster to
his highness the Prince of Wales was there also prepared to taste any
suspicious dish upon requirement and run the risk of being poisoned He was
only an ornamental appendage at this time and was seldom called upon to
exercise his function but there had been times not many generations past when
the office of Taster had its perils and was not a grandeur to be desired Why
they did not use a dog or a plumber seems strange but all the ways of royalty
are strange My lord dArcy First Groom of the Chamber was there to do
goodness knows what but there he was let that suffice The Lord Chief Butler
was there and stood behind Toms chair overseeing the solemnities under
command of the Lord Great Steward and the Lord Head Cook who stood near Tom
had three hundred and eightyfour servants beside these but they were not all
in that room of course nor the quarter of them neither was Tom aware yet
that they existed
All those that were present had been well drilled within the hour to
remember that the prince was temporarily out of his head and to be careful to
show no surprise at his vagaries These vagaries were soon on exhibition before
them but they only moved their compassion and their sorrow not their mirth It
was a heavy affliction to them to see the beloved prince so stricken
Poor Tom ate with his fingers mainly but no one smiled at it or even
seemed to observe it He inspected his napkin curiously and with deep interest
for it was of a very dainty and beautiful fabric then said with simplicity
»Prithee take it away lest in mine unheedfulness it be soiled«
The Hereditary Diaperer took it away with reverent manner and without word
or protest of any sort
Tom examined the turnips and the lettuce with interest and asked what they
were and if they were to be eaten for it was only recently that men had begun
to raise these things in England in place of importing them as luxuries from
Holland4 His question was answered with grave respect and no surprise
manifested When he had finished his dessert he filled his pockets with nuts
but nobody appeared to be aware of it or disturbed by it But the next moment he
was himself disturbed by it and showed discomposure for this was the only
service he had been permitted to do with his own hands during the meal and he
did not doubt that he had done a most improper and unprincely thing At that
moment the muscles of his nose began to twitch and the end of that organ to lift
and wrinkle This continued and Tom began to evince a growing distress He
looked appealingly first at one and then another of the lords about him and
tears came into his eyes They sprang forward with dismay in their faces and
begged to know his trouble Tom said with genuine anguish
»I crave your indulgence my nose itcheth cruelly What is the custom and
usage in this emergence Prithee speed for tis but a little time that I can
bear it«
None smiled but all were sore perplexed and looked one to the other in
deep tribulation for counsel But behold here was a dead wall and nothing in
English history to tell how to get over it The Master of Ceremonies was not
present there was no one who felt safe to venture upon this uncharted sea or
risk the attempt to solve this solemn problem Alas there was no Hereditary
Scratcher Meantime the tears had overflowed their banks and begun to trickle
down Toms cheeks His twitching nose was pleading more urgently than ever for
relief At last nature broke down the barriers of etiquette Tom lifted up an
inward prayer for pardon if he was doing wrong and brought relief to the
burdened hearts of his court by scratching his nose himself
His meal being ended a lord came and held before him a broad shallow golden
dish with fragrant rosewater in it to cleanse his mouth and fingers with and
my lord the Hereditary Diaperer stood by with a napkin for his use Tom gazed at
the dish a puzzled moment or two then raised it to his lips and gravely took a
draught Then he returned it to the waiting lord and said
»Nay it likes me not my lord it hath a pretty flavor but it wanteth
strength«
This new eccentricity of the princes ruined mind made all the hearts about
him ache but the sad sight moved none to merriment
Toms next unconscious blunder was to get up and leave the table just when
the chaplain had taken his stand behind his chair and with uplifted hands and
closed uplifted eyes was in the act of beginning the blessing Still nobody
seemed to perceive that the prince had done a thing unusual
By his own request our small friend was now conducted to his private
cabinet and left there alone to his own devices Hanging upon hooks in the
oaken wainscoting were the several pieces of a suit of shining steel armor
covered all over with beautiful designs exquisitely inlaid in gold This
martial panoply belonged to the true prince a recent present from Madam Parr
the queen Tom put on the greaves the gauntlets the plumed helmet and such
other pieces as he could don without assistance and for a while was minded to
call for help and complete the matter but bethought him of the nuts he had
brought away from dinner and the joy it would be to eat them with no crowd to
eye him and no Grand Hereditaries to pester him with undesired services so he
restored the pretty things to their several places and soon was cracking nuts
and feeling almost naturally happy for the first time since God for his sins
had made him a prince When the nuts were all gone he stumbled upon some
inviting books in a closet among them one about the etiquette of the English
court This was a prize He lay down upon a sumptuous divan and proceeded to
instruct himself with honest zeal Let us leave him there for the present
Chapter 8
The Question of the Seal
About five oclock Henry VIII awoke out of an unrefreshing nap and muttered to
himself »Troublous dreams troublous dreams Mine end is now at hand so say
these warnings and my failing pulses do confirm it« Presently a wicked light
flamed up in his eye and he muttered »Yet will not I die till he go before«
His attendants perceiving that he was awake one of them asked his pleasure
concerning the Lord Chancellor who was waiting without
»Admit him admit him« exclaimed the king eagerly
The Lord Chancellor entered and knelt by the kings couch saying
»I have given order and according to the kings command the peers of the
realm in their robes do now stand at the bar of the House where having
confirmed the Duke of Norfolks doom they humbly wait his majestys further
pleasure in the matter«
The kings face lit up with a fierce joy Said he
»Lift me up In mine own person will I go before my parliament and with
mine own hand will I seal the warrant that rids me of «
His voice failed an ashen pallor swept the flush from his cheeks and the
attendants eased him back upon his pillows and hurriedly assisted him with
restoratives Presently he said sorrowfully
»Alack how have I longed for this sweet hour and lo too late it cometh
and I am robbed of this so coveted chance But speed ye speed ye let others do
this happy office sith tis denied to me I put my Great Seal in commission
choose thou the lords that shall compose it and get ye to your work Speed ye
man Before the sun shall rise and set again bring me his head that I may see
it«
»According to the kings command so shall it be Willt please your majesty
to order that the Seal be now restored to me so that I may forth upon the
business«
»The Seal Who keepeth the Seal but thou«
»Please your majesty you did take it from me two days since saying it
should no more do its office till your own royal hand should use it upon the
Duke of Norfolks warrant«
»Why so in sooth I did I do remember it What did I with it I am
very feeble So oft these days doth my memory play the traitor with me
Tis strange strange «
The king dropped into inarticulate mumblings shaking his gray head weakly
from time to time and gropingly trying to recollect what he had done with the
Seal At last my lord Hertford ventured to kneel and offer information
»Sire if that I may be so bold here be several that do remember with me
how that you gave the Great Seal into the hands of his highness the Prince of
Wales to keep against the day that «
»True most true« interrupted the king »Fetch it Go time flieth«
Lord Hertford flew to Tom but returned to the king before very long
troubled and empty handed He delivered himself to this effect
»It grieveth me my lord the king to bear so heavy and unwelcome tidings
but it is the will of God that the princes affliction abideth still and he
cannot recal to mind that he received the Seal So came I quickly to report
thinking it were waste of precious time and little worth withal that any
should attempt to search the long array of chambers and saloons that belong unto
his royal high «
A groan from the king interrupted my lord at this point After a little
while his majesty said with a deep sadness in his tone
»Trouble him no more poor child The hand of God lieth heavy upon him and
my heart goeth out in loving compassion for him and sorrow that I may not bear
his burden on mine own old troubleweighted shoulders and so bring him peace«
He closed his eyes fell to mumbling and presently was silent After a time
he opened his eyes again and gazed vacantly around until his glance rested upon
the kneeling Lord Chancellor Instantly his face flushed with wrath
»What thou here yet By the glory of God an thou gettest not about that
traitors business thy mitre shall have holiday the morrow for lack of a head
to grace withal«
The trembling Chancellor answered
»Good your majesty I cry you mercy I but waited for the Seal«
»Man hast lost thy wits The small Seal which aforetime I was wont to take
with me abroad lieth in my treasury And since the Great Seal hath flown away
shall not it suffice Hast lost thy wits Begone And harkye come no more till
thou do bring his head«
The poor Chancellor was not long in removing himself from this dangerous
vicinity nor did the Commission waste time in giving the royal assent to the
work of the slavish parliament and appointing the morrow for the beheading of
the premier peer of England the luckless Duke of Norfolk5
Chapter 9
The River Pageant
At nine in the evening the whole vast riverfront of the palace was blazing with
light The river itself as far as the eye could reach citywards was so
thickly covered with watermens boats and with pleasurebarges all fringed with
colored lanterns and gently agitated by the waves that it resembled a glowing
and limitless garden of flowers stirred to soft motion by summer winds The
grand terrace of stone steps leading down to the water spacious enough to mass
the army of a German principality upon was a picture to see with its ranks of
royal halberdiers in polished armor and its troops of brilliantly costumed
servitors flitting up and down and to and fro in the hurry of preparation
Presently a command was given and immediately all living creatures vanished
from the steps Now the air was heavy with the hush of suspense and expectancy
As far as ones vision could carry he might see the myriads of people in the
boats rise up and shade their eyes from the glare of lanterns and torches and
gaze toward the palace
A file of forty or fifty state barges drew up to the steps They were richly
gilt and their lofty prows and sterns were elaborately carved Some of them
were decorated with banners and streamers some with cloth of gold and arras
embroidered with coats of arms others with silken flags that had numberless
little silver bells fastened to them which shook out tiny showers of joyous
music whenever the breezes fluttered them others of yet higher pretensions
since they belonged to nobles in the princes immediate service had their sides
picturesquely fenced with shields gorgeously emblazoned with armorial bearings
Each state barge was towed by a tender besides the rowers these tenders
carried each a number of menatarms in glossy helmet and breastplate and a
company of musicians
The advanceguard of the expected procession now appeared in the great
gateway a troop of halberdiers »They were dressed in striped hose of black and
tawny velvet caps graced at the sides with silver roses and doublets of murrey
and blue cloth embroidered on the front and back with the Three Feathers the
princes blazon woven in gold Their halberd staves were covered with crimson
velvet fastened with gilt nails and ornamented with gold tassels Filing off on
the right and left they formed two long lines extending from the gateway of
the palace to the waters edge A thick rayed cloth or carpet was then unfolded
and laid down between them by attendants in the gold and crimson liveries of the
prince This done a flourish of trumpets resounded from within a lively
prelude arose from the musicians on the water and two ushers with white wands
marched with a slow and stately pace from the portal They were followed by an
officer bearing the civic mace after whom came another carrying the Citys
Sword then several sergeants of the city guard in their full accoutrements and
with badges on their sleeves then the Garter KingatArms in his tabard then
several knights of the Bath each with a white lace on his sleeve then their
esquires then the judges in their robes of scarlet and coifs then the lord
high chancellor of England in a robe of scarlet open before and purfled with
minever then a deputation of aldermen in their scarlet cloaks and then the
heads of the different civic companies in their robes of state Now came twelve
French gentlemen in splendid habiliments consisting of pourpoints of white
damask barred with gold short mantles of crimson velvet lined with violet
taffeta and carnationcolored hautsdechausses and took their way down the
steps They were of the suite of the French ambassador and were followed by
twelve cavaliers of the suite of the Spanish ambassador clothed in black
velvet unrelieved by any ornament Following these came several great English
nobles with their attendants«
There was a flourish of trumpets within and the princes uncle the future
great Duke of Somerset emerged from the gateway arrayed in a »doublet of black
cloth of gold and a cloak of crimson satin flowered with gold and ribanded with
nets of silver« He turned doffed his plumed cap bent his body in a low
reverence and began to step backward bowing at each step A prolonged
trumpetblast followed and a proclamation »Way for the high and mighty the
lord Edward Prince of Wales« high aloft on the palace walls a long line of
red tongues of flame leaped forth with a thundercrash the massed world on the
river burst into a mighty roar of welcome and Tom Canty the cause and hero of
it all stepped into view and slightly bowed his princely head
He was »magnificently habited in a doublet of white satin with a
frontpiece of purple cloth of tissue powdered with diamonds and edged with
ermine Over this he wore a mantle of white cloth of gold pounced with the
triplefeather crest lined with blue satin set with pearls and precious
stones and fastened with a clasp of brilliants About his neck hung the order
of the Garter and several princely foreign orders« and wherever light fell upon
him jewels responded with a blinding flash O Tom Canty born in a hovel bred
in the gutters of London familiar with rags and dirt and misery what a
spectacle is this
Chapter 10
The Prince in the Toils
We left John Canty dragging the rightful prince into Offal Court with a noisy
and delighted mob at his heels There was but one person in it who offered a
pleading word for the captive and he was not heeded he was hardly even heard
so great was the turmoil The prince continued to struggle for freedom and to
rage against the treatment he was suffering until John Canty lost what little
patience was left in him and raised his oaken cudgel in a sudden fury over the
princes head The single pleader for the lad sprang to stop the mans arm and
the blow descended upon his own wrist Canty roared out
»Thoult meddle wilt thou Then have thy reward«
His cudgel crashed down upon the meddlers head there was a groan a dim
form sank to the ground among the feet of the crowd and the next moment it lay
there in the dark alone The mob pressed on their enjoyment nothing disturbed
by this episode
Presently the prince found himself in John Cantys abode with the door
closed against the outsiders By the vague light of a tallow candle which was
thrust into a bottle he made out the main features of the loathsome den and
also the occupants of it Two frowsy girls and a middleaged woman cowered
against the wall in one corner with the aspect of animals habituated to harsh
usage and expecting and dreading it now From another corner stole a withered
hag with streaming gray hair and malignant eyes John Canty said to this one
»Tarry Theres fine mummeries here Mar them not till thoust enjoyed them
then let thy hand be heavy as thou wilt Stand forth lad Now say thy foolery
again an thoust not forgot it Name thy name Who art thou«
The insulted blood mounted to the little princes cheek once more and he
lifted a steady and indignant gaze to the mans face and said
»Tis but ill breeding in such as thou to command me to speak I tell thee
now as I told thee before I am Edward Prince of Wales and none other«
The stunning surprise of this reply nailed the hags feet to the floor where
she stood and almost took her breath She stared at the prince in stupid
amazement which so amused her ruffianly son that he burst into a roar of
laughter But the effect upon Tom Cantys mother and sisters was different
Their dread of bodily injury gave way at once to distress of a different sort
They ran forward with woe and dismay in their faces exclaiming
»O poor Tom poor lad«
The mother fell on her knees before the prince put her hands upon his
shoulders and gazed yearningly into his face through her rising tears Then she
said
»O my poor boy thy foolish reading hath wrought its woful work at last and
taen thy wit away Ah why didst thou cleave to it when I so warned thee
gainst it Thoust broke thy mothers heart«
The prince looked into her face and said gently
»Thy son is well and hath not lost his wits good dame Comfort thee let
me to the palace where he is and straightway will the king my father restore
him to thee«
»The king thy father O my child unsay these words that be freighted with
death for thee and ruin for all that be near to thee Shake off this grewsome
dream Call back thy poor wandering memory Look upon me Am not I thy mother
that bore thee and loveth thee«
The prince shook his head and reluctantly said
»God knoweth I am loth to grieve thy heart but truly have I never looked
upon thy face before«
The woman sank back to a sitting posture on the floor and covering her eyes
with her hands gave way to heartbroken sobs and wailings
»Let the show go on« shouted Canty »What Nan what Bet Mannerless
wenches will ye stand in the princes presence Upon your knees ye pauper
scum and do him reverence«
He followed this with another horselaugh The girls began to plead timidly
for their brother and Nan said
»An thou wilt but let him to bed father rest and sleep will heal his
madness prithee do«
»Do father« said Bet »he is more worn than is his wont Tomorrow will he
be himself again and will beg with diligence and come not empty home again«
This remark sobered the fathers joviality and brought his mind to business
He turned angrily upon the prince and said
»The morrow must we pay two pennies to him that owns this hole two
pennies mark ye all this money for a halfyears rent else out of this we
go Show what thoust gathered with thy lazy begging«
The prince said
»Offend me not with thy sordid matters I tell thee again I am the kings
son«
A sounding blow upon the princes shoulder from Cantys broad palm sent him
staggering into Goodwife Cantys arms who clasped him to her breast and
sheltered him from a pelting rain of cuffs and slaps by interposing her own
person The frightened girls retreated to their corner but the grandmother
stepped eagerly forward to assist her son The prince sprang away from Mrs
Canty exclaiming
»Thou shalt not suffer for me madam Let these swine do their will upon me
alone«
This speech infuriated the swine to such a degree that they set about their
work without waste of time Between them they belabored the boy right soundly
and then gave the girls and their mother a beating for showing sympathy for the
victim
»Now« said Canty »to bed all of ye The entertainment has tired me«
The light was put out and the family retired As soon as the snorings of
the head of the house and his mother showed that they were asleep the young
girls crept to where the prince lay and covered him tenderly from the cold with
straw and rags and their mother crept to him also and stroked his hair and
cried over him whispering broken words of comfort and compassion in his ear the
while She had saved a morsel for him to eat also but the boys pains had
swept away all appetite at least for black and tasteless crusts He was
touched by her brave and costly defense of him and by her commiseration and he
thanked her in very noble and princely words and begged her to go to her sleep
and try to forget her sorrows And he added that the king his father would not
let her loyal kindness and devotion go unrewarded This return to his madness
broke her heart anew and she strained him to her breast again and again and
then went back drowned in tears to her bed
As she lay thinking and mourning the suggestion began to creep into her
mind that there was an undefinable something about this boy that was lacking in
Tom Canty mad or sane She could not describe it she could not tell just what
it was and yet her sharp motherinstinct seemed to detect it and perceive it
What if the boy were really not her son after all O absurd She almost smiled
at the idea spite of her griefs and troubles No matter she found that it was
an idea that would not down but persisted in haunting her It pursued her it
harassed her it clung to her and refused to be put away or ignored At last
she perceived that there was not going to be any peace for her until she should
devise a test that should prove clearly and without question whether this lad
was her son or not and so banish these wearing and worrying doubts Ah yes
this was plainly the right way out of the difficulty therefore she set her wits
to work at once to contrive that test But it was an easier thing to propose
than to accomplish She turned over in her mind one promising test after
another but was obliged to relinquish them all none of them were absolutely
sure absolutely perfect and an imperfect one could not satisfy her Evidently
she was racking her head in vain it seemed manifest that she must give the
matter up While this depressing thought was passing through her mind her ear
caught the regular breathing of the boy and she knew he had fallen asleep And
while she listened the measured breathing was broken by a soft startled cry
such as one utters in a troubled dream This chance occurrence furnished her
instantly with a plan worth all her labored tests combined She at once set
herself feverishly but noiselessly to work to relight her candle muttering
to herself »Had I but seen him then I should have known Since that day when
he was little that the powder burst in his face he hath never been startled of
a sudden out of his dreams or out of his thinkings but he hath cast his hand
before his eyes even as he did that day and not as others would do it with
the palm inward but always with the palm turned outward I have seen it a
hundred times and it hath never varied nor ever failed Yes I shall soon know
now«
By this time she had crept to the slumbering boys side with the candle
shaded in her hand She bent heedfully and warily over him scarcely breathing
in her suppressed excitement and suddenly flashed the light in his face and
struck the floor by his ear with her knuckles The sleepers eyes sprung wide
open and he cast a startled stare about him but he made no special movement
with his hands
The poor woman was smitten almost helpless with surprise and grief but she
contrived to hide her emotions and to soothe the boy to sleep again then she
crept apart and communed miserably with herself upon the disastrous result of
her experiment She tried to believe that her Toms madness had banished this
habitual gesture of his but she could not do it »No« she said »his hands are
not mad they could not unlearn so old a habit in so brief a time O this is a
heavy day for me«
Still hope was as stubborn now as doubt had been before she could not
bring herself to accept the verdict of the test she must try the thing again
the failure must have been only an accident so she startled the boy out of his
sleep a second and a third time at intervals with the same result which had
marked the first test then she dragged herself to bed and fell sorrowfully
asleep saying »But I cannot give him up O no I cannot I cannot he must
be my boy«
The poor mothers interruptions having ceased and the princes pains having
gradually lost their power to disturb him utter weariness at last sealed his
eyes in a profound and restful sleep Hour after hour slipped away and still he
slept like the dead Thus four or five hours passed Then his stupor began to
lighten Presently while half asleep and half awake he murmured
»Sir William«
After a moment
»Ho Sir William Herbert Hie thee hither and list to the strangest dream
that ever Sir William dost hear Man I did think me changed to a pauper
and Ho there Guards Sir William What is there no groom of the chamber in
waiting Alack it shall go hard with «
»What aileth thee« asked a whisper near him »Who art thou calling«
»Sir William Herbert Who art thou«
»I Who should I be but thy sister Nan O Tom I had forgot Thourt mad
yet poor lad thourt mad yet would I had never woke to know it again But
prithee master thy tongue lest we be all beaten till we die«
The startled prince sprang partly up but a sharp reminder from his
stiffened bruises brought him to himself and he sunk back among his foul straw
with a moan and the ejaculation
»Alas it was no dream then«
In a moment all the heavy sorrow and misery which sleep had banished were
upon him again and he realized that he was no longer a petted prince in a
palace with the adoring eyes of a nation upon him but a pauper an outcast
clothed in rags prisoner in a den fit only for beasts and consorting with
beggars and thieves
In the midst of his grief he began to be conscious of hilarious noises and
shoutings apparently but a block or two away The next moment there were
several sharp raps at the door John Canty ceased from snoring and said
»Who knocketh What wilt thou«
A voice answered
»Knowst thou who it was thou laid thy cudgel on«
»No Neither know I nor care«
»Belike thoult change thy note eftsoons An thou would save thy neck
nothing but flight may stead thee The man is this moment delivering up the
ghost Tis the priest Father Andrew«
»Godamercy« exclaimed Canty He roused his family and hoarsely
commanded »Up with ye all and fly or bide where ye are and perish«
Scarcely five minutes later the Canty household were in the street and
flying for their lives John Canty held the prince by the wrist and hurried him
along the dark way giving him this caution in a low voice
»Mind thy tongue thou mad fool and speak not our name I will choose me a
new name speedily to throw the laws dogs off the scent Mind thy tongue I
tell thee«
He growled these words to the rest of the family
»If it so chance that we be separated let each make for London Bridge
whoso findeth himself as far as the last linendrapers shop on the Bridge let
him tarry there till the others be come then will we flee into Southwark
together«
At this moment the party burst suddenly out of darkness into light and not
only into light but into the midst of a multitude of singing dancing and
shouting people massed together on the river frontage There was a line of
bonfires stretching as far as one could see up and down the Thames London
Bridge was illuminated Southwark Bridge likewise the entire river was aglow
with the flash and sheen of colored lights and constant explosions of fireworks
filled the skies with an intricate commingling of shooting splendors and a thick
rain of dazzling sparks that almost turned night into day everywhere were
crowds of revelers all London seemed to be at large
John Canty delivered himself of a furious curse and commanded a retreat but
it was too late He and his tribe were swallowed up in that swarming hive of
humanity and hopelessly separated from each other in an instant We are not
considering that the prince was one of his tribe Canty still kept his grip upon
him The princes heart was beating high with hopes of escape now A burly
waterman considerably exalted with liquor found himself rudely shoved by Canty
in his efforts to plow through the crowd he laid his great hand on Cantys
shoulder and said
»Nay whither so fast friend Dost canker thy soul with sordid business
when all that be leal men and true make holiday«
»Mine affairs are mine own they concern thee not« answered Canty roughly
»take away thy hand and let me pass«
»Sith that is thy humor thoult not pass till thoust drunk to the Prince
of Wales I tell thee that« said the waterman barring the way resolutely
»Give me the cup then and make speed make speed«
Other revelers were interested by this time They cried out
»The lovingcup the lovingcup make the sour knave drink the lovingcup
else will we feed him to the fishes«
So a huge lovingcup was brought the waterman grasping it by one of its
handles and with his other hand bearing up the end of an imaginary napkin
presented it in due and ancient form to Canty who had to grasp the opposite
handle with one of his hands and take off the lid with the other according to
ancient custom6 This left the prince handfree for a second of course He
wasted no time but dived among the forest of legs about him and disappeared In
another moment he could not have been harder to find under that tossing sea of
life if its billows had been the Atlantics and he a lost sixpence
He very soon realized this fact and straightway busied himself about his
own affairs without further thought of John Canty He quickly realized another
thing too To wit that a spurious Prince of Wales was being feasted by the
city in his stead He easily concluded that the pauper lad Tom Canty had
deliberately taken advantage of his stupendous opportunity and become a usurper
Therefore there was but one course to pursue find his way to the Guildhall
make himself known and denounce the impostor He also made up his mind that Tom
should be allowed a reasonable time for spiritual preparation and then be
hanged drawn and quartered according to the law and usage of the day in cases
of high treason
Chapter 11
At Guildhall
The Royal Barge attended by its gorgeous fleet took its stately way down the
Thames through the wilderness of illuminated boats The air was laden with
music the river banks were beruffled with joyflames the distant city lay in a
soft luminous glow from its countless invisible bonfires above it rose many a
slender spire into the sky encrusted with sparkling lights wherefore in their
remoteness they seemed like jeweled lances thrust aloft as the fleet swept
along it was greeted from the banks with a continuous hoarse roar of cheers and
the ceaseless flash and boom of artillery
To Tom Canty half buried in his silken cushions these sounds and this
spectacle were a wonder unspeakably sublime and astonishing To his little
friends at his side the princess Elizabeth and the lady Jane Grey they were
nothing
Arrived at the Dowgate the fleet was towed up the limpid Walbrook whose
channel has now been for two centuries buried out of sight under acres of
buildings to Bucklersbury past houses and under bridges populous with
merrymakers and brilliantly lighted and at last came to a halt in a basin
where now is Barge Yard in the centre of the ancient city of London Tom
disembarked and he and his gallant procession crossed Cheapside and made a
short march through the Old Jewry and Basinghall street to the Guildhall
Tom and his little ladies were received with due ceremony by the Lord Mayor
and the Fathers of the City in their gold chains and scarlet robes of state
and conducted to a rich canopy of state at the head of the great hall preceded
by heralds making proclamation and by the Mace and the City Sword The lords
and ladies who were to attend upon Tom and his two small friends took their
places behind their chairs
At a lower table the court grandees and other guests of noble degree were
seated with the magnates of the city the commoners took places at a multitude
of tables on the main floor of the hall From their lofty vantageground the
giants Gog and Magog the ancient guardians of the city contemplated the
spectacle below them with eyes grown familiar to it in forgotten generations
There was a bugleblast and a proclamation and a fat butler appeared in a high
perch in the leftward wall followed by his servitors bearing with impressive
solemnity a royal Baron of Beef smoking hot and ready for the knife
After grace Tom being instructed rose and the whole house with him
and drank from a portly golden lovingcup with the princess Elizabeth from her
it passed to the lady Jane and then traversed the general assemblage So the
banquet began
By midnight the revelry was at its height Now came one of those picturesque
spectacles so admired in that old day A description of it is still extant in
the quaint wording of a chronicler who witnessed it
»Space being made presently entered a baron and an earl appareled after the
Turkish fashion in long robes of bawdkin powdered with gold hats on their heads
of crimson velvet with great rolls of gold girded with two swords called
scimitars hanging by great bawdricks of gold Next came yet another baron and
another earl in two long gowns of yellow satin traversed with white satin and
in every bend of white was a bend of crimson satin after the fashion of Russia
with furred hats of gray on their heads either of them having an hatchet in
their hands and boots with pykes« points a foot long »turned up And after
them came a knight then the Lord High Admiral and with him five nobles in
doublets of crimson velvet voyded low on the back and before to the
cannellbone laced on the breasts with chains of silver and over that short
cloaks of crimson satin and on their heads hats after the dancers fashion
with pheasants feathers in them These were appareled after the fashion of
Prussia The torchbearers which were about an hundred were appareled in
crimson satin and green like Moors their faces black Next came in a mommarye
Then the minstrels which were disguised danced and the lords and ladies did
wildly dance also that it was a pleasure to behold«
And while Tom in his high seat was gazing upon this wild dancing lost in
admiration of the dazzling commingling of kaleidoscopic colors which the
whirling turmoil of gaudy figures below him presented the ragged but real
little Prince of Wales was proclaiming his rights and his wrongs denouncing the
impostor and clamoring for admission at the gates of Guildhall The crowd
enjoyed this episode prodigiously and pressed forward and craned their necks to
see the small rioter Presently they began to taunt him and mock at him
purposely to goad him into a higher and still more entertaining fury Tears of
mortification sprung to his eyes but he stood his ground and defied the mob
right royally Other taunts followed added mockings stung him and he exclaimed
»I tell ye again you pack of unmannerly curs I am the Prince of Wales And
all forlorn and friendless as I be with none to give me word of grace or help
me in my need yet will not I be driven from my ground but will maintain it«
»Though thou be prince or no prince tis all one thou best a gallant lad
and not friendless neither Here stand I by thy side to prove it and mind I
tell thee thou mightst have a worser friend than Miles Hendon and yet not tire
thy legs with seeking Rest thy small jaw my child I talk the language of
these base kennelrats like to a very native«
The speaker was a sort of Don Caesar de Bazan in dress aspect and bearing
He was tall trimbuilt muscular His doublet and trunks were of rich material
but faded and threadbare and their goldlace adornments were sadly tarnished
his ruff was rumpled and damaged the plume in his slouched hat was broken and
had a bedraggled and disreputable look at his side he wore a long rapier in a
rusty iron sheath his swaggering carriage marked him at once as a ruffler of
the camp The speech of this fantastic figure was received with an explosion of
jeers and laughter Some cried »Tis another prince in disguise« »Ware thy
tongue friend belike he is dangerous« »Marry he looketh it mark his eye«
»Pluck the lad from him to the horsepond wi the cub«
Instantly a hand was laid upon the prince under the impulse of this happy
thought as instantly the strangers long sword was out and the meddler went to
the earth under a sounding thump with the flat of it The next moment a score of
voices shouted »Kill the dog kill him kill him« and the mob closed in on the
warrior who backed himself against a wall and began to lay about him with his
long weapon like a madman His victims sprawled this way and that but the
mobtide poured over their prostrate forms and dashed itself against the
champion with undiminished fury His moments seemed numbered his destruction
certain when suddenly a trumpetblast sounded a voice shouted »Way for the
kings messenger« and a troop of horsemen came charging down upon the mob who
fled out of harms reach as fast as their legs could carry them The bold
stranger caught up the prince in his arms and was soon far away from danger and
the multitude
Return we within the Guildhall Suddenly high above the jubilant roar and
thunder of the revel broke the clear peal of a buglenote There was instant
silence a deep hush then a single voice rose that of the messenger from the
palace and began to pipe forth a proclamation the whole multitude standing
listening The closing words solemnly pronounced were
»The king is dead«
The great assemblage bent their heads upon their breasts with one accord
remained so in profound silence a few moments then all sunk upon their knees
in a body stretched out their hands toward Tom and a mighty shout burst forth
that seemed to shake the building
»Long live the king«
Poor Toms dazed eyes wandered abroad over this stupefying spectacle and
finally rested dreamily upon the kneeling princesses beside him a moment then
upon the Earl of Hertford A sudden purpose dawned in his face He said in a
low tone at lord Hertfords ear
»Answer me truly on thy faith and honor Uttered I here a command the
which none but a king might hold privilege and prerogative to utter would such
commandment be obeyed and none rise up to say me nay«
»None my liege in all these realms In thy person bides the majesty of
England Thou art the king thy word is law«
Tom responded in a strong earnest voice and with great animation
»Then shall the kings law be law of mercy from this day and never more be
law of blood Up from thy knees and away To the Tower and say the king decrees
the Duke of Norfolk shall not die«7
The words were caught up and carried eagerly from lip to lip far and wide
over the hall and as Hertford hurried from the presence another prodigious
shout burst forth
»The reign of blood is ended Long live Edward king of England«
Chapter 12
The Prince and His Deliverer
As soon as Miles Hendon and the little prince were clear of the mob they struck
down through back lanes and alleys toward the river Their way was unobstructed
until they approached London Bridge then they plowed into the multitude again
Hendon keeping a fast grip upon the princes no the kings wrist The
tremendous news was already abroad and the boy learned it from a thousand
voices at once »The king is dead« The tidings struck a chill to the heart of
the poor little waif and sent a shudder through his frame He realized the
greatness of his loss and was filled with a bitter grief for the grim tyrant
who had been such a terror to others had always been gentle with him The tears
sprung to his eyes and blurred all objects For an instant he felt himself the
most forlorn outcast and forsaken of Gods creatures then another cry shook
the night with its farreaching thunders »Long live King Edward the Sixth« and
this made his eyes kindle and thrilled him with pride to his fingers ends
»Ah« he thought »how grand and strange it seems I AM KING«
Our friends threaded their way slowly through the throngs upon the Bridge
This structure which had stood for six hundred years and had been a noisy and
populous thoroughfare all that time was a curious affair for a closely packed
rank of stores and shops with family quarters overhead stretched along both
sides of it from one bank of the river to the other The Bridge was a sort of
town to itself it had its inn its beer houses its bakeries its
haberdasheries its food markets its manufacturing industries and even its
church It looked upon the two neighbors which it linked together London and
Southwark as being well enough as suburbs but not otherwise particularly
important It was a close corporation so to speak it was a narrow town of a
single street a fifth of a mile long its population was but a village
population and everybody in it knew all his fellow townsmen intimately and had
known their fathers and mothers before them and all their little family
affairs into the bargain It had its aristocracy of course its fine old
families of butchers and bakers and whatnot who had occupied the same old
premises for five or six hundred years and knew the great history of the Bridge
from beginning to end and all its strange legends and who always talked bridgy
talk and thought bridgy thoughts and lied in a long level direct
substantial bridgy way It was just the sort of population to be narrow and
ignorant and selfconceited Children were born on the Bridge were reared
there grew to old age and finally died without ever having set a foot upon any
part of the world but London Bridge alone Such people would naturally imagine
that the mighty and interminable procession which moved through its street night
and day with its confused roar of shouts and cries its neighings and
bellowings and bleatings and its muffled thundertramp was the one great thing
in this world and themselves somehow the proprietors of it And so they were
in effect at least they could exhibit it from their windows and did for a
consideration whenever a returning king or hero gave it a fleeting splendor
for there was no place like it for affording a long straight uninterrupted
view of marching columns
Men born and reared upon the Bridge found life unendurably dull and inane
elsewhere History tells of one of these who left the Bridge at the age of
seventyone and retired to the country But he could only fret and toss in his
bed he could not go to sleep the deep stillness was so painful so awful so
oppressive When he was worn out with it at last he fled back to his old home
a lean and haggard spectre and fell peacefully to rest and pleasant dreams
under the lulling music of the lashing waters and the boom and crash and thunder
of London Bridge
In the times of which we are writing the Bridge furnished objectlessons in
English history for its children namely the livid and decaying heads of
renowned men impaled upon iron spikes atop of its gateways But we digress
Hendons lodgings were in the little inn on the Bridge As he neared the
door with his small friend a rough voice said
»So thourt come at last Thoult not escape again I warrant thee and if
pounding thy bones to a pudding can teach thee somewhat thoult not keep us
waiting another time mayhap« and John Canty put out his hand to seize the
boy
Miles Hendon stepped in the way and said
»Not too fast friend Thou art needlessly rough methinks What is the lad
to thee«
»If it be any business of thine to make and meddle in others affairs he is
my son«
»Tis a lie« cried the little king hotly
»Boldly said and I believe thee whether thy small headpiece be sound or
cracked my boy But whether this scurvy ruffian be thy father or no tis all
one he shall not have thee to beat thee and abuse according to his threat so
thou prefer to bide with me«
»I do I do I know him not I loathe him and will die before I will go
with him«
»Then tis settled and there is naught more to say«
»We will see as to that« exclaimed John Canty striding past Hendon to get
at the boy »by force shall he «
»If thou do but touch him thou animated offal I will spit thee like a
goose« said Hendon barring the way and laying his hand upon his sword hilt
Canty drew back »Now mark ye« continued Hendon »I took this lad under my
protection when a mob of such as thou would have mishandled him mayhap killed
him dost imagine I will desert him now to a worser fate for whether thou art
his father or no and sooth to say I think it is a lie a decent swift death
were better for such a lad than life in such brute hands as thine So go thy
ways and set quick about it for I like not much bandying of words being not
overpatient in my nature«
John Canty moved off muttering threats and curses and was swallowed from
sight in the crowd Hendon ascended three flights of stairs to his room with
his charge after ordering a meal to be sent thither It was a poor apartment
with a shabby bed and some odds and ends of old furniture in it and was vaguely
lighted by a couple of sickly candles The little king dragged himself to the
bed and lay down upon it almost exhausted with hunger and fatigue He had been
on his feet a good part of a day and a night for it was now two or three
oclock in the morning and had eaten nothing meantime He murmured drowsily
»Prithee call me when the table is spread« and sunk into a deep sleep
immediately
A smile twinkled in Hendons eye and he said to himself
»By the mass the little beggar takes to ones quarters and usurps ones bed
with as natural and easy a grace as if he owned them with never a
byyourleave or sopleaseityou or anything of the sort In his diseased
ravings he called himself the Prince of Wales and bravely doth he keep up the
character Poor little friendless rat doubtless his mind has been disordered
with ill usage Well I will be his friend I have saved him and it draweth me
strongly to him already I love the boldtongued little rascal How soldierlike
he faced the smutty rabble and flung back his high defiance And what a comely
sweet and gentle face he hath now that sleep hath conjured away its troubles
and its griefs I will teach him I will cure his malady yea I will be his
elder brother and care for him and watch over him and whoso would shame him or
do him hurt may order his shroud for though I be burnt for it he shall need
it«
He bent over the boy and contemplated him with kind and pitying interest
tapping the young cheek tenderly and smoothing back the tangled curls with his
great brown hand A slight shiver passed over the boys form Hendon muttered
»See now how like a man it was to let him lie here uncovered and fill his
body with deadly rheums Now what shall I do twill wake him to take him up and
put him within the bed and he sorely needeth sleep«
He looked about for extra covering but finding none doffed his doublet and
wrapped the lad in it saying »I am used to nipping air and scant apparel tis
little I shall mind the cold« then walked up and down the room to keep his
blood in motion soliloquizing as before
»His injured mind persuades him he is Prince of Wales twill be odd to have
a Prince of Wales still with us now that he that was the prince is prince no
more but king for this poor mind is set upon the one fantasy and will not
reason out that now it should cast by the prince and call itself the king If
my father liveth still after these seven years that I have heard naught from
home in my foreign dungeon he will welcome the poor lad and give him generous
shelter for my sake so will my good elder brother Arthur my other brother
Hugh but I will crack his crown an he interfere the foxhearted
illconditioned animal Yes thither will we fare and straightway too«
A servant entered with a smoking meal disposed it upon a small deal table
placed the chairs and took his departure leaving such cheap lodgers as these
to wait upon themselves The door slammed after him and the noise woke the boy
who sprung to a sitting posture and shot a glad glance about him then a
grieved look came into his face and he murmured to himself with a deep sigh
»Alack it was but a dream woe is me« Next he noticed Miles Hendons doublet
glanced from that to Hendon comprehended the sacrifice that had been made for
him and said gently
»Thou art good to me yes thou art very good to me Take it and put it on
I shall not need it more«
Then he got up and walked to the washstand in the corner and stood there
waiting Hendon said in a cheery voice
»Well have a right hearty sup and bite now for everything is savory and
smoking hot and that and thy nap together will make thee a little man again
never fear«
The boy made no answer but bent a steady look that was filled with grave
surprise and also somewhat touched with impatience upon the tall knight of the
sword Hendon was puzzled and said
»Whats amiss«
»Good sir I would wash me«
»O is that all Ask no permission of Miles Hendon for aught thou cravest
Make thyself perfectly free here and welcome with all that are his
belongings«
Still the boy stood and moved not more he tapped the floor once or twice
with his small impatient foot Hendon was wholly perplexed Said he
»Bless us what is it«
»Prithee pour the water and make not so many words«
Hendon suppressing a horselaugh and saying to himself »By all the
saints but this is admirable« stepped briskly forward and did the small
insolents bidding then stood by in a sort of stupefaction until the command
»Come the towel« woke him sharply up He took up a towel from under the
boys nose and handed it to him without comment He now proceeded to comfort
his own face with a wash and while he was at it his adopted child seated
himself at the table and prepared to fall to Hendon dispatched his ablutions
with alacrity then drew back the other chair and was about to place himself at
table when the boy said indignantly
»Forbear Wouldst sit in the presence of the king«
This blow staggered Hendon to his foundations He muttered to himself »Lo
the poor things madness is up with the time it hath changed with the great
change that is come to the realm and now in fancy is he king Good lack I must
humor the conceit too there is no other way faith he would order me to the
Tower else«
And pleased with this jest he removed the chair from the table took his
stand behind the king and proceeded to wait upon him in the courtliest way he
was capable of
While the king ate a grateful sense of refreshment both of body and
spirit began to steal over him the rigor of his royal dignity relaxed a
little and with his growing contentment came a desire to talk He said
»I think thou callest thyself Miles Hendon if I heard thee aright«
»Yes sire« Miles replied then observed to himself »If I must humor the
poor lads madness I must sire him I must majesty him I must not go by
halves I must stick at nothing that belongeth to the part I play else shall I
play it ill and work evil to this charitable and kindly cause«
The king warmed his heart with a second glass of wine and said
»I would know thee tell me thy story Thou hast a gallant way with thee
and a noble art nobly born«
»We are of the tail of the nobility good your majesty My father is a
baronet one of the smaller lords by knight service8 Sir Richard Hendon of
Hendon Hall by Monks Holm in Kent«
»The name has escaped my memory Go on tell me thy story«
»Tis not much your majesty yet perchance it may beguile a short half hour
for want of a better My father Sir Richard is very rich and of a most
generous nature My mother died whilst I was yet a boy I have two brothers
Arthur my elder with a soul like to his fathers and Hugh younger than I a
mean spirit covetous treacherous vicious underhanded a reptile Such was
he from the cradle such was he ten years past when I last saw him a ripe
rascal at nineteen I being twenty then and Arthur twentytwo There is none
other of us but the lady Edith my cousin she was sixteen then beautiful
gentle good the daughter of an earl the last of her race heiress of a great
fortune and a lapsed title My father was her guardian I loved her and she
loved me but she was betrothed to Arthur from the cradle and Sir Richard would
not suffer the contract to be broken Arthur loved another maid and bade us be
of good cheer and hold fast to the hope that delay and luck together would some
day give success to our several causes Hugh loved the lady Ediths fortune
though in truth he said it was herself he loved but then twas his way alway
to say the one thing and mean the other But he lost his arts upon the girl he
could deceive my father but none else My father loved him best of us all and
trusted and believed him for he was the youngest child and others hated him
these qualities being in all ages sufficient to win a parents dearest love and
he had a smooth persuasive tongue with an admirable gift of lying and these
be qualities which do mightily assist a blind affection to cozen itself I was
wild in truth I might go yet farther and say very wild though twas a
wildness of an innocent sort since it hurt none but me brought shame to none
nor loss nor had in it any taint of crime or baseness or what might not beseem
mine honorable degree
Yet did my brother Hugh turn these faults to good account he seeing that
our brother Arthurs health was but indifferent and hoping the worst might work
him profit were I swept out of the path so but twere a long tale good my
liege and little worth the telling Briefly then this brother did deftly
magnify my faults and make them crimes ending his base work with finding a
silken ladder in mine apartments conveyed thither by his own means and did
convince my father by this and suborned evidence of servants and other lying
knaves that I was minded to carry off my Edith and marry with her in rank
defiance of his will
Three years of banishment from home and England might make a soldier and a
man of me my father said and teach me some degree of wisdom I fought out my
long probation in the continental wars tasting sumptuously of hard knocks
privation and adventure but in my last battle I was taken captive and during
the seven years that have waxed and waned since then a foreign dungeon hath
harbored me Through wit and courage I won to the free air at last and fled
hither straight and am but just arrived right poor in purse and raiment and
poorer still in knowledge of what these dull seven years have wrought at Hendon
Hall its people and belongings So please you sir my meagre tale is told«
»Thou hast been shamefully abused« said the little king with a flashing
eye »But I will right thee by the cross will I The king hath said it«
Then fired by the story of Miless wrongs he loosed his tongue and poured
the history of his own recent misfortunes into the ears of his astonished
listener When he had finished Miles said to himself
»Lo what an imagination he hath Verily this is no common mind else
crazed or sane it could not weave so straight and gaudy a tale as this out of
the airy nothings wherewith it hath wrought this curious romaunt Poor ruined
little head it shall not lack friend or shelter whilst I bide with the living
He shall never leave my side he shall be my pet my little comrade And he
shall be cured aye made whole and sound then will he make himself a name
and proud shall I be to say Yes he is mine I took him a homeless little
ragamuffin but I saw what was in him and I said his name would be heard some
day behold him observe him was I right«
The king spoke in a thoughtful measured voice
»Thou didst save me injury and shame perchance my life and so my crown
Such service demandeth rich reward Name thy desire and so it be within the
compass of my royal power it is thine«
This fantastic suggestion startled Hendon out of his reverie He was about
to thank the king and put the matter aside with saying he had only done his duty
and desired no reward but a wiser thought came into his head and he asked
leave to be silent a few moments and consider the gracious offer an idea which
the king gravely approved remarking that it was best to be not too hasty with a
thing of such great import
Miles reflected during some moments then said to himself »Yes that is the
thing to do by any other means it were impossible to get at it and certes
this hours experience has taught me twould be most wearing and inconvenient to
continue it as it is Yes I will propose it twas a happy accident that I did
not throw the chance away« Then he dropped upon one knee and said
»My poor service went not beyond the limit of a subjects simple duty and
therefore hath no merit but since your majesty is pleased to hold it worthy
some reward I take heart of grace to make petition to this effect Near four
hundred years ago as your grace knoweth there being ill blood betwixt John
king of England and the king of France it was decreed that two champions
should fight together in the lists and so settle the dispute by what is called
the arbitrament of God These two kings and the Spanish king being assembled
to witness and judge the conflict the French champion appeared but so
redoubtable was he that our English knights refused to measure weapons with him
So the matter which was a weighty one was like to go against the English
monarch by default Now in the Tower lay the lord de Courcy the mightiest arm
in England stripped of his honors and possessions and wasting with long
captivity Appeal was made to him he gave assent and came forth arrayed for
battle but no sooner did the Frenchman glimpse his huge frame and hear his
famous name but he fled away and the French kings cause was lost King John
restored de Courcys titles and possessions and said Name thy wish and thou
shalt have it though it cost me half my kingdom whereat de Courcy kneeling
as I do now made answer This then I ask my liege that I and my successors
may have and hold the privilege of remaining covered in the presence of the
kings of England henceforth while the throne shall last The boon was granted
as your majesty knoweth and there hath been no time these four hundred years
that that line has failed of an heir and so even unto this day the head of
that ancient house still weareth his hat or helm before the kings majesty
without let or hindrance and this none other may do9 Invoking this precedent
in aid of my prayer I beseech the king to grant to me but this one grace and
privilege to my more than sufficient reward and none other to wit that I
and my heirs forever may sit in the presence of the majesty of England«
»Rise Sir Miles Hendon Knight« said the king gravely giving the
accolade with Hendons sword »rise and seat thyself Thy petition is granted
Whilst England remains and the crown continues the privilege shall not lapse«
His majesty walked apart musing and Hendon dropped into a chair at table
observing to himself »Twas a brave thought and hath wrought me a mighty
deliverance my legs are grievously wearied An I had not thought of that I
must have had to stand for weeks till my poor lads wits are cured« After a
little he went on »And so I am become a knight of the Kingdom of Dreams and
Shadows A most odd and strange position truly for one so matteroffact as I
I will not laugh no God forbid for this thing which is so substanceless to
me is real to him And to me also in one way it is not a falsity for it
reflects with truth the sweet and generous spirit that is in him« After a
pause »Ah what if he should call me by my fine title before folk thered be
a merry contrast betwixt my glory and my raiment But no matter let him call me
what he will so it please him I shall be content«
Chapter 13
The Disappearance of the Prince
A heavy drowsiness presently fell upon the two comrades The king said
»Remove these rags« meaning his clothing
Hendon disappareled the boy without dissent or remark tucked him up in bed
then glanced about the room saying to himself ruefully »He hath taken my bed
again as before marry what shall I do« The little king observed his
perplexity and dissipated it with a word He said sleepily
»Thou wilt sleep athwart the door and guard it« In a moment more he was
out of his troubles in a deep slumber
»Dear heart he should have been born a king« muttered Hendon admiringly
»he playeth the part to a marvel«
Then he stretched himself across the door on the floor saying contentedly
»I have lodged worse for seven years twould be but ill gratitude to Him
above to find fault with this«
He dropped asleep as the dawn appeared Toward noon he rose uncovered his
unconscious ward a section at a time and took his measure with a string
The king awoke just as he had completed his work complained of the cold and
asked what he was doing
»Tis done now my liege« said Hendon »I have a bit of business outside
but will presently return sleep thou again thou needest it There let me
cover thy head also thoult be warm the sooner«
The king was back in dreamland before this speech was ended Miles slipped
softly out and slipped as softly in again in the course of thirty or forty
minutes with a complete secondhand suit of boys clothing of cheap material
and showing signs of wear but tidy and suited to the season of the year He
seated himself and began to overhaul his purchase mumbling to himself
»A longer purse would have got a better sort but when one has not the long
purse one must be content with what a short one may do
There was a woman in our town
In our town did dwell
He stirred methinks I must sing in a less thunderous key tis not good to
mar his sleep with this journey before him and he so wearied out poor chap
This garment tis well enough a stitch here and another one there will set
it aright This other is better albeit a stitch or two will not come amiss in
it likewise These be very good and sound and will keep his small feet warm
and dry an odd new thing to him belike since he has doubtless been used to
foot it bare winters and summers the same Would thread were bread seeing
one getteth a years sufficiency for a farthing and such a brave big needle
without cost for mere love Now shall I have the demons own time to thread
it«
And so he had He did as men have always done and probably always will do
to the end of time held the needle still and tried to thrust the thread
through the eye which is the opposite of a womans way Time and time again the
thread missed the mark going sometimes on one side of the needle sometimes on
the other sometimes doubling up against the shaft but he was patient having
been through these experiences before when he was soldiering He succeeded at
last and took up the garment that had lain waiting meantime across his lap
and began his work
»The inn is paid the breakfast that is to come included and there is
wherewithal left to buy a couple of donkeys and meet our little costs for the
two or three days betwixt this and the plenty that awaits us at Hendon Hall
She loved her hus
Body o me I have driven the needle under my nail It matters little tis
not a novelty yet tis not a convenience neither We shall be merry there
little one never doubt it Thy troubles will vanish there and likewise thy
sad distemper
She loved her husband dearilee
But another man
These be noble large stitches« holding the garment up and viewing it
admiringly »they have a grandeur and a majesty that do cause these small
stingy ones of the tailorman to look mightily paltry and plebeian
She loved her husband dearilee
But another man he loved she
Marry tis done a goodly piece of work too and wrought with expedition Now
will I wake him apparel him pour for him feed him and then will we hie us to
the mart by the Tabard inn in Southwark and be pleased to rise my liege he
answereth not what ho my liege of a truth must I profane his sacred person
with a touch sith his slumber is deaf to speech What«
He threw back the covers the boy was gone
He stared about him in speechless astonishment for a moment noticed for the
first time that his wards ragged raiment was also missing then he began to
rage and storm and shout for the innkeeper At that moment a servant entered
with the breakfast
»Explain thou limb of Satan or thy time is come« roared the man of war
and made so savage a spring toward the waiter that this latter could not find
his tongue for the instant for fright and surprise »Where is the boy«
In disjointed and trembling syllables the man gave the information desired
»You were hardly gone from the place your worship when a youth came
running and said it was your worships will that the boy come to you straight
at the bridgeend on the Southwark side I brought him hither and when he woke
the lad and gave his message the lad did grumble some little for being
disturbed so early as he called it but straightway trussed on his rags and
went with the youth only saying it had been better manners that your worship
came yourself not sent a stranger and so «
»And so thourt a fool a fool and easily cozened hang all thy breed
Yet mayhap no hurt is done Possibly no harm is meant the boy I will go fetch
him Make the table ready Stay the coverings of the bed were disposed as if
one lay beneath them happened that by accident«
»I know not good your worship I saw the youth meddle with them he that
came for the boy«
»Thousand deaths twas done to deceive me tis plain twas done to gain
time Hark ye Was that youth alone«
»All alone your worship«
»Art sure«
»Sure your worship«
»Collect thy scattered wits bethink thee take time man«
After a moments thought the servant said
»When he came none came with him but now I remember me that as the two
stepped into the throng of the Bridge a ruffianlooking man plunged out from
some near place and just as he was joining them «
»What then out with it« thundered the impatient Hendon interrupting
»Just then the crowd lapped them up and closed them in and I saw no more
being called by my master who was in a rage because a joint that the scrivener
had ordered was forgot though I take all the saints to witness that to blame me
for that miscarriage were like holding the unborn babe to judgment for sins com
«
»Out of my sight idiot Thy prating drives me mad Hold whither art
flying Canst not bide still an instant Went they toward Southwark«
»Even so your worship for as I said before as to that detestable joint
the babe unborn is no whit more blameless than «
»Art here yet And prating still Vanish lest I throttle thee« The
servitor vanished Hendon followed after him passed him and plunged down the
stairs two steps at a stride muttering »Tis that scurvy villain that claimed
he was his son I have lost thee my poor little mad master it is a bitter
thought and I had come to love thee so No by book and bell not lost Not
lost for I will ransack the land till I find thee again Poor child yonder is
his breakfast and mine but I have no hunger now so let the rats have it
speed speed that is the word« As he wormed his swift way through the noisy
multitudes upon the Bridge he several times said to himself clinging to the
thought as if it were a particularly pleasing one »He grumbled but he went
he went yes because he thought Miles Hendon asked it sweet lad he would
neer have done it for another I know it well«
Chapter 14
»Le Roi Est Mort Vive le Roi«
Toward daylight of the same morning Tom Canty stirred out of a heavy sleep and
opened his eyes in the dark He lay silent a few moments trying to analyze his
confused thoughts and impressions and get some sort of meaning out of them
then suddenly he burst out in a rapturous but guarded voice
»I see it all I see it all Now God be thanked I am indeed awake at last
Come joy vanish sorrow Ho Nan Bet kick off your straw and hie ye hither
to my side till I do pour into your unbelieving ears the wildest madcap dream
that ever the spirits of night did conjure up to astonish the soul of man
withal Ho Nan I say Bet «
A dim form appeared at his side and a voice said
»Wilt deign to deliver thy commands«
»Commands O woe is me I know thy voice Speak thou who am I«
»Thou In sooth yesternight wert thou the Prince of Wales today art thou
my most gracious liege Edward king of England«
Tom buried his head among his pillows murmuring plaintively
»Alack it was no dream Go to thy rest sweet sir leave me to my
sorrows«
Tom slept again and after a time he had this pleasant dream He thought it
was summer and he was playing all alone in the fair meadow called Goodmans
Fields when a dwarf only a foot high with long red whiskers and a humped back
appeared to him suddenly and said »Dig by that stump« He did so and found
twelve bright new pennies wonderful riches Yet this was not the best of it
for the dwarf said
»I know thee Thou art a good lad and a deserving thy distresses shall end
for the day of thy reward is come Dig here every seventh day and thou shalt
find always the same treasure twelve bright new pennies Tell none keep the
secret«
Then the dwarf vanished and Tom flew to Offal Court with his prize saying
to himself »Every night will I give my father a penny he will think I begged
it it will glad his heart and I shall no more be beaten One penny every week
the good priest that teacheth me shall have mother Nan and Bet the other four
We be done with hunger and rags now done with fears and frets and savage
usage«
In his dream he reached his sordid home all out of breath but with eyes
dancing with grateful enthusiasm cast four of his pennies into his mothers lap
and cried out
»They are for thee all of them every one for thee and Nan and Bet
and honestly come by not begged nor stolen«
The happy and astonished mother strained him to her breast and exclaimed
»It waxeth late may it please your majesty to rise«
Ah that was not the answer he was expecting The dream had snapped asunder
he was awake
He opened his eyes the richly clad First Lord of the Bedchamber was
kneeling by his couch The gladness of the lying dream faded away the poor boy
recognized that he was still a captive and a king The room was filled with
courtiers clothed in purple mantles the mourning color and with noble
servants of the monarch Tom sat up in bed and gazed out from the heavy silken
curtains upon this fine company
The weighty business of dressing began and one courtier after another knelt
and paid his court and offered to the little king his condolences upon his heavy
loss whilst the dressing proceeded In the beginning a shirt was taken up by
the Chief Equerry in Waiting who passed it to the First Lord of the Buckhounds
who passed it to the Second Gentleman of the Bedchamber who passed it to the
Head Ranger of Windsor Forest who passed it to the Third Groom of the Stole
who passed it to the Chancellor Royal of the Duchy of Lancaster who passed it
to the Master of the Wardrobe who passed it to Norroy KingatArms who passed
it to the Constable of the Tower who passed it to the Chief Steward of the
Household who passed it to the Hereditary Grand Diaperer who passed it to the
Lord High Admiral of England who passed it to the Archbishop of Canterbury who
passed it to the First Lord of the Bedchamber who took what was left of it and
put it on Tom Poor little wondering chap it reminded him of passing buckets at
a fire
Each garment in its turn had to go through this slow and solemn process
consequently Tom grew very weary of the ceremony so weary that he felt an
almost gushing gratefulness when he at last saw his long silken hose begin the
journey down the line and knew that the end of the matter was drawing near But
he exulted too soon The First Lord of the Bedchamber received the hose and was
about to encase Toms legs in them when a sudden flush invaded his face and he
hurriedly hustled the things back into the hands of the Archbishop of Canterbury
with an astounded look and a whispered »See my lord« pointing to a
something connected with the hose The Archbishop paled then flushed and
passed the hose to the Lord High Admiral whispering »See my lord« The
Admiral passed the hose to the Hereditary Grand Diaperer and had hardly breath
enough in his body to ejaculate »See my lord« The hose drifted backward along
the line to the Chief Steward of the Household the Constable of the Tower
Norroy KingatArms the Master of the Wardrobe the Chancellor Royal of the
Duchy of Lancaster the Third Groom of the Stole the Head Ranger of Windsor
Forest the Second Gentleman of the Bedchamber the First Lord of the
Buckhounds accompanied always with that amazed and frightened »See see«
till they finally reached the hands of the Chief Equerry in Waiting who gazed a
moment with a pallid face upon what had caused all this dismay then hoarsely
whispered »Body of my life a tag gone from a trusspoint to the Tower with
the Head Keeper of the Kings Hose« after which he leaned upon the shoulder
of the First Lord of the Buckhounds to regather his vanished strength whilst
fresh hose without any damaged strings to them were brought
But all things must have an end and so in time Tom Canty was in a condition
to get out of bed The proper official poured water the proper official
engineered the washing the proper official stood by with a towel and by and by
Tom got safely through the purifying stage and was ready for the services of the
Hairdresserroyal When he at length emerged from this masters hands he was a
gracious figure and as pretty as a girl in his mantle and trunks of purple
satin and purpleplumed cap He now moved in state toward his breakfast room
through the midst of the courtly assemblage and as he passed these fell back
leaving his way free and dropped upon their knees
After breakfast he was conducted with regal ceremony attended by his great
officers and his guard of fifty Gentlemen Pensioners bearing gilt battleaxes
to the throneroom where he proceeded to transact business of state His uncle
lord Hertford took his stand by the throne to assist the royal mind with wise
counsel
The body of illustrious men named by the late king as his executors
appeared to ask Toms approval of certain acts of theirs rather a form and
yet not wholly a form since there was no Protector as yet The Archbishop of
Canterbury made report of the decree of the Council of Executors concerning the
obsequies of his late most illustrious majesty and finished by reading the
signatures of the Executors to wit the Archbishop of Canterbury the Lord
Chancellor of England William Lord St John John Lord Russell Edward Earl of
Hertford John Viscount Lisle Cuthbert Bishop of Durham
Tom was not listening an earlier clause of the document was puzzling him
At this point he turned and whispered to lord Hertford
»What day did he say the burial hath been appointed for«
»The 16th of the coming month my liege«
»Tis a strange folly Will he keep«
Poor chap he was still new to the customs of royalty he was used to seeing
the forlorn dead of Offal Court hustled out of the way with a very different
sort of expedition However the lord Hertford set his mind at rest with a word
or two
A secretary of state presented an order of the Council appointing the morrow
at eleven for the reception of the foreign ambassadors and desired the kings
assent
Tom turned an inquiring look toward Hertford who whispered
»Your majesty will signify consent They come to testify their royal
masters sense of the heavy calamity which hath visited your grace and the realm
of England«
Tom did as he was bidden Another secretary began to read a preamble
concerning the expenses of the late kings household which had amounted to
£28000 during the preceding six months a sum so vast that it made Tom Canty
gasp he gasped again when the fact appeared that £20000 of this money were
still owing and unpaid10 and once more when it appeared that the kings coffers
were about empty and his twelve hundred servants much embarrassed for lack of
the wages due them Tom spoke out with lively apprehension
»We be going to the dogs tis plain Tis meet and necessary that we take a
smaller house and set the servants at large sith they be of no value but to
make delay and trouble one with offices that harass the spirit and shame the
soul they misbecoming any but a doll that hath nor brains nor hands to help
itself withal I remember me of a small house that standeth over against the
fishmarket by Billingsgate «
A sharp pressure upon Toms arm stopped his foolish tongue and sent a blush
to his face but no countenance there betrayed any sign that this strange speech
had been remarked or given concern
A secretary made report that forasmuch as the late king had provided in his
will for conferring the ducal degree upon the Earl of Hertford and raising his
brother Sir Thomas Seymour to the peerage and likewise Hertfords son to an
Earldom together with similar aggrandizements to other great servants of the
crown the Council had resolved to hold a sitting on the 16th of February for
the delivering and confirming of these honors and that meantime the late king
not having granted in writing estates suitable to the support of these
dignities the Council knowing his private wishes in that regard had thought
proper to grant to Seymour £500 lands and to Hertfords son 800 pound lands
and 300 pound of the next bishops lands which should fall vacant his present
majesty being willing11
Tom was about to blurt out something about the propriety of paying the late
kings debts first before squandering all this money but a timely touch upon
his arm from the thoughtful Hertford saved him this indiscretion wherefore he
gave the royal assent without spoken comment but with much inward discomfort
While he sat reflecting a moment over the ease with which he was doing strange
and glittering miracles a happy thought shot into his mind why not make his
mother Duchess of Offal Court and give her an estate But a sorrowful thought
swept it instantly away he was only a king in name these grave veterans and
great nobles were his masters to them his mother was only the creature of a
diseased mind they would simply listen to his project with unbelieving ears
then send for the doctor
The dull work went tediously on Petitions were read and proclamations
patents and all manner of wordy repetitious and wearisome papers relating to
the public business and at last Tom sighed pathetically and murmured to
himself »In what have I offended that the good God should take me away from
the fields and the free air and the sunshine to shut me up here and make me a
king and afflict me so« Then his poor muddled head nodded a while and
presently drooped to his shoulder and the business of the empire came to a
standstill for want of that august factor the ratifying power Silence ensued
around the slumbering child and the sages of the realm ceased from their
deliberations
During the forenoon Tom had an enjoyable hour by permission of his
keepers Hertford and St John with the lady Elizabeth and the little lady Jane
Grey though the spirits of the princesses were rather subdued by the mighty
stroke that had fallen upon the royal house and at the end of the visit his
elder sister afterwards the Bloody Mary of history chilled him with a solemn
interview which had but one merit in his eyes its brevity He had a few moments
to himself and then a slim lad of about twelve years of age was admitted to his
presence whose clothing except his snowy ruff and the laces about his wrists
was of black doublet hose and all He bore no badge of mourning but a knot
of purple ribbon on his shoulder He advanced hesitatingly with head bowed and
bare and dropped upon one knee in front of Tom Tom sat still and contemplated
him soberly a moment Then he said
»Rise lad Who art thou What wouldst have«
The boy rose and stood at graceful ease but with an aspect of concern in
his face He said
»Of a surety thou must remember me my lord I am thy whippingboy«
»My whippingboy«
»The same your grace I am Humphrey Humphrey Marlow«
Tom perceived that here was some one whom his keepers ought to have posted
him about The situation was delicate What should he do pretend he knew this
lad and then betray by his every utterance that he had never heard of him
before No that would not do An idea came to his relief accidents like this
might be likely to happen with some frequency now that business urgencies would
often call Hertford and St John from his side they being members of the
Council of Executors therefore perhaps it would be well to strike out a plan
himself to meet the requirements of such emergencies Yes that would be a wise
course he would practice on this boy and see what sort of success he might
achieve So he stroked his brow perplexedly a moment or two and presently said
»Now I seem to remember thee somewhat but my wit is clogged and dim with
suffering «
»Alack my poor master« ejaculated the whippingboy with feeling adding
to himself »In truth tis as they said his mind is gone alas poor soul
But misfortune catch me how am I forgetting they said one must not seem to
observe that aught is wrong with him«
»Tis strange how my memory doth wanton with me these days« said Tom »But
mind it not I mend apace a little clew doth often serve to bring me back
again the things and names which had escaped me And not they only forsooth
but een such as I neer heard before as this lad shall see Give thy
business speech«
»Tis matter of small weight my liege yet will I touch upon it an it
please your grace Two days gone by when your majesty faulted thrice in your
Greek in the morning lessons dost remember it«
»Yes methinks I do It is not much of a lie an I had meddled with
the Greek at all I had not faulted simply thrice but forty times Yes I do
recal it now go on«
»The master being wroth with what he termed such slovenly and doltish
work did promise that he would soundly whip me for it and «
»Whip thee« said Tom astonished out of his presence of mind »Why should
he whip thee for faults of mine«
»Ah your grace forgetteth again He always scourgeth me when thou dost
fail in thy lessons«
»True true I had forgot Thou teachest me in private then if I fail he
argueth that thy office was lamely done and «
»O my liege what words are these I the humblest of thy servants presume
to teach thee«
»Then where is thy blame What riddle is this Am I in truth gone mad or is
it thou Explain speak out«
»But good your majesty theres naught that needeth simplifying None may
visit the sacred person of the Prince of Wales with blows wherefore when he
faulteth tis I that take them and meet it is and right for that it is mine
office and my livelihood«12
Tom stared at the tranquil boy observing to himself »Lo it is a wonderful
thing a most strange and curious trade I marvel they have not hired a boy to
take my combings and my dressings for me would heaven they would an they
will do this thing I will take my lashings in mine own person giving God
thanks for the change« Then he said aloud
»And hast thou been beaten poor friend according to the promise«
»No good your majesty my punishment was appointed for this day and
peradventure it may be annulled as unbefitting the season of mourning that is
come upon us I know not and so have made bold to come hither and remind your
grace about your gracious promise to intercede in my behalf «
»With the master To save thee thy whipping«
»Ah thou dost remember«
»My memory mendeth thou seest Set thy mind at ease thy back shall go
unscathed I will see to it«
»O thanks my good lord« cried the boy dropping upon his knee again
»Mayhap I have ventured far enow and yet «
Seeing Master Humphrey hesitate Tom encouraged him to go on saying he was
»in the granting mood«
»Then will I speak it out for it lieth near my heart Sith thou art no more
Prince of Wales but king thou canst order matters as thou wilt with none to
say thee nay wherefore it is not in reason that thou wilt longer vex thyself
with dreary studies but wilt burn thy books and turn thy mind to things less
irksome Then am I ruined and mine orphan sisters with me«
»Ruined Prithee how«
»My back is my bread O my gracious liege if it go idle I starve An thou
cease from study mine office is gone thoult need no whippingboy Do not turn
me away«
Tom was touched with this pathetic distress He said with a right royal
burst of generosity
»Discomfort thyself no further lad Thine office shall be permanent in thee
and thy line forever« Then he struck the boy a light blow on the shoulder with
the flat of his sword exclaiming »Rise Humphrey Marlow Hereditary Grand
WhippingBoy to the royal house of England Banish sorrow I will betake me to
my books again and study so ill that they must in justice treble thy wage so
mightily shall the business of thine office be augmented«
The grateful Humphrey responded fervidly
»Thanks O most noble master this princely lavishness doth far surpass my
most distempered dreams of fortune Now shall I be happy all my days and all
the house of Marlow after me«
Tom had wit enough to perceive that here was a lad who could be useful to
him He encouraged Humphrey to talk and he was nothing loth He was delighted
to believe that he was helping in Toms cure for always as soon as he had
finished calling back to Toms diseased mind the various particulars of his
experiences and adventures in the royal schoolroom and elsewhere about the
palace he noticed that Tom was then able to recal the circumstances quite
clearly At the end of an hour Tom found himself well freighted with very
valuable information concerning personages and matters pertaining to the court
so he resolved to draw instruction from this source daily and to this end he
would give order to admit Humphrey to the royal closet whenever he might come
provided the majesty of England was not engaged with other people Humphrey had
hardly been dismissed when my lord Hertford arrived with more trouble for Tom
He said that the lords of the Council fearing that some overwrought report
of the kings damaged health might have leaked out and got abroad they deemed
it wise and best that his majesty should begin to dine in public after a day or
two his wholesome complexion and vigorous step assisted by a carefully
guarded repose of manner and ease and grace of demeanor would more surely quiet
the general pulse in case any evil rumors had gone about than any other
scheme that could be devised
Then the earl proceeded very delicately to instruct Tom as to the
observances proper to the stately occasion under the rather thin disguise of
reminding him concerning things already known to him but to his vast
gratification it turned out that Tom needed very little help in this line he
had been making use of Humphrey in that direction for Humphrey had mentioned
that within a few days he was to begin to dine in public having gathered it
from the swiftwinged gossip of the court Tom kept these facts to himself
however
Seeing the royal memory so improved the earl ventured to apply a few tests
to it in an apparently casual way to find out how far its amendment had
progressed The results were happy here and there in spots spots where
Humphreys tracks remained and on the whole my lord was greatly pleased and
encouraged So encouraged was he indeed that he spoke up and said in a quite
hopeful voice
»Now am I persuaded that if your majesty will but tax your memory yet a
little further it will resolve the puzzle of the Great Seal a loss which was
of moment yesterday although of none today since its term of service ended
with our late lords life May it please your grace to make the trial«
Tom was at sea a Great Seal was a something which he was totally
unacquainted with After a moments hesitation he looked up innocently and asked
»What was it like my lord«
The earl started almost imperceptibly muttering to himself »Alack his
wits are flown again it was ill wisdom to lead him on to strain them« then
he deftly turned the talk to other matters with the purpose of sweeping the
unlucky Seal out of Toms thoughts a purpose which easily succeeded
Chapter 15
Tom as King
The next day the foreign ambassadors came with their gorgeous trains and Tom
throned in awful state received them The splendors of the scene delighted his
eye and fired his imagination at first but the audience was long and dreary
and so were most of the addresses wherefore what began as a pleasure grew
into weariness and homesickness by and by Tom said the words which Hertford put
into his mouth from time to time and tried hard to acquit himself
satisfactorily but he was too new to such things and too ill at ease to
accomplish more than a tolerable success He looked sufficiently like a king
but he was ill able to feel like one He was cordially glad when the ceremony
was ended
The larger part of his day was wasted as he termed it in his own mind
in labors pertaining to his royal office Even the two hours devoted to certain
princely pastimes and recreations were rather a burden to him than otherwise
they were so fettered by restrictions and ceremonious observances However he
had a private hour with his whippingboy which he counted clear gain since he
got both entertainment and needful information out of it
The third day of Tom Cantys kingship came and went much as the others had
done but there was a lifting of his cloud in one way he felt less
uncomfortable than at first he was getting a little used to his circumstances
and surroundings his chains still galled but not all the time he found that
the presence and homage of the great afflicted and embarrassed him less and less
sharply with every hour that drifted over his head
But for one single dread he could have seen the fourth day approach without
serious distress the dining in public it was to begin that day There were
greater matters in the program for on that day he would have to preside at a
Council which would take his views and commands concerning the policy to be
pursued toward various foreign nations scattered far and near over the great
globe on that day too Hertford would be formally chosen to the grand office
of Lord Protector other things of note were appointed for that fourth day
also but to Tom they were all insignificant compared with the ordeal of dining
all by himself with a multitude of curious eyes fastened upon him and a
multitude of mouths whispering comments upon his performance and upon his
mistakes if he should be so unlucky as to make any
Still nothing could stop that fourth day and so it came It found poor Tom
lowspirited and absentminded and this mood continued he could not shake it
off The ordinary duties of the morning dragged upon his hands and wearied him
Once more he felt the sense of captivity heavy upon him
Late in the forenoon he was in a large audience chamber conversing with the
Earl of Hertford and dully awaiting the striking of the hour appointed for a
visit of ceremony from a considerable number of great officials and courtiers
After a little while Tom who had wandered to a window and become
interested in the life and movement of the great highway beyond the palace gates
and not idly interested but longing with all his heart to take part in person
in its stir and freedom saw the van of a hooting and shouting mob of
disorderly men women and children of the lowest and poorest degree approaching
from up the road
»I would I knew what tis about« he exclaimed with all a boys curiosity
in such happenings
»Thou art the king« solemnly responded the earl with a reverence »Have I
your graces leave to act«
»O blithely yes O gladly yes« exclaimed Tom excitedly adding to himself
with a lively sense of satisfaction »In truth being a king is not all
dreariness it hath its compensations and conveniences«
The earl called a page and sent him to the captain of the guard with the
order
»Let the mob be halted and inquiry made concerning the occasion of its
movement By the kings command«
A few seconds later a long rank of the royal guards cased in flashing
steel filed out at the gates and formed across the highway in front of the
multitude A messenger returned to report that the crowd were following a man
a woman and a young girl to execution for crimes committed against the peace
and dignity of the realm
Death and a violent death for these poor unfortunates The thought wrung
Toms heartstrings The spirit of compassion took control of him to the
exclusion of all other considerations he never thought of the offended laws or
of the grief or loss which these three criminals had inflicted upon their
victims he could think of nothing but the scaffold and the grisly fate hanging
over the heads of the condemned His concern even made him forget for the
moment that he was but the false shadow of a king not the substance and
before he knew it he had blurted out the command
»Bring them here«
Then he blushed scarlet and a sort of apology sprung to his lips but
observing that his order had wrought no sort of surprise in the earl or the
waiting page he suppressed the words he was about to utter The page in the
most matterofcourse way made a profound obeisance and retired backwards out
of the room to deliver the command Tom experienced a glow of pride and a
renewed sense of the compensating advantages of the kingly office He said to
himself »Truly it is like what I was used to feel when I read the old priests
tales and did imagine mine own self a prince giving law and command to all
saying do this do that whilst none durst offer let or hindrance to my will«
Now the doors swung open one highsounding title after another was
announced the personages owning them followed and the place was quickly half
filled with noble folk and finery But Tom was hardly conscious of the presence
of these people so wrought up was he and so intensely absorbed in that other
and more interesting matter He seated himself absently in his chair of state
and turned his eyes upon the door with manifestations of impatient expectancy
seeing which the company forbore to trouble him and fell to chatting a mixture
of public business and court gossip one with another
In a little while the measured tread of military men was heard approaching
and the culprits entered the presence in charge of an undersheriff and escorted
by a detail of the Kings Guard The civil officer knelt before Tom then stood
aside the three doomed persons knelt also and remained so the guard took
position behind Toms chair Tom scanned the prisoners curiously Something
about the dress or appearance of the man had stirred a vague memory in him
»Methinks I have seen this man ere now but the when or the where fail me«
such was Toms thought Just then the man glanced meekly up and quickly dropped
his face again not being able to endure the awful port of sovereignty but the
one full glimpse of the face which Tom got was sufficient He said to himself
»Now is the matter clear this is the stranger that plucked Giles Witt out of
the Thames and saved his life that windy bitter first day of the New Year
a brave good deed pity he hath been doing baser ones and got himself in this
sad case I have not forgot the day neither the hour by reason that an hour
after upon the stroke of eleven I did get a hiding by the hand of Gammer Canty
which was of so goodly and admired severity that all that went before or
followed after it were but fondlings and caresses by comparison«
Tom now ordered that the woman and the girl be removed from the presence for
a little time then addressed himself to the undersheriff saying
»Good sir what is this mans offense«
The officer knelt and answered
»So please your majesty he hath taken the life of a subject by poison«
Toms compassion for the prisoner and admiration of him as the daring
rescuer of a drowning boy experienced a most damaging shock
»The thing was proven upon him« he asked
»Most clearly sire«
Tom sighed and said
»Take him away he hath earned his death Tis a pity for he was a brave
heart nana I mean he hath the look of it«
The prisoner clasped his hands together with sudden energy and wrung them
despairingly at the same time appealing imploringly to the king in broken and
terrified phrases
»O my lord the king an thou canst pity the lost have pity upon me I am
innocent neither hath that wherewith I am charged been more than but lamely
proved yet I speak not of that the judgment is gone forth against me and may
not suffer alteration yet in mine extremity I beg a boon for my doom is more
than I can bear A grace a grace my lord the king in thy royal compassion
grant my prayer give commandment that I be hanged«
Tom was amazed This was not the outcome he had looked for
»Odds my life a strange boon Was it not the fate intended thee«
»O good my liege not so It is ordered that I be boiled alive«
The hideous surprise of these words almost made Tom spring from his chair
As soon as he could recover his wits he cried out
»Have thy wish poor soul an thou had poisoned a hundred men thou shouldst
not suffer so miserable a death«
The prisoner bowed his face to the ground and burst into passionate
expressions of gratitude ending with
»If ever thou shouldst know misfortune which God forefend may thy
goodness to me this day be remembered and requited«
Tom turned to the Earl of Hertford and said
»My lord is it believable that there was warrant for this mans ferocious
doom«
»It is the law your grace for poisoners In Germany coiners be boiled to
death in oil not cast in of a sudden but by a rope let down into the oil by
degrees and slowly first the feet then the legs then «
»O prithee no more my lord I cannot bear it« cried Tom covering his eyes
with his hands to shut out the picture »I beseech your good lordship that order
be taken to change this law O let no more poor creatures be visited with its
tortures«
The earls face showed profound gratification for he was a man of merciful
and generous impulses a thing not very common with his class in that fierce
age He said
»These your graces noble words have sealed its doom History will remember
it to the honor of your royal house«
The undersheriff was about to remove his prisoner Tom gave him a sign to
wait then he said
»Good sir I would look into this matter further The man has said his deed
was but lamely proved Tell me what thou knowest«
»If the kings grace please it did appear upon the trial that this man
entered into a house in the hamlet of Islington where one lay sick three
witnesses say it was at ten of the clock in the morning and two say it was some
minutes later the sick man being alone at the time and sleeping and
presently the man came forth again and went his way The sick man died within
the hour being torn with spasms and retchings«
»Did any see the poison given Was poison found«
»Marry no my liege«
»Then how doth one know there was poison given at all«
»Please your majesty the doctors testified that none die with such symptoms
but by poison«
Weighty evidence this in that simple age Tom recognized its formidable
nature and said
»The doctor knoweth his trade belike they were right The matter hath an
ill look for this poor man«
»Yet was not this all your majesty there is more and worse Many testified
that a witch since gone from the village none know whither did foretell and
speak it privately in their ears that the sick man would die by poison and
more that a stranger would give it a stranger with brown hair and clothed in
a worn and common garb and surely this prisoner doth answer woundily to the
bill Please your majesty to give the circumstance that solemn weight which is
its due seeing it was foretold«
This was an argument of tremendous force in that superstitious day Tom
felt that the thing was settled if evidence was worth anything this poor
fellows guilt was proved Still he offered the prisoner a chance saying
»If thou canst say aught in thy behalf speak«
»Naught that will avail my king I am innocent yet cannot I make it
appear I have no friends else might I show that I was not in Islington that
day so also might I show that at that hour they name I was above a league
away seeing I was at Wapping Old Stairs yea more my king for I could show
that whilst they say I was taking life I was saving it A drowning boy «
»Peace Sheriff name the day the deed was done«
»At ten in the morning or some minutes later the first day of the New
Year most illustrious «
»Let the prisoner go free it is the kings will«
Another blush followed this unregal outburst and he covered his indecorum
as well as he could by adding
»It enrageth me that a man should be hanged upon such idle harebrained
evidence«
A low buzz of admiration swept through the assemblage It was not admiration
of the decree that had been delivered by Tom for the propriety or expediency of
pardoning a convicted poisoner was a thing which few there would have felt
justified in either admitting or admiring no the admiration was for the
intelligence and spirit which Tom had displayed Some of the lowvoiced remarks
were to this effect
»This is no mad king he hath his wits sound«
»How sanely he put his questions how like his former natural self was this
abrupt imperious disposal of the matter«
»God be thanked his infirmity is spent This is no weakling but a king He
hath borne himself like to his own father«
The air being filled with applause Toms ear necessarily caught a little of
it The effect which this had upon him was to put him greatly at his ease and
also to charge his system with very gratifying sensations
However his juvenile curiosity soon rose superior to these pleasant
thoughts and feelings he was eager to know what sort of deadly mischief the
woman and the little girl could have been about so by his command the two
terrified and sobbing creatures were brought before him
»What is it that these have done« he inquired of the sheriff
»Please your majesty a black crime is charged upon them and clearly
proven wherefore the judges have decreed according to the law that they be
hanged They sold themselves to the devil such is their crime«
Tom shuddered He had been taught to abhor people who did this wicked thing
Still he was not going to deny himself the pleasure of feeding his curiosity
for all that so he asked
»Where was this done and when«
»On a midnight in December in a ruined church your majesty«
Tom shuddered again
»Who was there present«
»Only these two your grace and that other«
»Have these confessed«
»Nay not so sire they do deny it«
»Then prithee how was it known«
»Certain witnesses did see them wending thither good your majesty this
bred the suspicion and dire effects have since confirmed and justified it In
particular it is in evidence that through the wicked power so obtained they
did invoke and bring about a storm that wasted all the region round about Above
forty witnesses have proved the storm and sooth one might have had a thousand
for all had reason to remember it sith all had suffered by it«
»Certes this is serious matter« Tom turned this dark piece of scoundrelism
over in his mind a while then asked
»Suffered the woman also by the storm«
Several old heads among the assemblage nodded their recognition of the
wisdom of this question The sheriff however saw nothing consequential in the
inquiry he answered with simple directness
»Indeed did she your majesty and most righteously as all aver Her
habitation was swept away and herself and child left shelterless«
»Methinks the power to do herself so ill a turn was dearly bought She had
been cheated had she paid but a farthing for it that she paid her soul and
her childs argueth that she is mad if she is mad she knoweth not what she
doth therefore sinneth not«
The elderly heads nodded recognition of Toms wisdom once more and one
individual murmured »An the king be mad himself according to report then it
is a madness of a sort that would improve the sanity of some I wot of if by the
gentle providence of God they could but catch it«
»What age hath the child« asked Tom
»Nine years please your majesty«
»By the law of England may a child enter into covenant and sell itself my
lord« asked Tom turning to a learned judge
»The law doth not permit a child to make or meddle in any weighty matter
good my liege holding that its callow wit unfitteth it to cope with the riper
wit and evil schemings of them that are its elders The devil may buy a child
if he so choose and the child agree thereto but not an Englishman in this
latter case the contract would be null and void«
»It seemeth a rude unchristian thing and ill contrived that English law
denieth privileges to Englishmen to waste them on the devil« cried Tom with
honest heat
This novel view of the matter excited many smiles and was stored away in
many heads to be repeated about the court as evidence of Toms originality as
well as progress toward mental health
The elder culprit had ceased from sobbing and was hanging upon Toms words
with an excited interest and a growing hope Tom noticed this and it strongly
inclined his sympathies toward her in her perilous and unfriended situation
Presently he asked
»How wrought they to bring the storm«
»By pulling off their stockings sire«
This astonished Tom and also fired his curiosity to fever heat He said
eagerly
»It is wonderful Hath it always this dread effect«
»Always my liege at least if the woman doth desire it and utter the
needful words either in her mind or with her tongue«
Tom turned to the woman and said with impetuous zeal
»Exert thy power I would see a storm«
There was a sudden paling of cheeks in the superstitious assemblage and a
general though unexpressed desire to get out of the place all of which was
lost upon Tom who was dead to everything but the proposed cataclysm Seeing a
puzzled and astonished look in the womans face he added excitedly
»Never fear thou shalt be blameless More thou shalt go free none
shall touch thee Exert thy power«
»O my lord the king I have it not I have been falsely accused«
»Thy fears stay thee Be of good heart thou shalt suffer no harm Make a
storm it mattereth not how small a one I require naught great or harmful
but indeed prefer the opposite do this and thy life is spared thou shalt go
out free with thy child bearing the kings pardon and safe from hurt or
malice from any in the realm«
The woman prostrated herself and protested with tears that she had no
power to do the miracle else she would gladly win her childs life alone and
be content to lose her own if by obedience to the kings command so precious a
grace might be acquired
Tom urged the woman still adhered to her declarations Finally he said
»I think the woman hath said true An my mother were in her place and
gifted with the devils functions she had not stayed a moment to call her
storms and lay the whole land in ruins if the saving of my forfeit life were
the price she got It is argument that other mothers are made in like mould
Thou art free goodwife thou and thy child for I do think thee innocent Now
thoust naught to fear being pardoned pull off thy stockings an thou
canst make me a storm thou shalt be rich«
The redeemed creature was loud in her gratitude and proceeded to obey
whilst Tom looked on with eager expectancy a little marred by apprehension the
courtiers at the same time manifesting decided discomfort and uneasiness The
woman stripped her own feet and her little girls also and plainly did her best
to reward the kings generosity with an earthquake but it was all a failure and
a disappointment Tom sighed and said
»There good soul trouble thyself no further thy power is departed out of
thee Go thy way in peace and if it return to thee at any time forget me not
but fetch me a storm«13
Chapter 16
The State Dinner
The dinner hour drew near yet strangely enough the thought brought but slight
discomfort to Tom and hardly any terror The mornings experiences had
wonderfully built up his confidence the poor little ashcat was already more
wonted to his strange garret after four days habit than a mature person could
have become in a full month A childs facility in accommodating itself to
circumstances was never more strikingly illustrated
Let us privileged ones hurry to the great banqueting room and have a glance
at matters there whilst Tom is being made ready for the imposing occasion It is
a spacious apartment with gilded pillars and pilasters and pictured walls and
ceilings At the door stand tall guards as rigid as statues dressed in rich
and picturesque costumes and bearing halberds In a high gallery which runs all
around the place is a band of musicians and a packed company of citizens of both
sexes in brilliant attire In the centre of the room upon a raised platform
is Toms table Now let the ancient chronicler speak
»A gentleman enters the room bearing a rod and along with him another
bearing a tablecloth which after they have both kneeled three times with the
utmost veneration he spreads upon the table and after kneeling again they both
retire then come two others one with the rod again the other with a
saltcellar a plate and bread when they have kneeled as the others had done
and placed what was brought upon the table they too retire with the same
ceremonies performed by the first at last come two nobles richly clothed one
bearing a tastingknife who after prostrating themselves three times in the
most graceful manner approach and rub the table with bread and salt with as
much awe as if the king had been present«14
So end the solemn preliminaries Now far down the echoing corridors we hear
a bugleblast and the indistinct cry »Place for the king way for the kings
most excellent majesty« These sounds are momently repeated they grow nearer
and nearer and presently almost in our faces the martial note peals and the
cry rings out »Way for the king« At this instant the shining pageant appears
and files in at the door with a measured march Let the chronicler speak again
»First come Gentlemen Barons Earls Knights of the Garter all richly
dressed and bareheaded next comes the Chancellor between two one of which
carries the royal sceptre the other the Sword of State in a red scabbard
studded with golden fleursdelis the point upwards next comes the king
himself whom upon his appearing twelve trumpets and many drums salute with a
great burst of welcome whilst all in the galleries rise in their places crying
God save the king After him come nobles attached to his person and on his
right and left march his guard of honor his fifty Gentlemen Pensioners with
gilt battleaxes«
This was all fine and pleasant Toms pulse beat high and a glad light was
in his eye He bore himself right gracefully and all the more so because he was
not thinking of how he was doing it his mind being charmed and occupied with
the blithe sights and sounds about him and besides nobody can be very
ungraceful in nicelyfitting beautiful clothes after he has grown a little used
to them especially if he is for the moment unconscious of them Tom remembered
his instruction and acknowledged his greeting with a slight inclination of his
plumed head and a courteous »I thank ye my good people«
He seated himself at table without removing his cap and did it without the
least embarrassment for to eat with ones cap on was the one solitary royal
custom upon which the kings and the Cantys met as upon common ground neither
party having any advantage over the other in the matter of old familiarity with
it The pageant broke up and grouped itself picturesquely and remained
bareheaded
Now to the sound of gay music the Yeomen of the Guard entered »the
tallest and mightiest men in England they being carefully selected in this
regard« but we will let the chronicler tell about it
»The Yeomen of the Guard entered bareheaded clothed in scarlet with
golden roses upon their backs and these went and came bringing in each turn a
course of dishes served in plate These dishes were received by a gentleman in
the same order they were brought and placed upon the table while the taster
gave to each guard a mouthful to eat of the particular dish he had brought for
fear of any poison«
Tom made a good dinner notwithstanding he was conscious that hundreds of
eyes followed each morsel to his mouth and watched him eat it with an interest
which could not have been more intense if it had been a deadly explosive and was
expected to blow him up and scatter him all about the place He was careful not
to hurry and equally careful not to do anything whatever for himself but wait
till the proper official knelt down and did it for him He got through without a
mistake a flawless and precious triumph
When the meal was over at last and he marched away in the midst of his
bright pageant with the happy noises in his ears of blaring bugles rolling
drums and thundering acclamations he felt that if he had seen the worst of
dining in public it was an ordeal which he would be glad to endure several
times a day if by that means he could but buy himself free from some of the more
formidable requirements of his royal office
Chapter 17
FooFoo the First
Miles Hendon hurried along toward the Southwark end of the Bridge keeping a
sharp lookout for the persons he sought and hoping and expecting to overtake
them presently He was disappointed in this however By asking questions he
was enabled to track them part of the way through Southwark then all traces
ceased and he was perplexed as to how to proceed Still he continued his
efforts as best he could during the rest of the day Nightfall found him
legweary half famished and his desire as far from accomplishment as ever so
he supped at the Tabard inn and went to bed resolved to make an early start in
the morning and give the town an exhaustive search As he lay thinking and
planning he presently began to reason thus The boy would escape from the
ruffian his reputed father if possible would he go back to London and seek
his former haunts no he would not do that he would avoid recapture What
then would he do Never having had a friend in the world or a protector until
he met Miles Hendon he would naturally try to find that friend again provided
the effort did not require him to go toward London and danger He would strike
for Hendon Hall that is what he would do for he knew Hendon was homeward bound
and there he might expect to find him Yes the case was plain to Hendon he
must lose no more time in Southwark but move at once through Kent toward
Monks Holm searching the wood and inquiring as he went Let us return to the
vanished little king now
The ruffian whom the waiter at the inn on the Bridge saw about to join the
youth and the king did not exactly join them but fell in close behind them and
followed their steps He said nothing His left arm was in a sling and he wore
a large green patch over his left eye he limped slightly and used an oaken
staff as a support The youth led the king a crooked course through Southwark
and by and by struck into the high road beyond The king was irritated now and
said he would stop here it was Hendons place to come to him not his to go to
Hendon He would not endure such insolence he would stop where he was The
youth said
»Thoult tarry here and thy friend lying wounded in the wood yonder So be
it then«
The kings manner changed at once He cried out
»Wounded And who hath dared to do it But that is apart lead on lead on
Faster sirrah art shod with lead Wounded is he Now though the doer of it be
a dukes son he shall rue it«
It was some distance to the wood but the space was speedily traversed The
youth looked about him discovered a bough sticking in the ground with a small
bit of rag tied to it then led the way into the forest watching for similar
boughs and finding them at intervals they were evidently guides to the point he
was aiming at By and by an open place was reached where were the charred
remains of a farm house and near them a barn which was falling to ruin and
decay There was no sign of life anywhere and utter silence prevailed The
youth entered the barn the king following eagerly upon his heels No one there
The king shot a surprised and suspicious glance at the youth and asked
»Where is he«
A mocking laugh was his answer The king was in a rage in a moment he
seized a billet of wood and was in the act of charging upon the youth when
another mocking laugh fell upon his ear It was from the lame ruffian who had
been following at a distance The king turned and said angrily
»Who art thou What is thy business here«
»Leave thy foolery« said the man »and quiet thyself My disguise is none
so good that thou canst pretend thou knowest not thy father through it«
»Thou art not my father I know thee not I am the king If thou hast hid my
servant find him for me or thou shalt sup sorrow for what thou hast done«
John Canty replied in a stern and measured voice
»It is plain thou art mad and I am loth to punish thee but if thou provoke
me I must Thy prating doth no harm here where there are no ears that need to
mind thy follies yet is it well to practice thy tongue to wary speech that it
may do no hurt when our quarters change I have done a murder and may not tarry
at home neither shalt thou seeing I need thy service My name is changed for
wise reasons it is Hobbs John Hobbs thine is Jack charge thy memory
accordingly Now then speak Where is thy mother where are thy sisters They
came not to the place appointed knowest thou whither they went«
The king answered sullenly
»Trouble me not with these riddles My mother is dead my sisters are in the
palace«
The youth near by burst into a derisive laugh and the king would have
assaulted him but Canty or Hobbs as he now called himself prevented him
and said
»Peace Hugo vex him not his mind is astray and thy ways fret him Sit
thee down Jack and quiet thyself thou shalt have a morsel to eat anon«
Hobbs and Hugo fell to talking together in low voices and the king removed
himself as far as he could from their disagreeable company He withdrew into the
twilight of the farther end of the barn where he found the earthen floor bedded
a foot deep with straw He lay down here drew straw over himself in lieu of
blankets and was soon absorbed in thinkings He had many griefs but the minor
ones were swept almost into forgetfulness by the supreme one the loss of his
father To the rest of the world the name of Henry VIII brought a shiver and
suggested an ogre whose nostrils breathed destruction and whose hand dealt
scourgings and death but to this boy the name brought only sensations of
pleasure the figure it invoked wore a countenance that was all gentleness and
affection He called to mind a long succession of loving passages between his
father and himself and dwelt fondly upon them his unstinted tears attesting
how deep and real was the grief that possessed his heart As the afternoon
wasted away the lad wearied with his troubles sank gradually into a tranquil
and healing slumber
After a considerable time he could not tell how long his senses
struggled to a halfconsciousness and as he lay with closed eyes vaguely
wondering where he was and what had been happening he noted a murmurous sound
the sullen beating of rain upon the roof A snug sense of comfort stole over
him which was rudely broken the next moment by a chorus of piping cackles and
coarse laughter It startled him disagreeably and he unmuffled his head to see
whence this interruption proceeded A grim and unsightly picture met his eye A
bright fire was burning in the middle of the floor at the other end of the
barn and around it and lit weirdly up by the red glare lolled and sprawled
the motliest company of tattered gutterscum and ruffians of both sexes he had
ever read or dreamed of There were huge stalwart men brown with exposure
longhaired and clothed in fantastic rags there were middlesized youths of
truculent countenance and similarly clad there were blind mendicants with
patched or bandaged eyes crippled ones with wooden legs and crutches there
was a villainlooking pedlar with his pack a knifegrinder a tinker and a
barbersurgeon with the implements of their trades some of the females were
hardlygrown girls some were at prime some were old and wrinkled hags and all
were loud brazen foulmouthed and all soiled and slatternly there were three
sorefaced babies there were a couple of starveling curs with strings about
their necks whose office was to lead the blind
The night was come the gang had just finished feasting an orgie was
beginning the can of liquor was passing from mouth to mouth A general cry
broke forth
»A song a song from the Bat and Dick DotandgoOne«
One of the blind men got up and made ready by casting aside the patches
that sheltered his excellent eyes and the pathetic placard which recited the
cause of his calamity DotandgoOne disencumbered himself of his timber leg
and took his place upon sound and healthy limbs beside his fellowrascal then
they roared out a rollicking ditty and were reinforced by the whole crew at
the end of each stanza in a rousing chorus By the time the last stanza was
reached the halfdrunken enthusiasm had risen to such a pitch that everybody
joined in and sang it clear through from the beginning producing a volume of
villainous sound that made the rafters quake These were the inspiring words
»Bien Darkmans then Bouse Mort and Ken
The bien Coves bings awast
On Chates to trine by Rome Coves dine
For his long lib at last
Bingd out bien Morts and toure and toure
Bing out of the Rome vile bine
And toure the Cove that cloyd your duds
Upon the Chates to trine«15
Conversation followed not in the thieves dialect of the song for that was
only used in talk when unfriendly ears might be listening In the course of it
it appeared that John Hobbs was not altogether a new recruit but had trained in
the gang at some former time His later history was called for and when he said
he had accidentally killed a man considerable satisfaction was expressed when
he added that the man was a priest he was roundly applauded and had to take a
drink with everybody Old acquaintances welcomed him joyously and new ones were
proud to shake him by the hand He was asked why he had »tarried away so many
months« He answered
»London is better than the country and safer these late years the laws be
so bitter and so diligently enforced An I had not had that accident I had
staid there I had resolved to stay and never more venture countrywards but
the accident has ended that«
He inquired how many persons the gang numbered now The Ruffler or chief
answered
»Five and twenty sturdy budges bulks files clapperdogeons and maunders
counting the dells and doxies and other morts16 Most are here the rest are
wandering eastward along the winter lay We follow at dawn«
»I do not see the Wen among the honest folk about me Where may he be«
»Poor lad his diet is brimstone now and over hot for a delicate taste He
was killed in a brawl somewhere about midsummer«
»I sorrow to hear that the Wen was a capable man and brave«
»That was he truly Black Bess his dell is of us yet but absent on the
eastward tramp a fine lass of nice ways and orderly conduct none ever seeing
her drunk above four days in the seven«
»She was ever strict I remember it well a goodly wench and worthy all
commendation Her mother was more free and less particular a troublesome and
ugly tempered beldame but furnished with a wit above the common«
»We lost her through it Her gift of palmistry and other sorts of
fortunetelling begot for her at last a witchs name and fame The law roasted
her to death at a slow fire It did touch me to a sort of tenderness to see the
gallant way she met her lot cursing and reviling all the crowd that gaped and
gazed around her whilst the flames licked upward toward her face and catched
her thin locks and crackled about her old gray head cursing them said I
cursing them why an thou shouldst live a thousand years thoudst never hear so
masterful a cursing Alack her art died with her There be base and weakling
imitations left but no true blasphemy«
The Ruffler sighed the listeners sighed in sympathy a general depression
fell upon the company for a moment for even hardened outcasts like these are
not wholly dead to sentiment but are able to feel a fleeting sense of loss and
affliction at wide intervals and under peculiarly favoring circumstances as in
cases like to this for instance when genius and culture depart and leave no
heir However a deep drink all round soon restored the spirits of the mourners
»Have any others of our friends fared hardly« asked Hobbs
»Some yes Particularly newcomers such as small husbandmen turned
shiftless and hungry upon the world because their farms were taken from them to
be changed to sheep ranges They begged and were whipped at the carts tail
naked from the girdle up till the blood ran then set in the stocks to be
pelted they begged again were whipped again and deprived of an ear they
begged a third time poor devils what else could they do and were branded
on the cheek with a red hot iron then sold for slaves they ran away were
hunted down and hanged Tis a brief tale and quickly told Others of us have
fared less hardly Stand forth Yokel Burns and Hodge show your adornments«
These stood up and stripped away some of their rags exposing their backs
crisscrossed with ropy old welts left by the lash one turned up his hair and
showed the place where a left ear had once been another showed a brand upon his
shoulder the letter V and a mutilated ear the third said
»I am Yokel once a farmer and prosperous with loving wife and kids now
am I somewhat different in estate and calling and the wife and kids are gone
mayhap they are in heaven mayhap in in the other place but the kindly God
be thanked they bide no more in England My good old blameless mother strove to
earn bread by nursing the sick one of these died the doctors knew not how so
my mother was burnt for a witch whilst my babes looked on and wailed English
law up all with your cups now altogether and with a cheer drink to
the merciful English law that delivered her from the English hell Thank you
mates one and all I begged from house to house I and the wife bearing
with us the hungry kids but it was crime to be hungry in England so they
stripped us and lashed us through three towns Drink ye all again to the
merciful English law for its lash drank deep of my Marys blood and its
blessed deliverance came quick She lies there in the potters field safe from
all harms And the kids well whilst the law lashed me from town to town they
starved Drink lads only a drop a drop to the poor kids that never did any
creature harm I begged again begged for a crust and got the stocks and lost
an ear see here bides the stump I begged again and here is the stump of the
other to keep me minded of it And still I begged again and was sold for a
slave here on my cheek under this stain if I washed it off ye might see the
red S the brandingiron left there A SLAVE Do ye understand that word An
English SLAVE that is he that stands before ye I have run from my master
and when I am found the heavy curse of heaven fall on the law and the land
that hath commanded it I shall hang«17
A ringing voice came through the murky air
»Thou shalt not and this day the end of that law is come«
All turned and saw the fantastic figure of the little king approaching
hurriedly as it emerged into the light and was clearly revealed a general
explosion of inquiries broke out
»Who is it What is it Who art thou mannikin«
The boy stood unconfused in the midst of all those surprised and questioning
eyes and answered with princely dignity
»I am Edward king of England«
A wild burst of laughter followed partly of derision and partly of delight
in the excellence of the joke The king was stung He said sharply
»Ye mannerless vagrants is this your recognition of the royal boon I have
promised«
He said more with angry voice and excited gesture but it was lost in a
whirlwind of laughter and mocking exclamations John Hobbs made several attempts
to make himself heard above the din and at last succeeded saying
»Mates he is my son a dreamer a fool and stark mad mind him not he
thinketh he is the king«
»I am the king« said Edward turning toward him »as thou shalt know to thy
cost in good time Thou hast confessed a murder thou shalt swing for it«
»Thoult betray me thou An I get my hands upon thee «
»Tuttut« said the burly Ruffler interposing in time to save the king and
emphasizing this service by knocking Hobbs down with his fist »hast respect for
neither kings nor Rufflers An thou insult my presence so again Ill hang thee
up myself« Then he said to his majesty »Thou must make no threats against thy
mates lad and thou must guard thy tongue from saying evil of them elsewhere
Be king if it please thy mad humor but be not harmful in it Sink the title
thou hast uttered tis treason we be bad men in some few trifling ways but
none among us is so base as to be traitor to his king we be loving and loyal
hearts in that regard Note if I speak truth Now all together Long live
Edward king of England«
»LONG LIVE EDWARD KING OF ENGLAND«
The response came with such a thundergust from the motley crew that the
crazy building vibrated to the sound The little kings face lighted with
pleasure for an instant and he slightly inclined his head and said with grave
simplicity
»I thank you my good people«
This unexpected result threw the company into convulsions of merriment When
something like quiet was presently come again the Ruffler said firmly but
with an accent of good nature
»Drop it boy tis not wise nor well Humor thy fancy if thou must but
choose some other title«
A tinker shrieked out a suggestion
»Foofoo the First King of the Mooncalves«
The title took at once every throat responded and a roaring shout went
up of
»Long live Foofoo the First King of the Mooncalves« followed by hootings
catcalls and peals of laughter
»Hale him forth and crown him«
»Robe him«
»Sceptre him«
»Throne him«
These and twenty other cries broke out at once and almost before the poor
little victim could draw a breath he was crowned with a tin basin robed in a
tattered blanket throned upon a barrel and sceptred with the tinkers
solderingiron Then all flung themselves upon their knees about him and sent up
a chorus of ironical wailings and mocking supplications whilst they swabbed
their eyes with their soiled and ragged sleeves and aprons
»Be gracious to us O sweet king«
»Trample not upon thy beseeching worms O noble majesty«
»Pity thy slaves and comfort them with a royal kick«
»Cheer us and warm us with thy gracious rays O flaming sun of sovereignty«
»Sanctify the ground with the touch of thy foot that we may eat the dirt
and be ennobled«
»Deign to spit upon us O sire that our childrens children may tell of thy
princely condescension and be proud and happy forever«
But the humorous tinker made the hit of the evening and carried off the
honors Kneeling he pretended to kiss the kings foot and was indignantly
spurned whereupon he went about begging for a rag to paste over the place upon
his face which had been touched by the foot saying it must be preserved from
contact with the vulgar air and that he should make his fortune by going on the
highway and exposing it to view at the rate of a hundred shillings a sight He
made himself so killingly funny that he was the envy and admiration of the whole
mangy rabble
Tears of shame and indignation stood in the little monarchs eyes and the
thought in his heart was »Had I offered them a deep wrong they could not be
more cruel yet have I proffered naught but to do them a kindness and it is
thus they use me for it«
Chapter 18
The Prince with the Tramps
The troop of vagabonds turned out at early dawn and set forward on their march
There was a lowering sky overhead sloppy ground under foot and a winter chill
in the air All gaiety was gone from the company some were sullen and silent
some were irritable and petulant none were gentlehumored all were thirsty
The Ruffler put Jack in Hugos charge with some brief instructions and
commanded John Canty to keep away from him and let him alone he also warned
Hugo not to be too rough with the lad
After a while the weather grew milder and the clouds lifted somewhat The
troop ceased to shiver and their spirits began to improve They grew more and
more cheerful and finally began to chaff each other and insult passengers along
the highway This showed that they were awaking to an appreciation of life and
its joys once more The dread in which their sort was held was apparent in the
fact that everybody gave them the road and took their ribald insolences meekly
without venturing to talk back They snatched linen from the hedges
occasionally in full view of the owners who made no protest but only seemed
grateful that they did not take the hedges too
By and by they invaded a small farm house and made themselves at home while
the trembling farmer and his people swept the larder clean to furnish a
breakfast for them They chucked the housewife and her daughters under the chin
whilst receiving the food from their hands and made coarse jests about them
accompanied with insulting epithets and bursts of horselaughter They threw
bones and vegetables at the farmer and his sons kept them dodging all the time
and applauded uproariously when a good hit was made They ended by buttering the
head of one of the daughters who resented some of their familiarities When they
took their leave they threatened to come back and burn the house over the heads
of the family if any report of their doings got to the ears of the authorities
About noon after a long and weary tramp the gang came to a halt behind a
hedge on the outskirts of a considerable village An hour was allowed for rest
then the crew scattered themselves abroad to enter the village at different
points to ply their various trades Jack was sent with Hugo They wandered
hither and thither for some time Hugo watching for opportunities to do a stroke
of business but finding none so he finally said
»I see naught to steal it is a paltry place Wherefore we will beg«
»We forsooth Follow thy trade it befits thee But I will not beg«
»Thoult not beg« exclaimed Hugo eying the king with surprise »Prithee
since when hast thou reformed«
»What dost thou mean«
»Mean Hast thou not begged the streets of London all thy life«
»I Thou idiot«
»Spare thy compliments thy stock will last the longer Thy father says
thou hast begged all thy days Mayhap he lied Peradventure you will even make
so bold as to say he lied« scoffed Hugo
»Him you call my father Yes he lied«
»Come play not thy merry game of madman so far mate use it for thy
amusement not thy hurt An I tell him this he will scorch thee finely for
it«
»Save thyself the trouble I will tell him«
»I like thy spirit I do in truth but I do not admire thy judgment
Bonerackings and bastings be plenty enow in this life without going out of
ones way to invite them But a truce to these matters I believe your father I
doubt not he can lie I doubt not he doth lie upon occasion for the best of us
do that but there is no occasion here A wise man does not waste so good a
commodity as lying for naught But come sith it is thy humor to give over
begging wherewithal shall we busy ourselves With robbing kitchens«
The king said impatiently
»Have done with this folly you weary me«
Hugo replied with temper
»Now harkee mate you will not beg you will not rob so be it But I will
tell you what you will do You will play decoy whilst I beg Refuse an you
think you may venture«
The king was about to reply contemptuously when Hugo said interrupting
»Peace Here comes one with a kindly face Now will I fall down in a fit
When the stranger runs to me set you up a wail and fall upon your knees
seeming to weep then cry out as all the devils of misery were in your belly
and say O sir it is my poor afflicted brother and we be friendless o Gods
name cast through your merciful eyes one pitiful look upon a sick forsaken and
most miserable wretch bestow one little penny out of thy riches upon one
smitten of God and ready to perish and mind you keep you on wailing and
abate not till we bilk him of his penny else shall you rue it«
Then immediately Hugo began to moan and groan and roll his eyes and reel
and totter about and when the stranger was close at hand down he sprawled
before him with a shriek and began to writhe and wallow in the dirt in
seeming agony
»O dear O dear« cried the benevolent stranger »O poor soul poor soul
how he doth suffer There let me help thee up«
»O noble sir forbear and God love you for a princely gentleman but it
giveth me cruel pain to touch me when I am taken so My brother there will tell
your worship how I am racked with anguish when these fits be upon me A penny
dear sir a penny to buy a little food then leave me to my sorrows«
»A penny thou shalt have three thou hapless creature« and he fumbled in
his pocket with nervous haste and got them out »There poor lad take them and
most welcome Now come hither my boy and help me carry thy stricken brother to
yon house where «
»I am not his brother« said the king interrupting
»What not his brother«
»O hear him« groaned Hugo then privately ground his teeth »He denies his
own brother and he with one foot in the grave«
»Boy thou art indeed hard of heart if this is thy brother For shame
and he scarce able to move hand or foot If he is not thy brother who is he
then«
»A beggar and a thief He has got your money and has picked your pocket
likewise An thou wouldst do a healing miracle lay thy staff over his
shoulders and trust Providence for the rest«
But Hugo did not tarry for the miracle In a moment he was up and off like
the wind the gentleman following after and raising the hue and cry lustily as
he went The king breathing deep gratitude to heaven for his own release fled
in the opposite direction and did not slacken his pace until he was out of
harms reach He took the first road that offered and soon put the village
behind him He hurried along as briskly as he could during several hours
keeping a nervous watch over his shoulder for pursuit but his fears left him at
last and a grateful sense of security took their place He recognized now
that he was hungry and also very tired So he halted at a farm house but when
he was about to speak he was cut short and driven rudely away His clothes were
against him
He wandered on wounded and indignant and was resolved to put himself in
the way of like treatment no more But hunger is prides master so as the
evening drew near he made an attempt at another farm house but here he fared
worse than before for he was called hard names and was promised arrest as a
vagrant except he moved on promptly
The night came on chilly and overcast and still the footsore monarch
labored slowly on He was obliged to keep moving for every time he sat down to
rest he was soon penetrated to the bone with the cold All his sensations and
experiences as he moved through the solemn gloom and the empty vastness of the
night were new and strange to him At intervals he heard voices approach pass
by and fade into silence and as he saw nothing more of the bodies they
belonged to than a sort of formless drifting blur there was something spectral
and uncanny about it all that made him shudder Occasionally he caught the
twinkle of a light always far away apparently almost in another world if
he heard the tinkle of a sheeps bell it was vague distant indistinct the
muffled lowing of the herds floated to him on the night wind in vanishing
cadences a mournful sound now and then came the complaining howl of a dog over
viewless expanses of field and forest all sounds were remote they made the
little king feel that all life and activity were far removed from him and that
he stood solitary companionless in the centre of a measureless solitude
He stumbled along through the grewsome fascinations of this new experience
startled occasionally by the soft rustling of the dry leaves overhead so like
human whispers they seemed to sound and by and by he came suddenly upon the
freckled light of a tin lantern near at hand He stepped back into the shadows
and waited The lantern stood by the open door of a barn The king waited some
time there was no sound and nobody stirring He got so cold standing still
and the hospitable barn looked so enticing that at last he resolved to risk
everything and enter He started swiftly and stealthily and just as he was
crossing the threshold he heard voices behind him He darted behind a cask
within the barn and stooped down Two farm laborers came in bringing the
lantern with them and fell to work talking meanwhile Whilst they moved about
with the light the king made good use of his eyes and took the bearings of what
seemed to be a good sized stall at the further end of the place purposing to
grope his way to it when he should be left to himself He also noted the
position of a pile of horse blankets midway of the route with the intent to
levy upon them for the service of the crown of England for one night
By and by the men finished and went away fastening the door behind them and
taking the lantern with them The shivering king made for the blankets with as
good speed as the darkness would allow gathered them up and then groped his way
safely to the stall Of two of the blankets he made a bed then covered himself
with the remaining two He was a glad monarch now though the blankets were old
and thin and not quite warm enough and besides gave out a pungent horsy odor
that was almost suffocatingly powerful
Although the king was hungry and chilly he was also so tired and so drowsy
that these latter influences soon began to get the advantage of the former and
he presently dozed off into a state of semiconsciousness Then just as he was
on the point of losing himself wholly he distinctly felt something touch him
He was broad awake in a moment and gasping for breath The cold horror of that
mysterious touch in the dark almost made his heart stand still He lay
motionless and listened scarcely breathing But nothing stirred and there was
no sound He continued to listen and wait during what seemed a long time but
still nothing stirred and there was no sound So he began to drop into a drowse
once more at last and all at once he felt that mysterious touch again It was
a grisly thing this light touch from this noiseless and invisible presence it
made the boy sick with ghostly fears What should he do That was the question
but he did not know how to answer it Should he leave these reasonably
comfortable quarters and fly from this inscrutable horror But fly whither He
could not get out of the barn and the idea of skurrying blindly hither and
thither in the dark within the captivity of the four walls with this phantom
gliding after him and visiting him with that soft hideous touch upon cheek or
shoulder at every turn was intolerable But to stay where he was and endure
this living death all night was that better No What then was there left
to do Ah there was but one course he knew it well he must put out his hand
and find that thing
It was easy to think this but it was hard to brace himself up to try it
Three times he stretched his hand a little way out into the dark gingerly and
snatched it suddenly back with a gasp not because it had encountered
anything but because he had felt so sure it was just going to But the fourth
time he groped a little further and his hand lightly swept against something
soft and warm This petrified him nearly with fright his mind was in such a
state that he could imagine the thing to be nothing else than a corpse newly
dead and still warm He thought he would rather die than touch it again But he
thought this false thought because he did not know the immortal strength of
human curiosity In no long time his hand was tremblingly groping again
against his judgment and without his consent but groping persistently on
just the same It encountered a bunch of long hair he shuddered but followed
up the hair and found what seemed to be a warm rope followed up the rope and
found an innocent calf for the rope was not a rope at all but the calfs
tail
The king was cordially ashamed of himself for having gotten all that fright
and misery out of so paltry a matter as a slumbering calf but he need not have
felt so about it for it was not the calf that frightened him but a dreadful
nonexistent something which the calf stood for and any other boy in those old
superstitious times would have acted and suffered just as he had done
The king was not only delighted to find that the creature was only a calf
but delighted to have the calfs company for he had been feeling so lonesome
and friendless that the company and comradeship of even this humble animal was
welcome And he had been so buffeted so rudely entreated by his own kind that
it was a real comfort to him to feel that he was at last in the society of a
fellow creature that had at least a soft heart and a gentle spirit whatever
loftier attributes might be lacking So he resolved to waive rank and make
friends with the calf
While stroking its sleek warm back for it lay near him and within easy
reach it occurred to him that this calf might be utilized in more ways than
one Whereupon he rearranged his bed spreading it down close to the calf then
he cuddled himself up to the calfs back drew the covers up over himself and
his friend and in a minute or two was as warm and comfortable as he had ever
been in the downy couches of the regal palace of Westminster
Pleasant thoughts came at once life took on a cheerfuller seeming He was
free of the bonds of servitude and crime free of the companionship of base and
brutal outlaws he was warm he was sheltered in a word he was happy The
night wind was rising it swept by in fitful gusts that made the old barn quake
and rattle then its forces died down at intervals and went moaning and wailing
around corners and projections but it was all music to the king now that he
was snug and comfortable let it blow and rage let it batter and bang let it
moan and wail he minded it not he only enjoyed it He merely snuggled the
closer to his friend in a luxury of warm contentment and drifted blissfully
out of consciousness into a deep and dreamless sleep that was full of serenity
and peace The distant dogs howled the melancholy kine complained and the
winds went on raging whilst furious sheets of rain drove along the roof but
the majesty of England slept on undisturbed and the calf did the same it
being a simple creature and not easily troubled by storms or embarrassed by
sleeping with a king
Chapter 19
The Prince with the Peasants
When the king awoke in the early morning he found that a wet but thoughtful rat
had crept into the place during the night and made a cosy bed for itself in his
bosom Being disturbed now it scampered away The boy smiled and said »Poor
fool why so fearful I am as forlorn as thou Twould be shame in me to hurt
the helpless who am myself so helpless Moreover I owe you thanks for a good
omen for when a king has fallen so low that the very rats do make a bed of him
it surely meaneth that his fortunes be upon the turn since it is plain he can
no lower go«
He got up and stepped out of the stall and just then he heard the sound of
childrens voices The barn door opened and a couple of little girls came in As
soon as they saw him their talking and laughing ceased and they stopped and
stood still gazing at him with strong curiosity they presently began to
whisper together then they approached nearer and stopped again to gaze and
whisper By and by they gathered courage and began to discuss him aloud One
said
»He hath a comely face«
The other added
»And pretty hair«
»But is ill clothed enow«
»And how starved he looketh«
They came still nearer sidling shyly around and about him examining him
minutely from all points as if he were some strange new kind of animal but
warily and watchfully the while as if they half feared he might be a sort of
animal that would bite upon occasion Finally they halted before him holding
each others hands for protection and took a good satisfying stare with their
innocent eyes then one of them plucked up all her courage and inquired with
honest directness
»Who art thou boy«
»I am the king« was the grave answer
The children gave a little start and their eyes spread themselves wide open
and remained so during a speechless half minute Then curiosity broke the
silence
»The king What king«
»The king of England«
The children looked at each other then at him then at each other again
wonderingly perplexedly then one said
»Didst hear him Margery he saith he is the king Can that be true«
»How can it be else but true Prissy Would he say a lie For look you
Prissy an it were not true it would be a lie It surely would be Now think
ont For all things that be not true be lies thou canst make naught else out
of it«
It was a good tight argument without a leak in it anywhere and it left
Prissys halfdoubts not a leg to stand on She considered a moment then put
the king upon his honor with the simple remark
»If thou art truly the king then I believe thee«
»I am truly the king«
This settled the matter His majestys royalty was accepted without further
question or discussion and the two little girls began at once to inquire into
how he came to be where he was and how he came to be so unroyally clad and
whither he was bound and all about his affairs It was a mighty relief to him
to pour out his troubles where they would not be scoffed at or doubted so he
told his tale with feeling forgetting even his hunger for the time and it was
received with the deepest and tenderest sympathy by the gentle little maids But
when he got down to his latest experiences and they learned how long he had been
without food they cut him short and hurried him away to the farm house to find
a breakfast for him
The king was cheerful and happy now and said to himself »When I am come
to mine own again I will always honor little children remembering how that
these trusted me and believed in me in my time of trouble whilst they that were
older and thought themselves wiser mocked at me and held me for a liar«
The childrens mother received the king kindly and was full of pity for
his forlorn condition and apparently crazed intellect touched her womanly heart
She was a widow and rather poor consequently she had seen trouble enough to
enable her to feel for the unfortunate She imagined that the demented boy had
wandered away from his friends or keepers so she tried to find out whence he
had come in order that she might take measures to return him but all her
references to neighboring towns and villages and all her inquiries in the same
line went for nothing the boys face and his answers too showed that the
things she was talking of were not familiar to him He spoke earnestly and
simply about court matters and broke down more than once when speaking of the
late king his father but whenever the conversation changed to baser topics he
lost interest and became silent
The woman was mightily puzzled but she did not give up As she proceeded
with her cooking she set herself to contriving devices to surprise the boy into
betraying his real secret She talked about cattle he showed no concern then
about sheep the same result so her guess that he had been a shepherd boy was
an error she talked about mills and about weavers tinkers smiths trades and
tradesmen of all sorts and about Bedlam and jails and charitable retreats
but no matter she was baffled at all points Not altogether either for she
argued that she had narrowed the thing down to domestic service Yes she was
sure she was on the right track now he must have been a house servant So she
led up to that But the result was discouraging The subject of sweeping
appeared to weary him firebuilding failed to stir him scrubbing and scouring
awoke no enthusiasm Then the goodwife touched with a perishing hope and
rather as a matter of form upon the subject of cooking To her surprise and
her vast delight the kings face lighted at once Ah she had hunted him down
at last she thought and she was right proud too of the devious shrewdness
and tact which had accomplished it
Her tired tongue got a chance to rest now for the kings inspired by
gnawing hunger and the fragrant smells that came from the sputtering pots and
pans turned itself loose and delivered itself up to such an eloquent
dissertation upon certain toothsome dishes that within three minutes the woman
said to herself »Of a truth I was right he hath holpen in a kitchen« Then he
broadened his bill of fare and discussed it with such appreciation and
animation that the goodwife said to herself »Good lack how can he know so
many dishes and so fine ones withal For these belong only upon the tables of
the rich and great Ah now I see ragged outcast as he is he must have served
in the palace before his reason went astray yes he must have helped in the
very kitchen of the king himself I will test him«
Full of eagerness to prove her sagacity she told the king to mind the
cooking a moment hinting that he might manufacture and add a dish or two if
he chose then she went out of the room and gave her children a sign to follow
after The king muttered
»Another English king had a commission like to this in a bygone time it
is nothing against my dignity to undertake an office which the great Alfred
stooped to assume But I will try to better serve my trust than he for he let
the cakes burn«
The intent was good but the performance was not answerable to it for this
king like the other one soon fell into deep thinkings concerning his vast
affairs and the same calamity resulted the cookery got burned The woman
returned in time to save the breakfast from entire destruction and she promptly
brought the king out of his dreams with a brisk and cordial tonguelashing
Then seeing how troubled he was over his violated trust she softened at once
and was all goodness and gentleness toward him
The boy made a hearty and satisfying meal and was greatly refreshed and
gladdened by it It was a meal which was distinguished by this curious feature
that rank was waived on both sides yet neither recipient of the favor was aware
that it had been extended The goodwife had intended to feed this young tramp
with broken victuals in a corner like any other tramp or like a dog but she
was so remorseful for the scolding she had given him that she did what she
could to atone for it by allowing him to sit at the family table and eat with
his betters on ostensible terms of equality with them and the king on his
side was so remorseful for having broken his trust after the family had been
so kind to him that he forced himself to atone for it by humbling himself to
the family level instead of requiring the woman and her children to stand and
wait upon him while he occupied their table in the solitary state due to his
birth and dignity It does us all good to unbend sometimes This good woman was
made happy all the day long by the applauses which she got out of herself for
her magnanimous condescension to a tramp and the king was just as
selfcomplacent over his gracious humility toward a humble peasant woman
When breakfast was over the housewife told the king to wash up the dishes
This command was a staggerer for a moment and the king came near rebelling
but then he said to himself »Alfred the Great watched the cakes doubtless he
would have washed the dishes too therefore will I essay it«
He made a sufficiently poor job of it and to his surprise too for the
cleaning of wooden spoons and trenchers had seemed an easy thing to do It was a
tedious and troublesome piece of work but he finished it at last He was
becoming impatient to get away on his journey now however he was not to lose
this thrifty dames society so easily She furnished him some little odds and
ends of employment which he got through with after a fair fashion and with some
credit Then she set him and the little girls to paring some winter apples but
he was so awkward at this service that she retired him from it and gave him a
butcher knife to grind Afterward she kept him carding wool until he began to
think he had laid the good King Alfred about far enough in the shade for the
present in the matter of showy menial heroisms that would read picturesquely in
storybooks and histories and so he was half minded to resign And when just
after the noonday dinner the goodwife gave him a basket of kittens to drown he
did resign At least he was just going to resign for he felt that he must draw
the line somewhere and it seemed to him that to draw it at kittendrowning was
about the right thing when there was an interruption The interruption was
John Canty with a pedlars pack on his back and Hugo
The king discovered these rascals approaching the front gate before they had
had a chance to see him so he said nothing about drawing the line but took up
his basket of kittens and stepped quietly out the back way without a word He
left the creatures in an outhouse and hurried on into a narrow lane at the
rear
Chapter 20
The Prince and the Hermit
The high hedge hid him from the house now and so under the impulse of a
deadly fright he let out all his forces and sped toward a wood in the distance
He never looked back until he had almost gained the shelter of the forest then
he turned and descried two figures in the distance That was sufficient he did
not wait to scan them critically but hurried on and never abated his pace till
he was far within the twilight depths of the wood Then he stopped being
persuaded that he was now tolerably safe He listened intently but the
stillness was profound and solemn awful even and depressing to the spirits
At wide intervals his straining ear did detect sounds but they were so remote
and hollow and mysterious that they seemed not to be real sounds but only the
moaning and complaining ghosts of departed ones So the sounds were yet more
dreary than the silence which they interrupted
It was his purpose in the beginning to stay where he was the rest of the
day but a chill soon invaded his perspiring body and he was at last obliged to
resume movement in order to get warm He struck straight through the forest
hoping to pierce to a road presently but he was disappointed in this He
traveled on and on but the further he went the denser the wood became
apparently The gloom began to thicken by and by and the king realized that
the night was coming on It made him shudder to think of spending it in such an
uncanny place so he tried to hurry faster but he only made the less speed for
he could not now see well enough to choose his steps judiciously consequently
he kept tripping over roots and tangling himself in vines and briers
And how glad he was when at last he caught the glimmer of a light He
approached it warily stopping often to look about him and listen It came from
an unglazed windowopening in a shabby little hut He heard a voice now and
felt a disposition to run and hide but he changed his mind at once for this
voice was praying evidently He glided to the one window of the hut raised
himself on tiptoe and stole a glance within The room was small its floor was
the natural earth beaten hard by use in a corner was a bed of rushes and a
ragged blanket or two near it was a pail a cup a basin and two or three pots
and pans there was a short bench and a threelegged stool on the hearth the
remains of a faggot fire were smouldering before a shrine which was lighted by
a single candle knelt an aged man and on an old wooden box at his side lay an
open book and a human skull The man was of large bony frame his hair and
whiskers were very long and snowy white he was clothed in a robe of sheepskins
which reached from his neck to his heels
»A holy hermit« said the king to himself »now am I indeed fortunate«
The hermit rose from his knees the king knocked A deep voice responded
»Enter but leave sin behind for the ground whereon thou shalt stand is
holy«
The king entered and paused The hermit turned a pair of gleaming
unrestful eyes upon him and said
»Who art thou«
»I am the king« came the answer with placid simplicity
»Welcome king« cried the hermit with enthusiasm Then bustling about
with feverish activity and constantly saying »welcome welcome« he arranged
his bench seated the king on it by the hearth threw some faggots on the fire
and finally fell to pacing the floor with a nervous stride
»Welcome Many have sought sanctuary here but they were not worthy and
were turned away But a king who casts his crown away and despises the vain
splendors of his office and clothes his body in rags to devote his life to
holiness and the mortification of the flesh he is worthy he is welcome
Here shall he abide all his days till death come« The king hastened to
interrupt and explain but the hermit paid no attention to him did not even
hear him apparently but went right on with his talk with a raised voice and a
growing energy »And thou shalt be at peace here None shall find out thy refuge
to disquiet thee with supplications to return to that empty and foolish life
which God hath moved thee to abandon Thou shalt pray here thou shalt study
the Book thou shalt meditate upon the follies and delusions of this world and
upon the sublimities of the world to come thou shalt feed upon crusts and
herbs and scourge thy body with whips daily to the purifying of thy soul
Thou shalt wear a hair shirt next thy skin thou shalt drink water only and
thou shalt be at peace yes wholly at peace for whoso comes to seek thee shall
go his way again baffled he shall not find thee he shall not molest thee«
The old man still pacing back and forth ceased to speak aloud and began
to mutter The king seized this opportunity to state his case and he did it
with an eloquence inspired by uneasiness and apprehension But the hermit went
on muttering and gave no heed And still muttering he approached the king and
said impressively
»Sh I will tell you a secret« He bent down to impart it but checked
himself and assumed a listening attitude After a moment or two he went on
tiptoe to the windowopening put his head out and peered around in the
gloaming then came tiptoeing back again put his face close down to the kings
and whispered
»I am an archangel«
The king started violently and said to himself »Would God I were with the
outlaws again for lo now am I the prisoner of a madman« His apprehensions
were heightened and they showed plainly in his face In a low excited voice
the hermit continued
»I see you feel my atmosphere Theres awe in your face None may be in this
atmosphere and not be thus affected for it is the very atmosphere of heaven I
go thither and return in the twinkling of an eye I was made an archangel on
this very spot it is five years ago by angels sent from heaven to confer that
awful dignity Their presence filled this place with an intolerable brightness
And they knelt to me king yes they knelt to me for I was greater than they
I have walked in the courts of heaven and held speech with the patriarchs
Touch my hand be not afraid touch it There now thou hast touched a hand
which has been clasped by Abraham and Isaac and Jacob For I have walked in the
golden courts I have seen the Deity face to face« He paused to give this
speech effect then his face suddenly changed and he started to his feet again
saying with angry energy »Yes I am an archangel a mere archangel I that
might have been Pope It is verily true I was told it from heaven in a dream
twenty years ago ah yes I was to be Pope and I should have been Pope for
heaven had said it but the king dissolved my religious house and I poor
obscure unfriended monk was cast homeless upon the world robbed of my mighty
destiny« Here he began to mumble again and beat his forehead in futile rage
with his fist now and then articulating a venomous curse and now and then a
pathetic »Wherefore I am naught but an archangel I that should have been
Pope«
So he went on for an hour whilst the poor little king sat and suffered
Then all at once the old mans frenzy departed and he became all gentleness
His voice softened he came down out of his clouds and fell to prattling along
so simply and so humanly that he soon won the kings heart completely The old
devotee moved the boy nearer to the fire and made him comfortable doctored his
small bruises and abrasions with a deft and tender hand and then set about
preparing and cooking a supper chatting pleasantly all the time and
occasionally stroking the lads cheek or patting his head in such a gently
caressing way that in a little while all the fear and repulsion inspired by the
archangel were changed to reverence and affection for the man
This happy state of things continued while the two ate the supper then
after a prayer before the shrine the hermit put the boy to bed in a small
adjoining room tucking him in as snugly and lovingly as a mother might and so
with a parting caress left him and sat down by the fire and began to poke the
brands about in an absent and aimless way Presently he paused then tapped his
forehead several times with his fingers as if trying to recal some thought
which had escaped from his mind Apparently he was unsuccessful Now he started
quickly up and entered his guests room and said
»Thou art king«
»Yes« was the response drowsily uttered
»What king«
»Of England«
»Of England Then Henry is gone«
»Alack it is so I am his son«
A black frown settled down upon the hermits face and he clenched his bony
hands with a vindictive energy He stood a few moments breathing fast and
swallowing repeatedly then said in a husky voice
»Dost know it was he that turned us out into the world houseless and
homeless«
There was no response The old man bent down and scanned the boys reposeful
face and listened to his placid breathing »He sleeps sleeps soundly« and the
frown vanished away and gave place to an expression of evil satisfaction A
smile flitted across the dreaming boys features The hermit muttered »So his
heart is happy« and he turned away He went stealthily about the place seeking
here and there for something now and then halting to listen now and then
jerking his head around and casting a quick glance toward the bed and always
muttering always mumbling to himself At last he found what he seemed to want
a rusty old butcher knife and a whetstone Then he crept to his place by the
fire sat himself down and began to whet the knife softly on the stone still
muttering mumbling ejaculating The winds sighed around the lonely place the
mysterious voices of the night floated by out of the distances the shining eyes
of venturesome mice and rats peered out at the old man from cracks and coverts
but he went on with his work rapt absorbed and noted none of these things
At long intervals he drew his thumb along the edge of his knife and nodded
his head with satisfaction »It grows sharper« he said »yes it grows
sharper«
He took no note of the flight of time but worked tranquilly on
entertaining himself with his thoughts which broke out occasionally in
articulate speech
»His father wrought us evil he destroyed us and is gone down into the
eternal fires Yes down into the eternal fires He escaped us but it was
Gods will yes it was Gods will we must not repine But he hath not escaped
the fires no he hath not escaped the fires the consuming unpitying
remorseless fires and they are everlasting«
And so he wrought and still wrought mumbling chuckling a low rasping
chuckle at times and at times breaking again into words
»It was his father that did it all I am but an archangel but for him I
should be Pope«
The king stirred The hermit sprang noiselessly to the bedside and went
down upon his knees bending over the prostrate form with his knife uplifted
The boy stirred again his eyes came open for an instant but there was no
speculation in them they saw nothing the next moment his tranquil breathing
showed that his sleep was sound once more
The hermit watched and listened for a time keeping his position and
scarcely breathing then he slowly lowered his arm and presently crept away
saying
»It is long past midnight it is not best that he should cry out lest by
accident some one be passing«
He glided about his hovel gathering a rag here a thong there and another
one yonder then he returned and by careful and gentle handling he managed to
tie the kings ankles together without waking him Next he essayed to tie the
wrists he made several attempts to cross them but the boy always drew one hand
or the other away just as the cord was ready to be applied but at last when
the archangel was almost ready to despair the boy crossed his hands himself
and the next moment they were bound Now a bandage was passed under the
sleepers chin and brought up over his head and tied fast and so softly so
gradually and so deftly were the knots drawn together and compacted that the
boy slept peacefully through it all without stirring
Chapter 21
Hendon to the Rescue
The old man glided away stooping stealthy catlike and brought the low
bench He seated himself upon it half his body in the dim and flickering light
and the other half in shadow and so with his craving eyes bent upon the
slumbering boy he kept his patient vigil there heedless of the drift of time
and softly whetted his knife and mumbled and chuckled and in aspect and
attitude he resembled nothing so much as a grisly monstrous spider gloating
over some hapless insect that lay bound and helpless in his web
After a long while the old man who was still gazing yet not seeing his
mind having settled into a dreamy abstraction observed on a sudden that the
boys eyes were open wide open and staring staring up in frozen horror at
the knife The smile of a gratified devil crept over the old mans face and he
said without changing his attitude or his occupation
»Son of Henry the Eighth hast thou prayed«
The boy struggled helplessly in his bonds and at the same time forced a
smothered sound through his closed jaws which the hermit chose to interpret as
an affirmative answer to his question
»Then pray again Pray the prayer for the dying«
A shudder shook the boys frame and his face blenched Then he struggled
again to free himself turning and twisting himself this way and that tugging
frantically fiercely desperately but uselessly to burst his fetters and
all the while the old ogre smiled down upon him and nodded his head and
placidly whetted his knife mumbling from time to time »The moments are
precious they are few and precious pray the prayer for the dying«
The boy uttered a despairing groan and ceased from his struggles panting
The tears came then and trickled one after the other down his face but this
piteous sight wrought no softening effect upon the savage old man
The dawn was coming now the hermit observed it and spoke up sharply with
a touch of nervous apprehension in his voice
»I may not indulge this ecstasy longer The night is already gone It seems
but a moment only a moment would it had endured a year Seed of the Churchs
spoiler close thy perishing eyes an thou fearest to look upon «
The rest was lost in inarticulate mutterings The old man sunk upon his
knees his knife in his hand and bent himself over the moaning boy
Hark There was a sound of voices near the cabin the knife dropped from
the hermits hand he cast a sheepskin over the boy and started up trembling
The sounds increased and presently the voices became rough and angry then came
blows and cries for help then a clatter of swift footsteps retreating
Immediately came a succession of thundering knocks upon the cabin door followed
by
»Hullooo Open And despatch in the name of all the devils«
O this was the blessedest sound that had ever made music in the kings
ears for it was Miles Hendons voice
The hermit grinding his teeth in impotent rage moved swiftly out of the
bedchamber closing the door behind him and straightway the king heard a talk
to this effect proceeding from the chapel
»Homage and greeting reverend sir Where is the boy my boy«
»What boy friend«
»What boy Lie me no lies sir priest play me no deceptions I am not in
the humor for it Near to this place I caught the scoundrels who I judged did
steal him from me and I made them confess they said he was at large again and
they had tracked him to your door They showed me his very footprints Now
palter no more for look you holy sir an thou produce him not Where is the
boy«
»O good sir peradventure you mean the ragged regal vagrant that tarried
here the night If such as you take interest in such as he know then that I
have sent him of an errand He will be back anon«
»How soon How soon Come waste not the time can not I overtake him How
soon will he be back«
»Thou needst not stir he will return quickly«
»So be it then I will try to wait But stop you sent him of an errand
you Verily this is a lie he would not go He would pull thy old beard an
thou didst offer him such an insolence Thou hast lied friend thou hast surely
lied He would not go for thee nor for any man«
»For any man no haply not But I am not a man«
»What Now o Gods name what art thou then«
»It is a secret mark thou reveal it not I am an archangel«
There was a tremendous ejaculation from Miles Hendon not altogether
unprofane followed by
»This doth well and truly account for his complaisance Right well I knew he
would budge nor hand nor foot in the menial service of any mortal but lord
even a king must obey when an archangel gives the word o command Let me sh
What noise was that«
All this while the little king had been yonder alternately quaking with
terror and trembling with hope and all the while too he had thrown all the
strength he could into his anguished moanings constantly expecting them to
reach Hendons ear but always realizing with bitterness that they failed or
at least made no impression So this last remark of his servant came as comes a
reviving breath from fresh fields to the dying and he exerted himself once
more and with all his energy just as the hermit was saying
»Noise I heard only the wind«
»Mayhap it was Yes doubtless that was it I have been hearing it faintly
all the there it is again It is not the wind What an odd sound Come we
will hunt it out«
Now the kings joy was nearly insupportable His tired lungs did their
utmost and hopefully too but the sealed jaws and the muffling sheepskin
sadly crippled the effort Then the poor fellows heart sank to hear the hermit
say
»Ah it came from without I think from the copse yonder Come I will lead
the way«
The king heard the two pass out talking heard their footsteps die quickly
away then he was alone with a boding brooding awful silence
It seemed an age till he heard the steps and voices approaching again and
this time he heard an added sound the trampling of hoofs apparently Then he
heard Hendon say
»I will not wait longer I cannot wait longer He has lost his way in this
thick wood Which direction took he Quick point it out to me«
»He but wait I will go with thee«
»Good good Why truly thou art better than thy looks Marry I do think
theres not another archangel with so right a heart as thine Wilt ride Wilt
take the wee donkey thats for my boy or wilt thou fork thy holy legs over this
illconditioned slave of a mule that I have provided for myself and had been
cheated in too had he cost but the indifferent sum of a months usury on a
brass farthing let to a tinker out of work«
»No ride thy mule and lead thine ass I am surer on mine own feet and
will walk«
»Then prithee mind the little beast for me while I take my life in my hands
and make what success I may toward mounting the big one«
Then followed a confusion of kicks cuffs tramplings and plungings
accompanied by a thunderous intermingling of volleyed curses and finally a
bitter apostrophe to the mule which must have broken its spirit for
hostilities seemed to cease from that moment
With unutterable misery the fettered little king heard the voices and
footsteps fade away and die out All hope forsook him now for the moment and
a dull despair settled down upon his heart »My only friend is deceived and got
rid of« he said »the hermit will return and « He finished with a gasp and at
once fell to struggling so frantically with his bonds again that he shook off
the smothering sheepskin
And now he heard the door open The sound chilled him to the marrow
already he seemed to feel the knife at his throat Horror made him close his
eyes horror made him open them again and before him stood John Canty and
Hugo
He would have said »Thank God« if his jaws had been free
A moment or two later his limbs were at liberty and his captors each
gripping him by an arm were hurrying him with all speed through the forest
Chapter 22
Victim of Treachery
Once more »King Foofoo the First« was roving with the tramps and outlaws a
butt for their coarse jests and dullwitted railleries and sometimes the victim
of small spitefulnesses at the hands of Canty and Hugo when the Rufflers back
was turned None but Canty and Hugo really disliked him Some of the others
liked him and all admired his pluck and spirit During two or three days Hugo
in whose ward and charge the king was did what he covertly could to make the
boy uncomfortable and at night during the customary orgies he amused the
company by putting small indignities upon him always as if by accident Twice
he stepped upon the kings toes accidentally and the king as became his
royalty was contemptuously unconscious of it and indifferent to it but the
third time Hugo entertained himself in that way the king felled him to the
ground with a cudgel to the prodigious delight of the tribe Hugo consumed
with anger and shame sprang up seized a cudgel and came at his small
adversary in a fury Instantly a ring was formed around the gladiators and the
betting and cheering began But poor Hugo stood no chance whatever His frantic
and lubberly prenticework found but a poor market for itself when pitted
against an arm which had been trained by the first masters of Europe in
singlestick quarterstaff and every art and trick of swordsmanship The
little king stood alert but at graceful ease and caught and turned aside the
thick rain of blows with a facility and precision which set the motley
onlookers wild with admiration and every now and then when his practiced eye
detected an opening and a lightningswift rap upon Hugos head followed as a
result the storm of cheers and laughter that swept the place was something
wonderful to hear At the end of fifteen minutes Hugo all battered bruised
and the target for a pitiless bombardment of ridicule slunk from the field and
the unscathed hero of the fight was seized and borne aloft upon the shoulders of
the joyous rabble to the place of honor beside the Ruffler where with vast
ceremony he was crowned King of the GameCocks his meaner title being at the
same time solemnly canceled and annulled and a decree of banishment from the
gang pronounced against any who should thenceforth utter it
All attempts to make the king serviceable to the troop had failed He had
stubbornly refused to act moreover he was always trying to escape He had been
thrust into an unwatched kitchen the first day of his return he not only came
forth empty handed but tried to rouse the housemates He was sent out with a
tinker to help him at his work he would not work moreover he threatened the
tinker with his own solderingiron and finally both Hugo and the tinker found
their hands full with the mere matter of keeping him from getting away He
delivered the thunders of his royalty upon the heads of all who hampered his
liberties or tried to force him to service He was sent out in Hugos charge
in company with a slatternly woman and a diseased baby to beg but the result
was not encouraging he declined to plead for the mendicants or be a party to
their cause in any way
Thus several days went by and the miseries of this tramping life and the
weariness and sordidness and meanness and vulgarity of it became gradually and
steadily so intolerable to the captive that he began at last to feel that his
release from the hermits knife must prove only a temporary respite from death
at best
But at night in his dreams these things were forgotten and he was on his
throne and master again This of course intensified the sufferings of the
awakening so the mortifications of each succeeding morning of the few that
passed between his return to bondage and the combat with Hugo grew bitterer and
bitterer and harder and harder to bear
The morning after that combat Hugo got up with a heart filled with vengeful
purposes against the king He had two plans in particular One was to inflict
upon the lad what would be to his proud spirit and imagined royalty a peculiar
humiliation and if he failed to accomplish this his other plan was to put a
crime of some kind upon the king and then betray him into the implacable
clutches of the law
In pursuance of the first plan he purposed to put a clime upon the kings
leg rightly judging that that would mortify him to the last and perfect degree
and as soon as the clime should operate he meant to get Cantys help and force
the king to expose his leg in the highway and beg for alms Clime was the cant
term for a sore artificially created To make a clime the operator made a
paste or poultice of unslaked lime soap and the rust of old iron and spread
it upon a piece of leather which was then bound tightly upon the leg This
would presently fret off the skin and make the flesh raw and angrylooking
blood was then rubbed upon the limb which being fully dried took on a dark
and repulsive color Then a bandage of soiled rags was put on in a cleverly
careless way which would allow the hideous ulcer to be seen and move the
compassion of the passerby18
Hugo got the help of the tinker whom the king had cowed with the
solderingiron they took the boy out on a tinkering tramp and as soon as they
were out of sight of the camp they threw him down and the tinker held him while
Hugo bound the poultice tight and fast upon his leg
The king raged and stormed and promised to hang the two the moment the
sceptre was in his hand again but they kept a firm grip upon him and enjoyed
his impotent strugglings and jeered at his threats This continued until the
poultice began to bite and in no long time its work would have been perfected
if there had been no interruption But there was for about this time the slave
who had made the speech denouncing Englands laws appeared on the scene and put
an end to the enterprise and stripped off the poultice and bandage
The king wanted to borrow his deliverers cudgel and warm the jackets of the
two rascals on the spot but the man said no it would bring trouble leave the
matter till night the whole tribe being together then the outside world would
not venture to interfere or interrupt He marched the party back to camp and
reported the affair to the Ruffler who listened pondered and then decided
that the king should not be again detailed to beg since it was plain he was
worthy of something higher and better wherefore on the spot he promoted him
from the mendicant rank and appointed him to steal
Hugo was overjoyed He had already tried to make the king steal and failed
but there would be no more trouble of that sort now for of course the king
would not dream of defying a distinct command delivered directly from
headquarters So he planned a raid for that very afternoon purposing to get the
king in the laws grip in the course of it and to do it too with such
ingenious strategy that it should seem to be accidental and unintentional for
the King of the GameCocks was popular now and the gang might not deal
overgently with an unpopular member who played so serious a treachery upon him
as the delivering him over to the common enemy the law
Very well All in good time Hugo strolled off to a neighboring village with
his prey and the two drifted slowly up and down one street after another the
one watching sharply for a sure chance to achieve his evil purpose and the
other watching as sharply for a chance to dart away and get free of his infamous
captivity forever
Both threw away some tolerably fairlooking opportunities for both in
their secret hearts were resolved to make absolutely sure work this time and
neither meant to allow his fevered desires to seduce him into any venture that
had much uncertainty about it
Hugos chance came first For at last a woman approached who carried a fat
package of some sort in a basket Hugos eyes sparkled with sinful pleasure as
he said to himself »Breath o my life an I can but put that upon him tis
goodden and God keep thee King of the GameCocks« He waited and watched
outwardly patient but inwardly consuming with excitement till the woman had
passed by and the time was ripe then said in a low voice
»Tarry here till I come again« and darted stealthily after the prey
The kings heart was filled with joy he could make his escape now if
Hugos quest only carried him far enough away
But he was to have no such luck Hugo crept behind the woman snatched the
package and came running back wrapping it in an old piece of blanket which he
carried on his arm The hue and cry was raised in a moment by the woman who
knew her loss by the lightening of her burden although she had not seen the
pilfering done Hugo thrust the bundle into the kings hands without halting
saying
»Now speed ye after me with the rest and cry Stop thief but mind ye lead
them astray«
The next moment Hugo turned a corner and darted down a crooked alley and
in another moment or two he lounged into view again looking innocent and
indifferent and took up a position behind a post to watch results
The insulted king threw the bundle on the ground and the blanket fell away
from it just as the woman arrived with an augmenting crowd at her heels she
seized the kings wrist with one hand snatched up her bundle with the other
and began to pour out a tirade of abuse upon the boy while he struggled without
success to free himself from her grip
Hugo had seen enough his enemy was captured and the law would get him now
so he slipped away jubilant and chuckling and wended campwards framing a
judicious version of the matter to give to the Rufflers crew as he strode
along
The king continued to struggle in the womans strong grasp and now and then
cried out in vexation
»Unhand me thou foolish creature it was not I that bereaved thee of thy
paltry goods«
The crowd closed around threatening the king and calling him names a
brawny blacksmith in leather apron and sleeves rolled to his elbows made a
reach for him saying he would trounce him well for a lesson but just then a
long sword flashed in the air and fell with convincing force upon the mans arm
flatside down the fantastic owner of it remarking pleasantly at the same time
»Marry good souls let us proceed gently not with ill blood and
uncharitable words This is matter for the laws consideration not private and
unofficial handling Loose thy hold from the boy goodwife«
The blacksmith averaged the stalwart soldier with a glance then went
muttering away rubbing his arm the woman released the boys wrist reluctantly
the crowd eyed the stranger unlovingly but prudently closed their mouths The
king sprang to his deliverers side with flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes
exclaiming
»Thou hast lagged sorely but thou comest in good season now Sir Miles
carve me this rabble to rags«
Chapter 23
The Prince a Prisoner
Hendon forced back a smile and bent down and whispered in the kings ear
»Softly softly my prince wag thy tongue warily nay suffer it not to
wag at all Trust in me all shall go well in the end« Then he added to
himself »Sir Miles Bless me I had totally forgot I was a knight Lord how
marvelous a thing it is the grip his memory doth take upon his quaint and crazy
fancies An empty and foolish title is mine and yet it is something to have
deserved it for I think it is more honor to be held worthy to be a
spectreknight in his Kingdom of Dreams and Shadows than to be held base enough
to be an earl in some of the real kingdoms of this world«
The crowd fell apart to admit a constable who approached and was about to
lay his hand upon the kings shoulder when Hendon said
»Gently good friend withhold your hand he shall go peaceably I am
responsible for that Lead on we will follow«
The officer led with the woman and her bundle Miles and the king followed
after with the crowd at their heels The king was inclined to rebel but Hendon
said to him in a low voice
»Reflect sire your laws are the wholesome breath of your own royalty
shall their source resist them yet require the branches to respect them
Apparently one of these laws has been broken when the king is on his throne
again can it ever grieve him to remember that when he was seemingly a private
person he loyally sunk the king in the citizen and submitted to its authority«
»Thou art right say no more thou shalt see that whatsoever the king of
England requires a subject to suffer under the law he will himself suffer while
he holdeth the station of a subject«
When the woman was called upon to testify before the justice of the peace
she swore that the small prisoner at the bar was the person who had committed
the theft there was none able to show the contrary so the king stood
convicted The bundle was now unrolled and when the contents proved to be a
plump little dressed pig the judge looked troubled whilst Hendon turned pale
and his body was thrilled with an electric shiver of dismay but the king
remained unmoved protected by his ignorance The judge meditated during an
ominous pause then turned to the woman with the question
»What dost thou hold this property to be worth«
The woman curtsied and replied
»Three shillings and eightpence your worship I could not abate a penny
and set forth the value honestly«
The justice glanced around uncomfortably upon the crowd then nodded to the
constable and said
»Clear the court and close the doors«
It was done None remained but the two officials the accused the accuser
and Miles Hendon This latter was rigid and colorless and on his forehead big
drops of cold sweat gathered broke and blended together and trickled down his
face The judge turned to the woman again and said in a compassionate voice
»Tis a poor ignorant lad and mayhap was driven hard by hunger for these
be grievous times for the unfortunate mark you he hath not an evil face but
when hunger driveth Good woman dost know that when one steals a thing above
the value of thirteen pence hapenny the law saith he shall hang for it«
The little king started wideeyed with consternation but controlled
himself and held his peace but not so the woman She sprang to her feet
shaking with fright and cried out
»O good lack what have I done Godamercy I would not hang the poor
thing for the whole world Ah save me from this your worship what shall I
do what can I do«
The justice maintained his judicial composure and simply said
»Doubtless it is allowable to revise the value since it is not yet writ
upon the record«
»Then in Gods name call the pig eightpence and heaven bless the day that
freed my conscience of this awesome thing«
Miles Hendon forgot all decorum in his delight and surprised the king and
wounded his dignity by throwing his arms around him and hugging him The woman
made her grateful adieux and started away with her pig and when the constable
opened the door for her he followed her out into the narrow hall The justice
proceeded to write in his record book Hendon always alert thought he would
like to know why the officer followed the woman out so he slipped softly into
the dusky hall and listened He heard a conversation to this effect
»It is a fat pig and promises good eating I will buy it of thee here is
the eightpence«
»Eightpence indeed Thoult do no such thing It cost me three shillings
and eightpence good honest coin of the last reign that old Harry thats just
dead neer touched nor tampered with A fig for thy eightpence«
»Stands the wind in that quarter Thou wast under oath and so swore falsely
when thou saidst the value was but eightpence Come straightway back with me
before his worship and answer for the crime and then the lad will hang«
»There there dear heart say no more I am content Give me the
eightpence and hold thy peace about the matter«
The woman went off crying Hendon slipped back into the court room and the
constable presently followed after hiding his prize in some convenient place
The justice wrote a while longer then read the king a wise and kindly lecture
and sentenced him to a short imprisonment in the common jail to be followed by
a public flogging The astounded king opened his mouth and was probably going to
order the good judge to be beheaded on the spot but he caught a warning sign
from Hendon and succeeded in closing his mouth again before he lost anything
out of it Hendon took him by the hand now made reverence to the justice and
the two departed in the wake of the constable toward the jail The moment the
street was reached the inflamed monarch halted snatched away his hand and
exclaimed
»Idiot dost imagine I will enter a common jail alive«
Hendon bent down and said somewhat sharply
»Will you trust in me Peace and forbear to worsen our chances with
dangerous speech What God wills will happen thou canst not hurry it thou
canst not alter it therefore wait and be patient twill be time enow to rail
or rejoice when what is to happen has happened«19
Chapter 24
The Escape
The short winter day was nearly ended The streets were deserted save for a few
random stragglers and these hurried straight along with the intent look of
people who were only anxious to accomplish their errands as quickly as possible
and then snugly house themselves from the rising wind and the gathering
twilight They looked neither to the right nor the left they paid no attention
to our party they did not even seem to see them Edward the Sixth wondered if
the spectacle of a king on his way to jail had ever encountered such marvelous
indifference before By and by the constable arrived at a deserted marketsquare
and proceeded to cross it When he had reached the middle of it Hendon laid his
hand upon his arm and said in a low voice
»Bide a moment good sir there is none in hearing and I would say a word
to thee«
»My duty forbids it sir prithee hinder me not the night comes on«
»Stay nevertheless for the matter concerns thee nearly Turn thy back a
moment and seem not to see let this poor lad escape«
»This to me sir I arrest thee in «
»Nay be not too hasty See thou be careful and commit no foolish error«
then he shut his voice down to a whisper and said in the mans ear »the pig
thou hast purchased for eightpence may cost thee thy neck man«
The poor constable taken by surprise was speechless at first then found
his tongue and fell to blustering and threatening but Hendon was tranquil and
waited with patience till his breath was spent then said
»I have a liking to thee friend and would not willingly see thee come to
harm Observe I heard it all every word I will prove it to thee« Then he
repeated the conversation which the officer and the woman had had together in
the hall word for word and ended with
»There have I set it forth correctly should not I be able to set it
forth correctly before the judge if occasion required«
The man was dumb with fear and distress for a moment then he rallied and
said with forced lightness
»Tis making a mighty matter indeed out of a jest I but plagued the woman
for mine amusement«
»Kept you the womans pig for amusement«
The man answered sharply
»Naught else good sir I tell thee twas but a jest«
»I do begin to believe thee« said Hendon with a perplexing mixture of
mockery and halfconviction in his tone »but tarry thou here a moment whilst I
run and ask his worship for nathless he being a man experienced in law in
jests in «
He was moving away still talking the constable hesitated fidgeted spat
out an oath or two then cried out
»Hold hold good sir prithee wait a little the judge why man he hath
no more sympathy with a jest than hath a dead corpse come and we will speak
further Ods body I seem to be in evil case and all for an innocent and
thoughtless pleasantry I am a man of family and my wife and little ones List
to reason good your worship what wouldst thou of me«
»Only that thou be blind and dumb and paralytic whilst one may count a
hundred thousand counting slowly« said Hendon with the expression of a man
who asks but a reasonable favor and that a very little one
»It is my destruction« said the constable despairingly »Ah be reasonable
good sir only look at this matter on all its sides and see how mere a jest it
is how manifestly and how plainly it is so And even if one granted it were
not a jest it is a fault so small that een the grimmest penalty it could call
forth would be but a rebuke and warning from the judges lips«
Hendon replied with a solemnity which chilled the air about him
»This jest of thine hath a name in law wot you what it is«
»I knew it not Peradventure I have been unwise I never dreamed it had a
name ah sweet heaven I thought it was original«
»Yes it hath a name In the law this crime is called Non compos mentis lex
talionis sic transit gloria Mundi«
»Ah my God«
»And the penalty is death«
»God be merciful to me a sinner«
»By advantage taken of one in fault in dire peril and at thy mercy thou
hast seized goods worth above thirteen pence hapenny paying but a trifle for
the same and this in the eye of the law is constructive barratry misprision
of treason malfeasance in office ad hominem expurgatis in statu quo and the
penalty is death by the halter without ransom commutation or benefit of
clergy«
»Bear me up bear me up sweet sir my legs do fail me Be thou merciful
spare me this doom and I will turn my back and see naught that shall happen«
»Good now thourt wise and reasonable And thoult restore the pig«
»I will I will indeed nor ever touch another though heaven send it and
an archangel fetch it Go I am blind for thy sake I see nothing I will say
thou didst break in and wrest the prisoner from my hands by force It is but a
crazy ancient door I will batter it down myself betwixt midnight and the
morning«
»Do it good soul no harm will come of it the judge hath a loving charity
for this poor lad and will shed no tears and break no jailers bones for his
escape«
Chapter 25
Hendon Hall
As soon as Hendon and the king were out of sight of the constable his majesty
was instructed to hurry to a certain place outside the town and wait there
whilst Hendon should go to the inn and settle his account Half an hour later
the two friends were blithely jogging eastward on Hendons sorry steeds The
king was warm and comfortable now for he had cast his rags and clothed himself
in the secondhand suit which Hendon had bought on London Bridge
Hendon wished to guard against overfatiguing the boy he judged that hard
journeys irregular meals and illiberal measures of sleep would be bad for his
crazed mind whilst rest regularity and moderate exercise would be pretty sure
to hasten its cure he longed to see the stricken intellect made well again and
its diseased visions driven out of the tormented little head therefore he
resolved to move by easy stages toward the home whence he had so long been
banished instead of obeying the impulse of his impatience and hurrying along
night and day
When he and the king had journeyed about ten miles they reached a
considerable village and halted there for the night at a good inn The former
relations were resumed Hendon stood behind the kings chair while he dined
and waited upon him undressed him when he was ready for bed then took the
floor for his own quarters and slept athwart the door rolled up in a blanket
The next day and the day after they jogged lazily along talking over the
adventures they had met since their separation and mightily enjoying each
others narratives Hendon detailed all his wide wanderings in search of the
king and described how the archangel had led him a fools journey all over the
forest and taken him back to the hut finally when he found he could not get
rid of him Then he said the old man went into the bedchamber and came
staggering back looking brokenhearted and saying he had expected to find that
the boy had returned and lain down in there to rest but it was not so Hendon
had waited at the hut all day hope of the kings return died out then and he
departed upon the quest again
»And old Sanctum Sanctorum was truly sorry your highness came not back«
said Hendon »I saw it in his face«
»Marry I will never doubt that« said the king and then told his own
story after which Hendon was sorry he had not destroyed the archangel
During the last day of the trip Hendons spirits were soaring His tongue
ran constantly He talked about his old father and his brother Arthur and told
of many things which illustrated their high and generous characters he went
into loving frenzies over his Edith and was so gladhearted that he was even
able to say some gentle and brotherly things about Hugh He dwelt a deal on the
coming meeting at Hendon Hall what a surprise it would be to everybody and
what an outburst of thanksgiving and delight there would be
It was a fair region dotted with cottages and orchards and the road led
through broad pasture lands whose receding expanses marked with gentle
elevations and depressions suggested the swelling and subsiding undulations of
the sea In the afternoon the returning prodigal made constant deflections from
his course to see if by ascending some hillock he might not pierce the distance
and catch a glimpse of his home At last he was successful and cried out
excitedly
»There is the village my prince and there is the Hall close by You may
see the towers from here and that wood there that is my fathers park Ah
now thoult know what state and grandeur be A house with seventy rooms think
of that and seven and twenty servants A brave lodging for such as we is it
not so Come let us speed my impatience will not brook further delay«
All possible hurry was made still it was after three oclock before the
village was reached The travelers scampered through it Hendons tongue going
all the time »Here is the church covered with the same ivy none gone none
added« »Yonder is the inn the old Red Lion and yonder is the marketplace«
»Here is the Maypole and here the pump nothing is altered nothing but the
people at any rate ten years make a change in people some of these I seem to
know but none know me« So his chat ran on The end of the village was soon
reached then the travelers struck into a crooked narrow road walled in with
tall hedges and hurried briskly along it for a half mile then passed into a
vast flower garden through an imposing gateway whose huge stone pillars bore
sculptured armorial devices A noble mansion was before them
»Welcome to Hendon Hall my king« exclaimed Miles »Ah tis a great day
My father and my brother and the lady Edith will be so mad with joy that they
will have eyes and tongues for none but me in the first transports of the
meeting and so thoult seem but coldly welcomed but mind it not twill soon
seem otherwise for when I say thou art my ward and tell them how costly is my
love for thee thoult see them take thee to their breasts for Miles Hendons
sake and make their house and hearts thy home forever after«
The next moment Hendon sprang to the ground before the great door helped
the king down then took him by the hand and rushed within A few steps brought
him to a spacious apartment he entered seated the king with more hurry than
ceremony then ran toward a young man who sat at a writing table in front of a
generous fire of logs
»Embrace me Hugh« he cried »and say thourt glad I am come again and
call our father for home is not home till I shall touch his hand and see his
face and hear his voice once more«
But Hugh only drew back after betraying a momentary surprise and bent a
grave stare upon the intruder a stare which indicated somewhat of offended
dignity at first then changed in response to some inward thought or purpose
to an expression of marveling curiosity mixed with a real or assumed
compassion Presently he said in a mild voice
»Thy wits seem touched poor stranger doubtless thou hast suffered
privations and rude buffetings at the worlds hands thy looks and dress betoken
it Whom dost thou take me to be«
»Take thee Prithee for whom else than whom thou art I take thee to be Hugh
Hendon« said Miles sharply
The other continued in the same soft tone
»And whom dost thou imagine thyself to be«
»Imagination hath naught to do with it Dost thou pretend thou knowest me
not for thy brother Miles Hendon«
An expression of pleased surprise flitted across Hughs face and he
exclaimed
»What thou art not jesting Can the dead come to life God be praised if it
be so Our poor lost boy restored to our arms after all these cruel years Ah
it seems too good to be true it is too good to be true I charge thee have
pity do not trifle with me Quick come to the light let me scan thee well«
He seized Miles by the arm dragged him to the window and began to devour
him from head to foot with his eyes turning him this way and that and stepping
briskly around him and about him to prove him from all points of view whilst
the returned prodigal all aglow with gladness smiled laughed and kept
nodding his head and saying
»Go on brother go on and fear not thoult find nor limb nor feature that
cannot bide the test Scour and scan me to thy content my good old Hugh I am
indeed thy old Miles thy same old Miles thy lost brother ist not so Ah
tis a great day I said twas a great day Give me thy hand give me thy cheek
lord I am like to die of very joy«
He was about to throw himself upon his brother but Hugh put up his hand in
dissent then dropped his chin mournfully upon his breast saying with emotion
»Ah God of his mercy give me strength to bear this grievous
disappointment«
Miles amazed could not speak for a moment then he found his tongue and
cried out
»What disappointment Am I not thy brother«
Hugh shook his head sadly and said
»I pray heaven it may prove so and that other eyes may find the
resemblances that are hid from mine Alack I fear me the letter spoke but too
truly«
»What letter«
»One that came from over sea some six or seven years ago It said my
brother died in battle«
»It was a lie Call thy father he will know me«
»One may not call the dead«
»Dead« Miless voice was subdued and his lips trembled »My father dead
O this is heavy news Half my new joy is withered now Prithee let me see my
brother Arthur he will know me he will know me and console me«
»He also is dead«
»God be merciful to me a stricken man Gone both gone the worthy taken
and the worthless spared in me Ah I crave your mercy do not say the lady
Edith «
»Is dead No she lives«
»Then God be praised my joy is whole again Speed thee brother let her
come to me An she say I am not myself but she will not no no she will
know me I were a fool to doubt it Bring her bring the old servants they
too will know me«
»All are gone but five Peter Halsey David Bernard and Margaret«
So saying Hugh left the room Miles stood musing a while then began to
walk the floor muttering
»The five arch villains have survived the twoandtwenty leal and honest
tis an odd thing«
He continued walking back and forth muttering to himself he had forgotten
the king entirely By and by his majesty said gravely and with a touch of
genuine compassion though the words themselves were capable of being
interpreted ironically
»Mind not thy mischance good man there be others in the world whose
identity is denied and whose claims are derided Thou hast company«
»Ah my king« cried Hendon coloring slightly »do not thou condemn me
wait and thou shalt see I am no impostor she will say it you shall hear it
from the sweetest lips in England I an impostor Why I know this old hall
these pictures of my ancestors and all these things that are about us as a
child knoweth its own nursery Here was I born and bred my lord I speak the
truth I would not deceive thee and should none else believe I pray thee do
not thou doubt me I could not bear it«
»I do not doubt thee« said the king with a childlike simplicity and faith
»I thank thee out of my heart« exclaimed Hendon with a fervency which
showed that he was touched The king added with the same gentle simplicity
»Dost thou doubt me«
A guilty confusion seized upon Hendon and he was grateful that the door
opened to admit Hugh at that moment and saved him the necessity of replying
A beautiful lady richly clothed followed Hugh and after her came several
liveried servants The lady walked slowly with her head bowed and her eyes
fixed upon the floor The face was unspeakably sad Miles Hendon sprang forward
crying out
»O my Edith my darling «
But Hugh waved him back gravely and said to the lady
»Look upon him Do you know him«
At the sound of Miless voice the woman had started slightly and her
cheeks had flushed she was trembling now She stood still during an
impressive pause of several moments then slowly lifted up her head and looked
into Hendons eyes with a stony and frightened gaze the blood sank out of her
face drop by drop till nothing remained but the gray pallor of death then she
said in a voice as dead as the face »I know him not« and turned with a moan
and a stifled sob and tottered out of the room
Miles Hendon sank into a chair and covered his face with his hands After a
pause his brother said to the servants
»You have observed him Do you know him«
They shook their heads then the master said
»The servants know you not sir I fear there is some mistake You have seen
that my wife knew you not«
»Thy wife« In an instant Hugh was pinned to the wall with an iron grip
about his throat »O thou foxhearted slave I see it all Thoust writ the
lying letter thyself and my stolen bride and goods are its fruit There now
get thee gone lest I shame mine honorable soldiership with the slaying of so
pitiful a mannikin«
Hugh redfaced and almost suffocated reeled to the nearest chair and
commanded the servants to seize and bind the murderous stranger They hesitated
and one of them said
»He is armed Sir Hugh and we are weaponless«
»Armed What of it and ye so many Upon him I say«
But Miles warned them to be careful what they did and added
»Ye know me of old I have not changed come on an it like you«
This reminder did not hearten the servants much they still held back
»Then go ye paltry cowards and arm yourselves and guard the doors whilst
I send one to fetch the watch« said Hugh He turned at the threshold and said
to Miles »Youll find it to your advantage to offend not with useless endeavors
at escape«
»Escape Spare thyself discomfort an that is all that troubles thee For
Miles Hendon is master of Hendon Hall and all its belongings He will remain
doubt it not«
Chapter 26
Disowned
The king sat musing a few moments then looked up and said
»Tis strange most strange I cannot account for it«
»No it is not strange my liege I know him and this conduct is but
natural He was a rascal from his birth«
»O I spake not of him Sir Miles«
»Not of him Then of what What is it that is strange«
»That the king is not missed«
»How Which I doubt I do not understand«
»Indeed Doth it not strike you as being passing strange that the land is
not filled with couriers and proclamations describing my person and making
search for me Is it no matter for commotion and distress that the head of the
state is gone that I am vanished away and lost«
»Most true my king I had forgot« Then Hendon sighed and muttered to
himself »Poor ruined mind still busy with its pathetic dream«
»But I have a plan that shall right us both I will write a paper in three
tongues Latin Greek and English and thou shalt haste away with it to
London in the morning Give it to none but my uncle the lord Hertford when he
shall see it he will know and say I wrote it Then he will send for me«
»Might it not be best my prince that we wait here until I prove myself
and make my rights secure to my domains I should be so much the better able
then to «
The king interrupted him imperiously
»Peace What are thy paltry domains thy trivial interests contrasted with
matters which concern the weal of a nation and the integrity of a throne« Then
he added in a gentle voice as if he were sorry for his severity »Obey and
have no fear I will right thee I will make thee whole yes more than whole
I shall remember and requite«
So saying he took the pen and set himself to work Hendon contemplated him
lovingly a while then said to himself
»An it were dark I should think it was a king that spoke theres no
denying it when the humors upon him he doth thunder and lighten like your true
king now where got he that trick See him scribble and scratch away
contentedly at his meaningless pothooks fancying them to be Latin and Greek
and except my wit shall serve me with a lucky device for diverting him from his
purpose I shall be forced to pretend to post away tomorrow on this wild errand
he hath invented for me«
The next moment Sir Miless thoughts had gone back to the recent episode So
absorbed was he in his musings that when the king presently handed him the
paper which he had been writing he received it and pocketed it without being
conscious of the act »How marvelous strange she acted« he muttered »I think
she knew me and I think she did not know me These opinions do conflict I
perceive it plainly I cannot reconcile them neither can I by argument
dismiss either of the two or even persuade one to outweigh the other The
matter standeth simply thus she must have known my face my figure my voice
for how could it be otherwise yet she said she knew me not and that is proof
perfect for she cannot lie But stop I think I begin to see Peradventure he
hath influenced her commanded her compelled her to lie That is the
solution the riddle is unriddled She seemed dead with fear yes she was
under his compulsion I will seek her I will find her now that he is away she
will speak her true mind She will remember the old times when we were little
playfellows together and this will soften her heart and she will no more
betray me but will confess me There is no treacherous blood in her no she
was always honest and true She has loved me in those old days this is my
security for whom one has loved one cannot betray«
He stepped eagerly toward the door at that moment it opened and the lady
Edith entered She was very pale but she walked with a firm step and her
carriage was full of grace and gentle dignity Her face was as sad as before
Miles sprang forward with a happy confidence to meet her but she checked
him with a hardly perceptible gesture and he stopped where he was She seated
herself and asked him to do likewise Thus simply did she take the sense of
oldcomradeship out of him and transform him into a stranger and a guest The
surprise of it the bewildering unexpectedness of it made him begin to
question for a moment if he was the person he was pretending to be after all
The lady Edith said
»Sir I have come to warn you The mad cannot be persuaded out of their
delusions perchance but doubtless they may be persuaded to avoid perils I
think this dream of yours hath the seeming of honest truth to you and therefore
is not criminal but do not tarry here with it for here it is dangerous« She
looked steadily into Miless face a moment then added impressively »It is
the more dangerous for that you are much like what our lost lad must have grown
to be if he had lived«
»Heavens madam but I am he«
»I truly think you think it sir I question not your honesty in that I
but warn you that is all My husband is master in this region his power hath
hardly any limit the people prosper or starve as he wills If you resembled
not the man whom you profess to be my husband might bid you pleasure yourself
with your dream in peace but trust me I know him well I know what he will do
he will say to all that you are but a mad impostor and straightway all will
echo him« She bent upon Miles that same steady look once more and added »If
you were Miles Hendon and he knew it and all the region knew it consider what
I am saying weigh it well you would stand in the same peril your punishment
would be no less sure he would deny you and denounce you and none would be
bold enough to give you countenance«
»Most truly I believe it« said Miles bitterly »The power that can command
one lifelong friend to betray and disown another and be obeyed may well look
to be obeyed in quarters where bread and life are on the stake and no cobweb
ties of loyalty and honor are concerned«
A faint tinge appeared for a moment in the ladys cheek and she dropped her
eyes to the floor but her voice betrayed no emotion when she proceeded
»I have warned you I must still warn you to go hence This man will
destroy you else He is a tyrant who knows no pity I who am his fettered
slave know this Poor Miles and Arthur and my dear guardian Sir Richard are
free of him and at rest better that you were with them than that you bide
here in the clutches of this miscreant Your pretensions are a menace to his
title and possessions you have assaulted him in his own house you are ruined
if you stay Go do not hesitate If you lack money take this purse I beg of
you and bribe the servants to let you pass O be warned poor soul and escape
while you may«
Miles declined the purse with a gesture and rose up and stood before her
»Grant me one thing« he said »Let your eyes rest upon mine so that I may
see if they be steady There now answer me Am I Miles Hendon«
»No I know you not«
»Swear it«
The answer was low but distinct
»I swear«
»O this passes belief«
»Fly Why will you waste the precious time Fly and save yourself«
At that moment the officers burst into the room and a violent struggle
began but Hendon was soon overpowered and dragged away The king was taken
also and both were bound and led to prison
Chapter 27
In Prison
The cells were all crowded so the two friends were chained in a large room
where persons charged with trifling offenses were commonly kept They had
company for there were some twenty manacled and fettered prisoners here of
both sexes and of varying ages an obscene and noisy gang The king chafed
bitterly over the stupendous indignity thus put upon his royalty but Hendon was
moody and taciturn He was pretty thoroughly bewildered He had come home a
jubilant prodigal expecting to find everybody wild with joy over his return
and instead had got the cold shoulder and a jail The promise and the fulfilment
differed so widely that the effect was stunning he could not decide whether it
was most tragic or most grotesque He felt much as a man might who had danced
blithely out to enjoy a rainbow and got struck by lightning
But gradually his confused and tormenting thoughts settled down into some
sort of order and then his mind centred itself upon Edith He turned her
conduct over and examined it in all lights but he could not make anything
satisfactory out of it Did she know him or didnt she know him It was a
perplexing puzzle and occupied him a long time but he ended finally with the
conviction that she did know him and had repudiated him for interested reasons
He wanted to load her name with curses now but this name had so long been
sacred to him that he found he could not bring his tongue to profane it
Wrapped in prison blankets of a soiled and tattered condition Hendon and
the king passed a troubled night For a bribe the jailer had furnished liquor to
some of the prisoners singing of ribald songs fighting shouting and
carousing was the natural consequence At last a while after midnight a man
attacked a woman and nearly killed her by beating her over the head with his
manacles before the jailer could come to the rescue The jailer restored peace
by giving the man a sound clubbing about the head and shoulders then the
carousing ceased and after that all had an opportunity to sleep who did not
mind the annoyance of the moanings and groanings of the two wounded people
During the ensuing week the days and nights were of a monotonous sameness
as to events men whose faces Hendon remembered more or less distinctly came
by day to gaze at the impostor and repudiate and insult him and by night the
carousing and brawling went on with symmetrical regularity However there was
a change of incident at last The jailer brought in an old man and said to him
»The villain is in this room cast thy old eyes about and see if thou canst
say which is he«
Hendon glanced up and experienced a pleasant sensation for the first time
since he had been in the jail He said to himself »This is Blake Andrews a
servant all his life in my fathers family a good honest soul with a right
heart in his breast That is formerly But none are true now all are liars
This man will know me and will deny me too like the rest«
The old man gazed around the room glanced at each face in turn and finally
said
»I see none here but paltry knaves scum o the streets Which is he«
The jailer laughed
»Here« he said »scan this big animal and grant me an opinion«
The old man approached and looked Hendon over long and earnestly then
shook his head and said
»Marry this is no Hendon nor ever was«
»Right Thy old eyes are sound yet An I were Sir Hugh I would take the
shabby carle and «
The jailer finished by lifting himself atiptoe with an imaginary halter
at the same time making a gurgling noise in his throat suggestive of
suffocation The old man said vindictively
»Let him bless God an he fare no worse An I had the handling o the
villain he should roast or I am no true man«
The jailer laughed a pleasant hyena laugh and said
»Give him a piece of thy mind old man they all do it Thoult find it
good diversion«
Then he sauntered toward his anteroom and disappeared The old man dropped
upon his knees and whispered
»God be thanked thourt come again my master I believed thou wert dead
these seven years and lo here thou art alive I knew thee the moment I saw
thee and main hard work it was to keep a stony countenance and seem to see none
here but tuppenny knaves and rubbish o the streets I am old and poor Sir
Miles but say the word and I will go forth and proclaim the truth though I be
strangled for it«
»No« said Hendon »thou shalt not It would ruin thee and yet help but
little in my cause But I thank thee for thou hast given me back somewhat of my
lost faith in my kind«
The old servant became very valuable to Hendon and the king for he dropped
in several times a day to abuse the former and always smuggled in a few
delicacies to help out the prison bill of fare he also furnished the current
news Hendon reserved the dainties for the king without them his majesty might
not have survived for he was not able to eat the coarse and wretched food
provided by the jailer Andrews was obliged to confine himself to brief visits
in order to avoid suspicion but he managed to impart a fair degree of
information each time information delivered in a low voice for Hendons
benefit and interlarded with insulting epithets delivered in a louder voice
for the benefit of other hearers
So little by little the story of the family came out Arthur had been dead
six years This loss with the absence of news from Hendon impaired the
fathers health he believed he was going to die and he wished to see Hugh and
Edith settled in life before he passed away but Edith begged hard for delay
hoping for Miless return then the letter came which brought the news of
Miless death the shock prostrated Sir Richard he believed his end was very
near and he and Hugh insisted upon the marriage Edith begged for and obtained
a months respite then another and finally a third the marriage then took
place by the deathbed of Sir Richard It had not proved a happy one It was
whispered about the country that shortly after the nuptials the bride found
among her husbands papers several rough and incomplete drafts of the fatal
letter and had accused him of precipitating the marriage and Sir Richards
death too by a wicked forgery Tales of cruelty to the lady Edith and the
servants were to be heard on all hands and since the fathers death Sir Hugh
had thrown off all soft disguises and become a pitiless master toward all who in
any way depended upon him and his domains for bread
There was a bit of Andrewss gossip which the king listened to with a lively
interest
»There is rumor that the king is mad But in charity forbear to say I
mentioned it for tis death to speak of it they say«
His majesty glared at the old man and said
»The king is not mad goodman and thoult find it to thy advantage to busy
thyself with matters that nearer concern thee than this seditious prattle«
»What doth the lad mean« said Andrews surprised at this brisk assault from
such an unexpected quarter Hendon gave him a sign and he did not pursue his
question but went on with his budget
»The late king is to be buried at Windsor in a day or two the 16th of the
month and the new king will be crowned at Westminster the 20th«
»Methinks they must needs find him first« muttered his majesty then added
confidently »but they will look to that and so also shall I«
»In the name of «
But the old man got no further a warning sign from Hendon checked his
remark He resumed the thread of his gossip
»Sir Hugh goeth to the coronation and with grand hopes He confidently
looketh to come back a peer for he is high in favor with the Lord Protector«
»What Lord Protector« asked his majesty
»His grace the Duke of Somerset«
»What Duke of Somerset«
»Marry there is but one Seymour Earl of Hertford«
The king asked sharply
»Since when is he a duke and Lord Protector«
»Since the last day of January«
»And prithee who made him so«
»Himself and the Great Council with help of the king«
His majesty started violently »The king« he cried »What king good sir«
»What king indeed Godamercy what aileth the boy Sith we have but
one tis not difficult to answer his most sacred majesty King Edward the
Sixth whom God preserve Yea and a dear and gracious little urchin is he
too and whether he be mad or no and they say he mendeth daily his praises
are on all mens lips and all bless him likewise and offer prayers that he
may be spared to reign long in England for he began humanely with saving the
old Duke of Norfolks life and now is he bent on destroying the cruelest of the
laws that harry and oppress the people«
This news struck his majesty dumb with amazement and plunged him into so
deep and dismal a reverie that he heard no more of the old mans gossip He
wondered if the little urchin was the beggarboy whom he left dressed in his own
garments in the palace It did not seem possible that this could be for surely
his manners and speech would betray him if he pretended to be the Prince of
Wales then he would be driven out and search made for the true prince Could
it be that the court had set up some sprig of the nobility in his place No for
his uncle would not allow that he was allpowerful and could and would crush
such a movement of course The boys musings profited him nothing the more he
tried to unriddle the mystery the more perplexed he became the more his head
ached and the worse he slept His impatience to get to London grew hourly and
his captivity became almost unendurable
Hendons arts all failed with the king he could not be comforted but a
couple of women who were chained near him succeeded better Under their gentle
ministrations he found peace and learned a degree of patience He was very
grateful and came to love them dearly and to delight in the sweet and soothing
influence of their presence He asked them why they were in prison and when
they said they were Baptists he smiled and inquired
»Is that a crime to be shut up for in a prison Now I grieve for I shall
lose ye they will not keep ye long for such a little thing«
They did not answer and something in their faces made him uneasy He said
eagerly
»You do not speak be good to me and tell me there will be no other
punishment Prithee tell me there is no fear of that«
They tried to change the topic but his fears were aroused and he pursued
it
»Will they scourge thee No no they would not be so cruel Say they would
not Come they will not will they«
The women betrayed confusion and distress but there was no avoiding an
answer so one of them said in a voice choked with emotion
»O thoult break our hearts thou gentle spirit God will help us to bear
our «
»It is a confession« the king broke in »Then they will scourge thee the
stonyhearted wretches But O thou must not weep I cannot bear it Keep up thy
courage I shall come to my own in time to save thee from this bitter thing
and I will do it«
When the king awoke in the morning the women were gone
»They are saved« he said joyfully then added despondently »but woe is
me for they were my comforters«
Each of them had left a shred of ribbon pinned to his clothing in token of
remembrance He said he would keep these things always and that soon he would
seek out these dear good friends of his and take them under his protection
Just then the jailer came in with some subordinates and commanded that the
prisoners be conducted to the jailyard The king was overjoyed it would be a
blessed thing to see the blue sky and breathe the fresh air once more He
fretted and chafed at the slowness of the officers but his turn came at last
and he was released from his staple and ordered to follow the other prisoners
with Hendon
The court or quadrangle was stonepaved and open to the sky The prisoners
entered it through a massive archway of masonry and were placed in file
standing with their backs against the wall A rope was stretched in front of
them and they were also guarded by their officers It was a chill and lowering
morning and a light snow which had fallen during the night whitened the great
empty space and added to the general dismalness of its aspect Now and then a
wintry wind shivered through the place and sent the snow eddying hither and
thither
In the centre of the court stood two women chained to posts A glance
showed the king that these were his good friends He shuddered and said to
himself »Alack they are not gone free as I had thought To think that such as
these should know the lash in England Aye theres the shame of it not in
Heathenesse but Christian England They will be scourged and I whom they have
comforted and kindly entreated must look on and see the great wrong done it is
strange so strange that I the very source of power in this broad realm am
helpless to protect them But let these miscreants look well to themselves for
there is a day coming when I will require of them a heavy reckoning for this
work For every blow they strike now they shall feel a hundred then«
A great gate swung open and a crowd of citizens poured in They flocked
around the two women and hid them from the kings view A clergyman entered and
passed through the crowd and he also was hidden The king now heard talking
back and forth as if questions were being asked and answered but he could not
make out what was said Next there was a deal of bustle and preparation and
much passing and repassing of officials through that part of the crowd that
stood on the further side of the women and whilst this proceeded a deep hush
gradually fell upon the people
Now by command the masses parted and fell aside and the king saw a
spectacle that froze the marrow in his bones Faggots had been piled about the
two women and a kneeling man was lighting them
The women bowed their heads and covered their faces with their hands the
yellow flames began to climb upward among the snapping and crackling faggots
and wreaths of blue smoke to stream away on the wind the clergyman lifted his
hands and began a prayer just then two young girls came flying through the
great gate uttering piercing screams and threw themselves upon the women at
the stake Instantly they were torn away by the officers and one of them was
kept in a tight grip but the other broke loose saying she would die with her
mother and before she could be stopped she had flung her arms about her
mothers neck again She was torn away once more and with her gown on fire Two
or three men held her and the burning portion of her gown was snatched off and
thrown flaming aside she struggling all the while to free herself and saying
she would be alone in the world now and begging to be allowed to die with her
mother Both the girls screamed continually and fought for freedom but
suddenly this tumult was drowned under a volley of heartpiercing shrieks of
mortal agony the king glanced from the frantic girls to the stake then
turned away and leaned his ashen face against the wall and looked no more He
said »That which I have seen in that one little moment will never go out from
my memory but will abide there and I shall see it all the days and dream of
it all the nights till I die Would God I had been blind«
Hendon was watching the king He said to himself with satisfaction »His
disorder mendeth he hath changed and groweth gentler If he had followed his
wont he would have stormed at these varlets and said he was king and
commanded that the women be turned loose unscathed Soon his delusion will pass
away and be forgotten and his poor mind will be whole again God speed the
day«
That same day several prisoners were brought in to remain over night who
were being conveyed under guard to various places in the kingdom to undergo
punishment for crimes committed The king conversed with these he had made it
a point from the beginning to instruct himself for the kingly office by
questioning prisoners whenever the opportunity offered and the tale of their
woes wrung his heart One of them was a poor halfwitted woman who had stolen a
yard or two of cloth from a weaver she was to be hanged for it Another was a
man who had been accused of stealing a horse he said the proof had failed and
he had imagined that he was safe from the halter but no he was hardly free
before he was arraigned for killing a deer in the kings park this was proved
against him and now he was on his way to the gallows There was a tradesmans
apprentice whose case particularly distressed the king this youth said he found
a hawk one evening that had escaped from its owner and he took it home with
him imagining himself entitled to it but the court convicted him of stealing
it and sentenced him to death
The king was furious over these inhumanities and wanted Hendon to break
jail and fly with him to Westminster so that he could mount his throne and hold
out his sceptre in mercy over these unfortunate people and save their lives
»Poor child« sighed Hendon »these woful tales have brought his malady upon him
again alack but for this evil hap he would have been well in a little time«
Among these prisoners was an old lawyer a man with a strong face and a
dauntless mien Three years past he had written a pamphlet against the Lord
Chancellor accusing him of injustice and had been punished for it by the loss
of his ears in the pillory and degradation from the bar and in addition had
been fined £3000 and sentenced to imprisonment for life Lately he had repeated
his offense and in consequence was now under sentence to lose what remained of
his ears pay a fine of £5000 be branded on both cheeks and remain in prison
for life
»These be honorable scars« he said and turned back his gray hair and
showed the mutilated stubs of what had once been his ears
The kings eye burned with passion He said
»None believe in me neither wilt thou But no matter within the compass
of a month thou shalt be free and more the laws that have dishonored thee and
shamed the English name shall be swept from the statute books The world is
made wrong kings should go to school to their own laws at times and so learn
mercy«20
Chapter 28
The Sacrifice
Meantime Miles was growing sufficiently tired of confinement and inaction But
now his trial came on to his great gratification and he thought he could
welcome any sentence provided a further imprisonment should not be a part of it
But he was mistaken about that He was in a fine fury when he found himself
described as a sturdy vagabond and sentenced to sit two hours in the pillory for
bearing that character and for assaulting the master of Hendon Hall His
pretensions as to brothership with his prosecutor and rightful heirship to the
Hendon honors and estates were left contemptuously unnoticed as being not even
worth examination
He raged and threatened on his way to punishment but it did no good he
was snatched roughly along by the officers and got an occasional cuff
besides for his unreverent conduct
The king could not pierce through the rabble that swarmed behind so he was
obliged to follow in the rear remote from his good friend and servant The king
had been nearly condemned to the stocks himself for being in such bad company
but had been let off with a lecture and a warning in consideration of his
youth When the crowd at last halted he flitted feverishly from point to point
around its outer rim hunting a place to get through and at last after a deal
of difficulty and delay succeeded There sat his poor henchman in the degrading
stocks the sport and butt of a dirty mob he the body servant of the king of
England Edward had heard the sentence pronounced but he had not realized the
half that it meant His anger began to rise as the sense of this new indignity
which had been put upon him sank home it jumped to summer heat the next
moment when he saw an egg sail through the air and crush itself against
Hendons cheek and heard the crowd roar its enjoyment of the episode He sprang
across the open circle and confronted the officer in charge crying
»For shame This is my servant set him free I am the «
»O peace« exclaimed Hendon in a panic »thoult destroy thyself Mind him
not officer he is mad«
»Give thyself no trouble as to the matter of minding him good man I have
small mind to mind him but as to teaching him somewhat to that I am well
inclined« He turned to a subordinate and said »Give the little fool a taste or
two of the lash to mend his manners«
»Half a dozen will better serve his turn« suggested Sir Hugh who had
ridden up a moment before to take a passing glance at the proceedings
The king was seized He did not even struggle so paralyzed was he with the
mere thought of the monstrous outrage that was proposed to be inflicted upon his
sacred person History was already defiled with the record of the scourging of
an English king with whips it was an intolerable reflection that he must
furnish a duplicate of that shameful page He was in the toils there was no
help for him he must either take this punishment or beg for its remission Hard
conditions he would take the stripes a king might do that but a king could
not beg
But meantime Miles Hendon was resolving the difficulty »Let the child go«
said he »ye heartless dogs do ye not see how young and frail he is Let him go
I will take his lashes«
»Marry a good thought and thanks for it« said Sir Hugh his face
lighting with a sardonic satisfaction »Let the little beggar go and give this
fellow a dozen in his place an honest dozen well laid on« The king was in
the act of entering a fierce protest but Sir Hugh silenced him with the potent
remark »Yes speak up do and free thy mind only mark ye that for each
word you utter he shall get six strokes the more«
Hendon was removed from the stocks and his back laid bare and whilst the
lash was applied the poor little king turned away his face and allowed unroyal
tears to channel his cheeks unchecked »Ah brave good heart« he said to
himself »this loyal deed shall never perish out of my memory I will not forget
it and neither shall they« he added with passion Whilst he mused his
appreciation of Hendons magnanimous conduct grew to greater and still greater
dimensions in his mind and so also did his gratefulness for it Presently he
said to himself »Who saves his prince from wounds and possible death and this
he did for me performs high service but it is little it is nothing O
less than nothing when tis weighed against the act of him who saves his
prince from SHAME«
Hendon made no outcry under the scourge but bore the heavy blows with
soldierly fortitude This together with his redeeming the boy by taking his
stripes for him compelled the respect of even that forlorn and degraded mob
that was gathered there and its jibes and hootings died away and no sound
remained but the sound of the falling blows The stillness that pervaded the
place when Hendon found himself once more in the stocks was in strong contrast
with the insulting clamor which had prevailed there so little a while before
The king came softly to Hendons side and whispered in his ear
»Kings cannot ennoble thee thou good great soul for One who is higher
than kings hath done that for thee but a king can confirm thy nobility to men«
He picked up the scourge from the ground touched Hendons bleeding shoulders
lightly with it and whispered »Edward of England dubs thee earl«
Hendon was touched The water welled to his eyes yet at the same time the
grisly humor of the situation and circumstances so undermined his gravity that
it was all he could do to keep some sign of his inward mirth from showing
outside To be suddenly hoisted naked and gory from the common stocks to the
Alpine altitude and splendor of an Earldom seemed to him the last possibility
in the line of the grotesque He said to himself »Now am I finely tinseled
indeed The spectreknight of the Kingdom of Dreams and Shadows is become a
spectreearl a dizzy flight for a callow wing An this go on I shall
presently be hung like a very Maypole with fantastic gauds and makebelieve
honors But I shall value them all valueless as they are for the love that
doth bestow them Better these poor mock dignities of mine that come unasked
from a clean hand and a right spirit than real ones bought by servility from
grudging and interested power«
The dreaded Sir Hugh wheeled his horse about and as he spurred away the
living wall divided silently to let him pass and as silently closed together
again And so remained nobody went so far as to venture a remark in favor of
the prisoner or in compliment to him but no matter the absence of abuse was a
sufficient homage in itself A late comer who was not posted as to the present
circumstances and who delivered a sneer at the impostor and was in the act of
following it with a dead cat was promptly knocked down and kicked out without
any words and then the deep quiet resumed sway once more
Chapter 29
To London
When Hendons term of service in the stocks was finished he was released and
ordered to quit the region and come back no more His sword was restored to him
and also his mule and his donkey He mounted and rode off followed by the king
the crowd opening with quiet respectfulness to let them pass and then
dispersing when they were gone
Hendon was soon absorbed in thought There were questions of high import to
be answered What should he do Whither should he go Powerful help must be
found somewhere or he must relinquish his inheritance and remain under the
imputation of being an impostor besides Where could he hope to find this
powerful help Where indeed It was a knotty question By and by a thought
occurred to him which pointed to a possibility the slenderest of slender
possibilities certainly but still worth considering for lack of any other
that promised anything at all He remembered what old Andrews had said about the
young kings goodness and his generous championship of the wronged and
unfortunate Why not go and try to get speech of him and beg for justice Ah
yes but could so fantastic a pauper get admission to the august presence of a
monarch Never mind let that matter take care of itself it was a bridge that
would not need to be crossed till he should come to it He was an old
campaigner and used to inventing shifts and expedients no doubt he would be
able to find a way Yes he would strike for the capital Maybe his fathers old
friend Sir Humphrey Marlow would help him »good old Sir Humphrey Head
Lieutenant of the late kings kitchen or stables or something« Miles could
not remember just what or which Now that he had something to turn his energies
to a distinctly defined object to accomplish the fog of humiliation and
depression which had settled down upon his spirits lifted and blew away and he
raised his head and looked about him He was surprised to see how far he had
come the village was away behind him The king was jogging along in his wake
with his head bowed for he too was deep in plans and thinkings A sorrowful
misgiving clouded Hendons newborn cheerfulness would the boy be willing to go
again to a city where during all his brief life he had never known anything
but ill usage and pinching want But the question must be asked it could not be
avoided so Hendon reined up and called out
»I had forgotten to inquire whither we are bound Thy commands my liege«
»To London«
Hendon moved on again mightily contented with the answer but astounded at
it too
The whole journey was made without an adventure of importance But it ended
with one About ten oclock on the night of the 19th of February they stepped
upon London Bridge in the midst of a writhing struggling jam of howling and
hurrahing people whose beerjolly faces stood out strongly in the glare from
manifold torches and at that instant the decaying head of some former duke or
other grandee tumbled down between them striking Hendon on the elbow and then
bounding off among the hurrying confusion of feet So evanescent and unstable
are mens works in this world the late good king is but three weeks dead and
three days in his grave and already the adornments which he took such pains to
select from prominent people for his noble bridge are falling A citizen
stumbled over that head and drove his own head into the back of somebody in
front of him who turned and knocked down the first person that came handy and
was promptly laid out himself by that persons friend It was the right ripe
time for a free fight for the festivities of the morrow Coronation Day were
already beginning everybody was full of strong drink and patriotism within
five minutes the free fight was occupying a good deal of ground within ten or
twelve it covered an acre or so and was become a riot By this time Hendon and
the king were hopelessly separated from each other and lost in the rush and
turmoil of the roaring masses of humanity And so we leave them
Chapter 30
Toms Progress
Whilst the true king wandered about the land poorly clad poorly fed cuffed
and derided by tramps one while herding with thieves and murderers in a jail
another and called idiot and impostor by all impartially the mock king Tom
Canty enjoyed a quite different experience
When we saw him last royalty was just beginning to have a bright side for
him This bright side went on brightening more and more every day in a very
little while it was become almost all sunshine and delightfulness He lost his
fears his misgivings faded out and died his embarrassments departed and gave
place to an easy and confident bearing He worked the whippingboy mine to
everincreasing profit
He ordered my lady Elizabeth and my lady Jane Grey into his presence when he
wanted to play or talk and dismissed them when he was done with them with the
air of one familiarly accustomed to such performances It no longer confused him
to have these lofty personages kiss his hand at parting
He came to enjoy being conducted to bed in state at night and dressed with
intricate and solemn ceremony in the morning It came to be a proud pleasure to
march to dinner attended by a glittering procession of officers of state and
GentlemenatArms insomuch indeed that he doubled his guard of
GentlemenatArms and made them a hundred He like to hear the bugles sounding
down the long corridors and the distant voices responding »Way for the king«
He even learned to enjoy sitting in throned state in council and seeming to
be something more than the Lord Protectors mouthpiece He liked to receive
great ambassadors and their gorgeous trains and listen to the affectionate
messages they brought from illustrious monarchs who called him brother O
happy Tom Canty late of Offal Court
He enjoyed his splendid clothes and ordered more he found his four hundred
servants too few for his proper grandeur and trebled them The adulation of
salaaming courtiers came to be sweet music to his ears He remained kind and
gentle and a sturdy and determined champion of all that were oppressed and he
made tireless war upon unjust laws Yet upon occasion being offended he could
turn upon an earl or even a duke and give him a look that would make him
tremble Once when his royal sister the grimly holy lady Mary set herself to
reason with him against the wisdom of his course in pardoning so many people who
would otherwise be jailed or hanged or burned and reminded him that their
august late fathers prisons had sometimes contained as high as sixty thousand
convicts at one time and that during his admirable reign he had delivered
seventytwo thousand thieves and robbers over to death by the executioner21 the
boy was filled with generous indignation and commanded her to go to her closet
and beseech God to take away the stone that was in her breast and give her a
human heart
Did Tom Canty never feel troubled about the poor little rightful prince who
had treated him so kindly and flown out with such hot zeal to avenge him upon
the insolent sentinel at the palace gate Yes his first royal days and nights
were pretty well sprinkled with painful thoughts about the lost prince and with
sincere longings for his return and happy restoration to his native rights and
splendors but as time wore on and the prince did not come Toms mind became
more and more occupied with his new and enchanting experiences and by little
and little the vanished monarch faded almost out of his thoughts and finally
when he did intrude upon them at intervals he was become an unwelcome spectre
for he made Tom feel guilty and ashamed
Toms poor mother and sisters traveled the same road out of his mind At
first he pined for them sorrowed for them longed to see them but later the
thought of their coming some day in their rags and dirt and betraying him with
their kisses and pulling him down from his lofty place and dragging him back to
penury and degradation and the slums made him shudder At last they ceased to
trouble his thoughts almost wholly And he was content even glad for whenever
their mournful and accusing faces did rise before him now they made him feel
more despicable than the worms that crawl
At midnight of the 19th of February Tom Canty was sinking to sleep in his
rich bed in the palace guarded by his loyal vassals and surrounded by the pomps
of royalty a happy boy for tomorrow was the day appointed for his solemn
crowning as king of England At that same hour Edward the true king hungry and
thirsty soiled and draggled worn with travel and clothed in rags and shreds
his share of the results of the riot was wedged in among a crowd of people who
were watching with deep interest certain hurrying gangs of workmen who
streamed in and out of Westminster Abbey busy as ants they were making the
last preparations for the royal Coronation
Chapter 31
The Recognition Procession
When Tom Canty awoke the next morning the air was heavy with a thunderous
murmur all the distances were charged with it It was music to him for it
meant that the English world was out in its strength to give loyal welcome to
the great day
Presently Tom found himself once more the chief figure in a wonderful
floating pageant on the Thames for by ancient custom the
recognitionprocession through London must start from the Tower and he was
bound thither
When he arrived there the sides of the venerable fortress seemed suddenly
rent in a thousand places and from every rent leapt a red tongue of flame and a
white gush of smoke a deafening explosion followed which drowned the shoutings
of the multitude and made the ground tremble the flamejets the smoke and the
explosions were repeated over and over again with marvelous celerity so that
in a few moments the old Tower disappeared in the vast fog of its own smoke all
but the very top of the tall pile called the White Tower this with its
banners stood out above the dense bank of vapor as a mountain projects above a
cloudrack
Tom Canty splendidly arrayed mounted a prancing war steed whose rich
trappings almost reached to the ground his uncle the Lord Protector Somerset
similarly mounted took place in his rear the Kings Guard formed in single
ranks on either side clad in burnished armor after the Protector followed a
seemingly interminable procession of resplendent nobles attended by their
vassals after these came the Lord Mayor and the Aldermanic body in crimson
velvet robes and with their gold chains across their breasts and after these
the officers and members of all the Guilds of London in rich raiment and
bearing the showy banners of the several corporations Also in the procession
as a special guard of honor through the city was the Ancient and Honorable
Artillery Company an organization already three hundred years old at that
time and the only military body in England possessing the privilege which it
still possesses in our day of holding itself independent of the commands of
parliament It was a brilliant spectacle and was hailed with acclamations all
along the line as it took its stately way through the packed multitudes of
citizens The chronicler says »The king as he entered the city was received
by the people with prayers welcomings cries and tender words and all signs
which argue an earnest love of subjects toward their sovereign and the king by
holding up his glad countenance to such as stood afar off and most tender
language to those that stood nigh his grace showed himself no less thankful to
receive the peoples good will than they to offer it To all that wished him
well he gave thanks To such as bade God save his grace he said in return God
save you all and added that he thanked them with all his heart Wonderfully
transported were the people with the loving answers and gestures of their king«
In Fenchurch street a fair child in costly apparel stood on a stage to
welcome his majesty to the city The last verse of his greeting was in these
words
»Welcome O king as much as hearts can think
Welcome again as much as tongue can tell
Welcome to joyous tongues and hearts that will not shrink
God thee preserve we pray and wish thee ever well«
The people burst forth in a glad shout repeating with one voice what the child
had said Tom Canty gazed abroad over the surging sea of eager faces and his
heart swelled with exultation and he felt that the one thing worth living for
in this world was to be a king and a nations idol Presently he caught sight
at a distance of a couple of his ragged Offal Court comrades one of them the
Lord High Admiral in his late mimic court the other the First Lord of the
Bedchamber in the same pretentious fiction and his pride swelled higher than
ever O if they could only recognize him now what unspeakable glory it would
be if they could recognize him and realize that the derided mock king of the
slums and back alleys was become a real king with illustrious dukes and princes
for his humble menials and the English world at his feet But he had to deny
himself and choke down his desire for such a recognition might cost more than
it would come to so he turned away his head and left the two soiled lads to go
on with their shoutings and glad adulations unsuspicious of whom it was they
were lavishing them upon
Every now and then rose the cry »A largess a largess« and Tom responded
by scattering a handful of bright new coins abroad for the multitude to scramble
for
The chronicler says »At the upper end of Gracechurch street before the
sign of the Eagle the city had erected a gorgeous arch beneath which was a
stage which stretched from one side of the street to the other This was a
historical pageant representing the kings immediate progenitors There sat
Elizabeth of York in the midst of an immense white rose whose petals formed
elaborate furbelows around her by her side was Henry VII issuing out of a vast
red rose disposed in the same manner the hands of the royal pair were locked
together and the wedding ring ostentatiously displayed From the red and white
roses proceeded a stem which reached up to a second stage occupied by Henry
VIII issuing from a red and white rose with the effigy of the new kings
mother Jane Seymour represented by his side One branch sprang from this pair
which mounted to a third stage where sat the effigy of Edward VI himself
enthroned in royal majesty and the whole pageant was framed with wreaths of
roses red and white«
This quaint and gaudy spectacle so wrought upon the rejoicing people that
their acclamations utterly smothered the small voice of the child whose business
it was to explain the thing in eulogistic rhymes but Tom Canty was not sorry
for this loyal uproar was sweeter music to him than any poetry no matter what
its quality might be Whithersoever Tom turned his happy young face the people
recognized the exactness of his effigys likeness to himself the flesh and
blood counterpart and new whirlwinds of applause burst forth
The great pageant moved on and still on under one triumphal arch after
another and past a bewildering succession of spectacular and symbolical
tableaux each of which typified and exalted some virtue or talent or merit of
the little kings »Throughout the whole of Cheapside from every penthouse and
window hung banners and streamers and the richest carpets stuffs and cloth
of gold tapestried the streets specimens of the great wealth of the stores
within and the splendor of this thoroughfare was equaled in the other streets
and in some even surpassed«
»And all these wonders and these marvels are to welcome me me« murmured
Tom Canty
The mock kings cheeks were flushed with excitement his eyes were flashing
his senses swam in a delirium of pleasure At this point lust as he was raising
his hand to fling another rich largess he caught sight of a pale astounded
face which was strained forward out of the second rank of the crowd its intense
eyes riveted upon him a sickening consternation struck through him he
recognized his mother and up flew his hand palm outward before his eyes that
old involuntary gesture born of a forgotten episode and perpetuated by habit In
an instant more she had torn her way out of the press and past the guards and
was at his side She embraced his leb she covered it with kisses she cried »O
my child my darling« lifting toward him a face that was transfigured with joy
and love The same instant an officer of the Kinds Guard snatched her away
with a curse and sent her reeling back whence she came with a vigorous impulse
from his strong arm The words »I do not know you woman« were falling from Tom
Cantys lips when this piteous thing occurred but it smote him to the heart to
see her treated so and as she turned for a last glimpse of him whilst the
crowd was swallowing her from his sight she seemed so wounded so
brokenhearted that a shame fell upon him which consumed his pride to ashes and
withered his stolen royalty His grandeurs were stricken valueless they seemed
to fall away from him like rotten rags
The procession moved on and still on through ever augmenting splendors
and ever augmenting tempests of welcome but to Tom Canty they were as it they
had not been He neither saw nor heard Royalty had lost its grace and
sweetness its pomps were become a reproach remorse was eating his heart out
He said »Would God I were free of my captivity«
He had unconsciously dropped back into the phraseology ot the first days ot
his compulsory greatness
The shining pageant still went winding like a radiant and interminable
serpent down the crooked lanes of the quaint old city and through the huzzahing
hosts but still the king rode with bowed head and vacant eyes seeing only his
mothers face and that wounded look in it
»Largess largess« The cry fell upon an unheeding ear
»Long live Edward of England« It seemed as if the earth shook with the
explosion but there was no response from the king He heard it only as one
hears the thunder of the surf when it is blown to the ear out of a great
distance for it was smothered under another sound which was still nearer in
his own breast in his accusing conscience a voice which kept repeating those
shameful words »I do not know you woman«
The words smote upon the kings soul as the strokes of a funeral bell smite
upon the soul of surviving friend when they remind him of secret treacheries
suffered at his hands by him that is gone
New glories were unfolded at every turning new wonders new marvels sprung
into view the pent clamors of waiting batteries were released new raptures
poured from the throats of the waiting multitudes but the king gave no sign
and the accusing voice that went moaning through his comfortless breast was all
the sound he heard
By and by the gladness in the faces of the populace changed a little and
became touched with a something like solicitude or anxiety an abatement in the
volume of applause was observable too The Lord Protector was quick to notice
these things he was as quick to detect the cause He spurred to the kings
side bent low in his saddle uncovered and said
»My liege It is an ill time for dreaming The people observe thy downcast
head thy clouded mien and they take it for an omen Be advised unveil the sun
of royalty and let it shine upon these boding vapors and disperse them Lift up
thy face and smile upon the people«
So saying the duke scattered a handful of coins to right and left then
retired to his place The mock king did mechanically as he had been bidden His
smile had no heart in it but few eyes were near enough or sharp enough to
detect that the noddings of his plumed head as he saluted his subjects were
full of grace and graciousness the largess which he delivered from his hand was
royally liberal so the peoples anxiety vanished and the acclamations burst
forth again in as mighty a volume as before
Still once more a little before the progress was ended the duke was
obliged to ride forward and make remonstrance He whispered
»O dread sovereign shake off these fatal humors the eyes of the world
are upon thee« Then he added with sharp annoyance »Perdition catch that crazy
pauper twas she that hath disturbed your highness«
The gorgeous figure turned a lustreless eye upon the duke and said in a
dead voice
»She was my mother«
»My God« groaned the Protector as he reined his horse backward to his
post »the omen was pregnant with prophecy He is gone mad again«
Chapter 32
Coronation Day
Let us go backward a few hours and place ourselves in Westminster Abbey at
four oclock in the morning of this memorable Coronation Day We are not without
company for although it is still night we find the torchlighted galleries
already filling up with people who are well content to sit still and wait seven
or eight hours till the time shall come for them to see what they may not hope
to see twice in their lives the coronation of a king Yes London and
Westminster have been astir ever since the warning guns boomed at three oclock
and already crowds of untitled rich folk who have bought the privilege of trying
to find sittingroom in the galleries are flocking in at the entrances reserved
for their sort
The hours drag along tediously enough All stir has ceased for some time
for every gallery has long ago been packed We may sit now and look and think
at our leisure We have glimpses here and there and yonder through the dim
cathedral twilight of portions of many galleries and balconies wedged full
with people the other portions of these galleries and balconies being cut off
from sight by intervening pillars and architectural projections We have in view
the whole of the great north transept empty and waiting for Englands
privileged ones We see also the ample area or platform carpeted with rich
stuffs whereon the throne stands The throne occupies the centre of the
platform and is raised above it upon an elevation of four steps Within the
seat of the throne is enclosed a rough flat rock the stone of Scone which
many generations of Scottish kings sat on to be crowned and so it in time
became holy enough to answer a like purpose for English monarchs Both the
throne and its footstool are covered with cloth of gold
Stillness reigns the torches blink dully the time drags heavily But at
last the lagging daylight asserts itself the torches are extinguished and a
mellow radiance suffuses the great spaces All features of the noble building
are distinct now but soft and dreamy for the sun is lightly veiled with
clouds
At seven oclock the first break in the drowsy monotony occurs for on the
stroke of this hour the first peeress enters the transept clothed like Solomon
for splendor and is conducted to her appointed place by an official clad in
satins and velvets whilst a duplicate of him gathers up the ladys long train
follows after and when the lady is seated arranges the train across her lap
for her He then places her footstool according to her desire after which he
puts her coronet where it will be convenient to her hand when the time for the
simultaneous coroneting of the nobles shall arrive
By this time the peeresses are flowing in in a glittering stream and the
satinclad officials are flitting and glinting everywhere seating them and
making them comfortable The scene is animated enough now There is stir and
life and shifting color everywhere After a time quiet reigns again for the
peeresses are all come and are all in their places a solid acre or such a
matter of human flowers resplendent in variegated colors and frosted like a
Milky Way with diamonds There are all ages here brown wrinkled whitehaired
dowagers who are able to go back and still back down the stream of time and
recal the crowning of Richard III and the troublous days of that old forgotten
age and there are handsome middleaged dames and lovely and gracious young
matrons and gentle and beautiful young girls with beaming eyes and fresh
complexions who may possibly put on their jeweled coronets awkwardly when the
great time comes for the matter will be new to them and their excitement will
be a sore hindrance Still this may not happen for the hair of all these
ladies has been arranged with a special view to the swift and successful lodging
of the crown in its place when the signal comes
We have seen that this massed array of peeresses is sown thick with
diamonds and we also see that it is a marvelous spectacle but now we are
about to be astonished in earnest About nine the clouds suddenly break away
and a shaft of sunshine cleaves the mellow atmosphere and drifts slowly along
the ranks of ladies and every rank it touches flames into a dazzling splendor
of manycolored fires and we tingle to our fingertips with the electric thrill
that is shot through us by the surprise and the beauty of the spectacle
Presently a special envoy from some distant corner of the Orient marching with
the general body of foreign ambassadors crosses this bar of sunshine and we
catch our breath the glory that streams and flashes and palpitates about him is
so overpowering for he is crusted from head to heel with gems and his
slightest movement showers a dancing radiance all around him
Let us change the tense for convenience The time drifted along one hour
two hours two hours and a half then the deep booming of artillery told that
the king and his grand procession had arrived at last so the waiting multitude
rejoiced All knew that a further delay must follow for the king must be
prepared and robed for the solemn ceremony but this delay would be pleasantly
occupied by the assembling of the peers of the realm in their stately robes
These were conducted ceremoniously to their seats and their coronets placed
conveniently at hand and meanwhile the multitude in the galleries were alive
with interest for most of them were beholding for the first time dukes earls
and barons whose names had been historical for five hundred years When all
were finally seated the spectacle from the galleries and all coigns of vantage
was complete a gorgeous one to look upon and to remember
Now the robed and mitred great heads of the church and their attendants
filed in upon the platform and took their appointed places these were followed
by the Lord Protector and other great officials and these again by a steelclad
detachment of the Guard
There was a waiting pause then at a signal a triumphant peal of music
burst forth and Tom Canty clothed in a long robe of cloth of gold appeared at
a door and stepped upon the platform The entire multitude rose and the
ceremony of the Recognition ensued
Then a noble anthem swept the Abbey with its rich waves of sound and thus
heralded and welcomed Tom Canty was conducted to the throne The ancient
ceremonies went on with impressive solemnity whilst the audience gazed and as
they drew nearer and nearer to completion Tom Canty grew pale and still paler
and a deep and steadily deepening woe and despondency settled down upon his
spirits and upon his remorseful heart
At last the final act was at hand The Archbishop of Canterbury lifted up
the crown of England from its cushion and held it out over the trembling mock
kings head In the same instant a rainbowradiance flashed along the spacious
transept for with one impulse every individual in the great concourse of nobles
lifted a coronet and poised it over his or her head and paused in that
attitude
A deep hush pervaded the Abbey At this impressive moment a startling
apparition intruded upon the scene an apparition observed by none in the
absorbed multitude until it suddenly appeared moving up the great central
aisle It was a boy bareheaded ill shod and clothed in coarse plebeian
garments that were falling to rags He raised his hand with a solemnity which
ill comported with his soiled and sorry aspect and delivered this note of
warning
»I forbid you to set the crown of England upon that forfeited head I am the
king«
In an instant several indignant hands were laid upon the boy but in the
same instant Tom Canty in his regal vestments made a swift step forward and
cried out in a ringing voice
»Loose him and forbear He is the king«
A sort of panic of astonishment swept the assemblage and they partly rose
in their places and stared in a bewildered way at one another and at the chief
figures in this scene like persons who wondered whether they were awake and in
their senses or asleep and dreaming The Lord Protector was as amazed as the
rest but quickly recovered himself and exclaimed in a voice of authority
»Mind not his majesty his malady is upon him again seize the vagabond«
He would have been obeyed but the mock king stamped his foot and cried out
»On your peril Touch him not he is the king«
The hands were withheld a paralysis fell upon the house no one moved no
one spoke indeed no one knew how to act or what to say in so strange and
surprising an emergency While all minds were struggling to right themselves
the boy still moved steadily forward with high port and confident mien he had
never halted from the beginning and while the tangled minds still floundered
helplessly he stepped upon the platform and the mock king ran with a glad face
to meet him and fell on his knees before him and said
»O my lord the king let poor Tom Canty be first to swear fealty to thee
and say Put on thy crown and enter into thine own again«
The Lord Protectors eye fell sternly upon the newcomers face but
straightway the sternness vanished away and gave place to an expression of
wondering surprise This thing happened also to the other great officers They
glanced at each other and retreated a step by a common and unconscious impulse
The thought in each mind was the same »What a strange resemblance«
The Lord Protector reflected a moment or two in perplexity then he said
with grave respectfulness
»By your favor sir I desire to ask certain questions which «
»I will answer them my lord«
The duke asked him many questions about the court the late king the
prince the princesses the boy answered them correctly and without
hesitating He described the rooms of state in the palace the late kings
apartments and those of the Prince of Wales
It was strange it was wonderful yes it was unaccountable so all said
that heard it The tide was beginning to turn and Tom Cantys hopes to run
high when the Lord Protector shook his head and said
»It is true it is most wonderful but it is no more than our lord the king
likewise can do« This remark and this reference to himself as still the king
saddened Tom Canty and he felt his hopes crumbling from under him »These are
not proofs« added the Protector
The tide was turning very fast now very fast indeed but in the wrong
direction it was leaving poor Tom Canty stranded on the throne and sweeping
the other out to sea The Lord Protector communed with himself shook his head
the thought forced itself upon him »It is perilous to the state and to us
all to entertain so fateful a riddle as this it could divide the nation and
undermine the throne« He turned and said
»Sir Thomas arrest this No hold« His face lighted and he confronted
the ragged candidate with this question
»Where lieth the Great Seal Answer me this truly and the riddle is
unriddled for only he that was Prince of Wales can so answer On so trivial a
thing hang a throne and a dynasty«
It was a lucky thought a happy thought That it was so considered by the
great officials was manifested by the silent applause that shot from eye to eye
around their circle in the form of bright approving glances Yes none but the
true prince could dissolve the stubborn mystery of the vanished Great Seal
this forlorn little impostor had been taught his lesson well but here his
teachings must fail for his teacher himself could not answer that question
ah very good very good indeed now we shall be rid of this troublesome and
perilous business in short order And so they nodded invisibly and smiled
inwardly with satisfaction and looked to see this foolish lad stricken with a
palsy of guilty confusion How surprised they were then to see nothing of the
sort happen how they marveled to hear him answer up promptly in a confident
and untroubled voice and say
»There is naught in this riddle that is difficult« Then without so much as
a byyourleave to anybody he turned and gave this command with the easy
manner of one accustomed to doing such things »My lord St John go you to my
private cabinet in the palace for none knoweth the place better than you
and close down to the floor in the left corner remotest from the door that
opens from the antechamber you shall find in the wall a brazen nailhead
press upon it and a little jewelcloset will fly open which not even you do know
of no nor any soul else in all the world but me and the trusty artisan that
did contrive it for me The first thing that falleth under your eye will be the
Great Seal fetch it hither«
All the company wondered at this speech and wondered still more to see the
little mendicant pick out this peer without hesitancy or apparent fear of
mistake and call him by name with such a placidly convincing air of having
known him all his life The peer was almost surprised into obeying He even made
a movement as if to go but quickly recovered his tranquil attitude and
confessed his blunder with a blush Tom Canty turned upon him and said sharply
»Why dost thou hesitate Hast not heard the kings command Go«
The lord St John made a deep obeisance and it was observed that it was a
significantly cautious and noncommittal one it not being delivered at either
of the kings hut at the neutral ground about half way between the two and
took his leave
Now began a movement of the gorgeous particles of that official group which
was slow scarcely perceptible and yet steady and persistent a movement such
as is observed in a kaleidoscope that is turned slowly whereby the components
of one splendid cluster fall away and join themselves to another a movement
which little by little in the present case dissolved the glittering crowd that
stood about Tom Canty and clustered it together again in the neighborhood of the
newcomer Tom Canty stood almost alone Now ensued a brief season of deep
suspense and waiting during which even the few fainthearts still remaining
near Tom Canty gradually scraped together courage enough to glide one by one
over to the majority So at last Tom Canty in his royal robes and jewels stood
wholly alone and isolated from the world a conspicuous figure occupying an
eloquent vacancy
Now the lord St John was seen returning As he advanced up the midaisle
the interest was so intense that the low murmur of conversation in the great
assemblage died out and was succeeded by a profound hush a breathless
stillness through which his footfalls pulsed with a dull and distant sound
Every eye was fastened upon him as he moved along He reached the platform
paused a moment then turned toward Tom Canty with a deep obeisance and said
»Sire the Seal is not there«
A mob does not melt away from the presence of a plaguepatient with more
haste than the band of pallid and terrified courtiers melted away from the
presence of the shabby little claimant of the crown In a moment he stood all
alone without friend or supporter a target upon which was concentrated a
bitter fire of scornful and angry looks The Lord Protector called out fiercely
»Cast the beggar into the street and scourge him through the town the
paltry knave is worth no more consideration«
Officers of the guard sprang forward to obey but Tom Canty waved them off
and said
»Back Whoso touches him perils his life«
The Lord Protector was perplexed in the last degree He said to the lord
St John
»Searched you well but it boots not to ask that It doth seem passing
strange Little things trifles slip out of ones ken and one does not think
it matter for surprise but how a so bulky thing as the Seal of England can
vanish away and no man be able to get track of it again a massy golden disk «
Tom Canty with beaming eyes sprang forward and shouted
»Hold that is enough Was it round and thick and had it letters and
devices graved upon it Yes O now I know what this Great Seal is that
theres been such worry and pother about An ye had described it to me ye
could have had it three weeks ago Right well I know where it lies but it was
not I that put it there first«
»Who then my liege« asked the Lord Protector
»He that stands there the rightful king of England And he shall tell you
himself where it lies then you will believe he knew it of his own knowledge
Bethink thee my king spur thy memory it was the last the very last thing
thou didst that day before thou didst rush forth from the palace clothed in my
rags to punish the soldier that insulted me«
A silence ensued undisturbed by a movement or a whisper and all eyes were
fixed upon the newcomer who stood with bent head and corrugated brow groping
in his memory among a thronging multitude of valueless recollections for one
single little elusive fact which found would seat him upon a throne
unfound would leave him as he was for good and all a pauper and an outcast
Moment after moment passed the moments built themselves into minutes still
the boy struggled silently on and gave no sign But at last he heaved a sigh
shook his head slowly and said with a trembling lip and in a despondent voice
»I call the scene back all of it but the Seal hath no place in it« He
paused then looked up and said with gentle dignity »My lords and gentlemen
if ye will rob your rightful sovereign of his own for lack of this evidence
which he is not able to furnish I may not stay ye being powerless But «
»O folly O madness my king« cried Tom Canty in a panic »wait
think Do not give up the cause is not lost Nor shall be neither List to
what I say follow every word I am going to bring that morning back again
every hap just as it happened We talked I told you of my sisters Nan and Bet
ah yes you remember that and about mine old grandam and the rough games
of the lads of Offal Court yes you remember these things also very well
follow me still you shall recal everything You gave me food and drink and did
with princely courtesy send away the servants so that my low breeding might not
shame me before them ah yes this also you remember«
As Tom checked off his details and the other boy nodded his head in
recognition of them the great audience and the officials stared in puzzled
wonderment the tale sounded like true history yet how could this impossible
conjunction between a prince and a beggarboy have come about Never was a
company of people so perplexed so interested and so stupefied before
»For a jest my prince we did exchange garments Then we stood before a
mirror and so alike were we that both said it seemed as if there had been no
change made yes you remember that Then you noticed that the soldier had hurt
my hand look here it is I cannot yet even write with it the fingers are so
stiff At this your highness sprang up vowing vengeance upon that soldier and
ran toward the door you passed a table that thing you call the Seal lay on
that table you snatched it up and looked eagerly about as if for a place to
hide it your eye caught sight of «
»There tis sufficient and the dear God be thanked« exclaimed the
ragged claimant in a mighty excitement »Go my good St John in an armpiece
of the Milanese armor that hangs on the wall thoult find the Seal«
»Right my king right« cried Tom Canty »now the sceptre of England is
thine own and it were better for him that would dispute it that he had been
born dumb Go my lord St John give thy feet wings«
The whole assemblage was on its feet now and well nigh out of its mind
with uneasiness apprehension and consuming excitement On the floor and on the
platform a deafening buzz of frantic conversation burst forth and for some time
nobody knew anything or heard anything or was interested in anything but what
his neighbor was shouting into his ear or he was shouting into his neighbors
ear Time nobody knew how much of it swept by unheeded and unnoted At last
a sudden hush fell upon the house and in the same moment St John appeared upon
the platform and held the Great Seal aloft in his hand Then such a shout went
up
»Long live the true king«
For five minutes the air quaked with shouts and the crash of musical
instruments and was white with a storm of waving handkerchiefs and through it
all a ragged lad the most conspicuous figure in England stood flushed and
happy and proud in the centre of the spacious platform with the great vassals
of the kingdom kneeling around him
Then all rose and Tom Canty cried out
»Now O my king take these regal garments back and give poor Tom thy
servant his shreds and remnants again«
The Lord Protector spoke up
»Let the small varlet be stripped and flung into the Tower«
But the new king the true king said
»I will not have it so But for him I had not got my crown again none
shall lay a hand upon him to harm him And as for thee my good uncle my Lord
Protector this conduct of thine is not grateful toward this poor lad for I
hear he hath made thee a duke« the Protector blushed »yet he was not a king
wherefore what is thy fine title worth now Tomorrow you shall sue to me
through him for its confirmation else no duke but a simple earl shalt thou
remain«
Under this rebuke his grace the Duke of Somerset retired a little from the
front for the moment The king turned to Tom and said kindly
»My poor boy how was it that you could remember where I hid the Seal when I
could not remember it myself«
»Ah my king that was easy since I used it divers days«
»Used it yet could not explain where it was«
»I did not know it was that they wanted They did not describe it your
majesty«
»Then how used you it«
The red blood began to steal up into Toms cheeks and he dropped his eyes
and was silent
»Speak up good lad and fear nothing« said the king »How used you the
Great Seal of England«
Tom stammered a moment in a pathetic confusion then got it out
»To crack nuts with«
Poor child the avalanche of laughter that greeted this nearly swept him
off his feet But if a doubt remained in any mind that Tom Canty was not the
king of England and familiar with the august appurtenances of royalty this
reply disposed of it utterly
Meantime the sumptuous robe of state had been removed from Toms shoulders
to the kings whose rags were effectually hidden from sight under it
Then the coronation ceremonies were resumed the true king was anointed and
the crown set upon his head whilst cannon thundered the news to the city and
all London seemed to rock with applause
Chapter 33
Edward as King
Miles Hendon was picturesque enough before he got into the riot on London Bridge
he was more so when he got out of it He had but little money when he got in
none at all when he got out The pickpockets had stripped him of his last
farthing
But no matter so he found his boy Being a soldier he did not go at his
task in a random way but set to work first of all to arrange his campaign
What would the boy naturally do Where would he naturally go Well argued
Miles he would naturally go to his former haunts for that is the instinct of
unsound minds when homeless and foisaken as well as of sound ones Whereabouts
were his former haunts His rags taken together with the low villain who seemed
to know him and who even claimed to be his father indicated that his home was
in one or another of the poorest and meanest districts of London Would the
search for him be difficult or long No it was likely to be easy and brief He
would not hunt for the boy he would hunt for a crowd in the centre of a big
crowd or a little one sooner or later he should find his poor little friend
sure and the mangy mob would be entertaining itself with pestering and
aggravating the boy who would be proclaiming himself king as usual Then Miles
Hendon would cripple some of those people and carry off his little ward and
comfort and cheer him with loving words and the two would never be separated
any more
So Miles started on his quest Hour after hour he tramped through back
alleys and squalid streets seeking groups and crowds and finding no end of
them but never any sign of the boy This greatly surprised him but did not
discourage him To his notion there was nothing the matter with his plan of
campaign the only miscalculation about it was that the campaign was becoming a
lengthy one whereas he had expected it to be short
When daylight arrived at last he had made many a mile and canvassed many
a crowd but the only result was that he was tolerably tired rather hungry and
very sleepy He wanted some breakfast but there was no way to get it To beg
for it did not occur to him as to pawning his sword he would as soon have
thought of parting with his honor he could spare some of his clothes yes but
one could as easily find a customer for a disease as for such clothes
At noon he was still tramping among the rabble which followed after the
royal procession now for he argued that this regal display would attract his
little lunatic powerfully He followed the pageant through all its devious
windings about London and all the way to Westminster and the Abbey He drifted
here and there amongst the multitudes that were massed in the vicinity for a
weary long time baffled and perplexed and finally wandered off thinking and
trying to contrive some way to better his plan of campaign By and by when he
came to himself out of his musings he discovered that the town was far behind
him and that the day was growing old He was near the river and in the country
it was a region of fine rural seats not the sort of district to welcome
clothes like his
It was not at all cold so he stretched himself on the ground in the lee of
a hedge to rest and think Drowsiness presently began to settle upon his senses
the faint and faroff boom of cannon was wafted to his ear and he said to
himself »The new king is crowned« and straightway fell asleep He had not slept
or rested before for more than thirty hours He did not wake again until near
the middle of the next morning
He got up lame stiff and half famished washed himself in the river
stayed his stomach with a pint or two of water and trudged off toward
Westminster grumbling at himself for having wasted so much time Hunger helped
him to a new plan now he would try to get speech with old Sir Humphrey Marlow
and borrow a few marks and but that was enough of a plan for the present it
would be time enough to enlarge it when this first stage should be accomplished
Toward eleven oclock he approached the palace and although a host of showy
people were about him moving in the same direction he was not inconspicuous
his costume took care of that He watched these peoples faces narrowly hoping
to find a charitable one whose possessor might be willing to carry his name to
the old lieutenant as to trying to get into the palace himself that was
simply out of the question
Presently our whippingboy passed him then wheeled about and scanned his
figure well saying to himself »An that is not the very vagabond his majesty
is in such a worry about then am I an ass though belike I was that before He
answereth the description to a rag that God should make two such would be to
cheapen miracles by wasteful repetition I would I could contrive an excuse to
speak with him«
Miles Hendon saved him the trouble for he turned about then as a man
generally will when somebody mesmerizes him by gazing hard at him from behind
and observing a strong interest in the boys eyes he stepped toward him and
said
»You have just come out from the palace do you belong there«
»Yes your worship«
»Know you Sir Humphrey Marlow«
The boy started and said to himself »Lord mine old departed father« Then
he answered aloud »Right well your worship«
»Good is he within«
»Yes« said the boy and added to himself »within his grave«
»Might I crave your favor to carry my name to him and say I beg to say a
word in his ear«
»I will despatch the business right willingly fair sir«
»Then say Miles Hendon son of Sir Richard is here without I shall be
greatly bounden to you my good lad«
The boy looked disappointed »the king did not name him so« he said to
himself »but it mattereth not this is his twin brother and can give his
majesty news of tother SirOddsandEnds I warrant« So he said to Miles
»Step in there a moment good sir and wait till I bring you word«
Hendon retired to the place indicated it was a recess sunk in the palace
wall with a stone bench in it a shelter for sentinels in bad weather He had
hardly seated himself when some halberdiers in charge of an officer passed by
The officer saw him halted his men and commanded Hendon to come forth He
obeyed and was promptly arrested as a suspicious character prowling within the
precincts of the palace Things began to look ugly Poor Miles was going to
explain but the officer roughly silenced him and ordered his men to disarm him
and search him
»God of his mercy grant that they find somewhat« said poor Miles »I have
searched enow and failed yet is my need greater than theirs«
Nothing was found but a document The officer tore it open and Hendon
smiled when he recognized the pothooks made by his lost little friend that
black day at Hendon Hall The officers face grew dark as he read the English
paragraph and Miless blenched to the opposite color as he listened
»Another new claimant of the crown« cried the officer »Verily they breed
like rabbits today Seize the rascal men and see ye keep him fast whilst I
convey this precious paper within and send it to the king«
He hurried away leaving the prisoner in the grip of the halberdiers
»Now is my evil luck ended at last« muttered Hendon »for I shall dangle at
a ropes end for a certainty by reason of that bit of writing And what will
become of my poor lad ah only the good God knoweth«
By and by he saw the officer coming again in a great hurry so he plucked
his courage together purposing to meet his trouble as became a man The officer
ordered the men to loose the prisoner and return his sword to him then bowed
respectfully and said
»Please you sir to follow me«
Hendon followed saying to himself »An I were not traveling to death and
judgment and so must needs economize in sin I would throttle this knave for
his mock courtesy«
The two traversed a populous court and arrived at the grand entrance of the
palace where the officer with another bow delivered Hendon into the hands of
a gorgeous official who received him with profound respect and led him forward
through a great hall lined on both sides with rows of splendid flunkeys who
made reverential obeisance as the two passed along but fell into deaththroes
of silent laughter at our stately scarecrow the moment his back was turned and
up a broad staircase among flocks of fine folk and finally conducted him into
a vast room clove a passage for him through the assembled nobility of England
then made a bow reminded him to take his hat off and left him standing in the
middle of the room a mark for all eyes for plenty of indignant frowns and for
a sufficiency of amused and derisive smiles
Miles Hendon was entirely bewildered There sat the young king under a
canopy of state five steps away with his head bent down and aside speaking
with a sort of human bird of paradise a duke maybe Hendon observed to
himself that it was hard enough to be sentenced to death in the full vigor of
life without having this peculiarly public humiliation added He wished the
king would hurry about it some of the gaudy people near by were becoming
pretty offensive At this moment the king raised his head slightly and Hendon
caught a good view of his face The sight nearly took his breath away He stood
gazing at the fair young face like one transfixed then presently ejaculated
»Lo the lord of the Kingdom of Dreams and Shadows on his throne«
He muttered some broken sentences still gazing and marveling then turned
his eyes around and about scanning the gorgeous throng and the splendid saloon
murmuring »But these are real verily these are real surely it is not a
dream«
He stared at the king again and thought »Is it a dream or is he the
veritable sovereign of England and not the friendless poor Tom o Bedlam I took
him for who shall solve me this riddle« A sudden idea flashed in his eye and
he strode to the wall gathered up a chair brought it back planted it on the
floor and sat down in it
A buzz of indignation broke out a rough hand was laid upon him and a voice
exclaimed
»Up thou mannerless clown wouldst sit in the presence of the king«
The disturbance attracted his majestys attention who stretched forth his
hand and cried out
»Touch him not it is his right«
The throng fell back stupefied The king went on
»Learn ye all ladies lords and gentlemen that this is my trusty and well
beloved servant Miles Hendon who interposed his good sword and saved his
prince from bodily harm and possible death and for this he is a knight by the
kings voice Also learn that for a higher service in that he saved his
sovereign stripes and shame taking these upon himself he is a peer of England
Earl of Kent and shall have gold and lands meet for the dignity More the
privilege which he hath just exercised is his by royal grant for we have
ordained that the chiefs of his line shall have and hold the right to sit in the
presence of the majesty of England henceforth age after age so long as the
crown shall endure Molest him not«
Two persons who through delay had only arrived from the country during
this morning and had now been in this room only five minutes stood listening
to these words and looking at the king then at the scarecrow then at the king
again in a sort of torpid bewilderment These were Sir Hugh and the lady Edith
But the new earl did not see them He was still staring at the monarch in a
dazed way and muttering
»O body o me This my pauper this my lunatic This is he whom I would
show what grandeur was in my house of seventy rooms and seven and twenty
servants This is he who had never known aught but rags for raiment kicks for
comfort and offal for diet This is he whom I adopted and would make
respectable Would God I had a bag to hide my head in«
Then his manners suddenly came back to him and he dropped upon his knees
with his hands between the kings and swore allegiance and did homage for his
lands and titles Then he rose and stood respectfully aside a mark still for
all eyes and much envy too
Now the king discovered Sir High and spoke out with wrathful voice and
kindling eye
»Strip this robber of his false show and stolen estates and put him under
lock and key till I have need of him«
The late Sir Hugh was led away
There was a stir at the other end of the room now the assemblage fell
apart and Tom Canty quaintly but richly clothed marched down between these
living walls preceded by an usher He knelt before the king who said
»I have learned the story of these past few weeks and am well pleased with
thee Thou hast governed the realm with right royal gentleness and mercy Thou
hast found thy mother and thy sisters again Good they shall be cared for and
thy father shall hang if thou desire it and the law consent Know all ye that
hear my voice that from this day they that abide in the shelter of Christs
Hospital and share the kings bounty shall have their minds and hearts fed as
well as their baser parts and this boy shall dwell there and hold the chief
place in its honorable body of governors during life And for that he hath been
a king it is meet that other than common observance shall be his due
wherefore note this his dress of state for by it he shall be known and none
shall copy it and wheresoever he shall come it shall remind the people that he
hath been royal in his time and none shall deny him his due of reverence or
fail to give him salutation He hath the thrones protection he hath the
crowns support he shall be known and called by the honorable title of the
Kings Ward«
The proud and happy Tom Canty rose and kissed the kings hand and was
conducted from the presence He did not waste any time but flew to his mother
to tell her and Nan and Bet all about it and get them to help him enjoy the
great news22
Conclusion
Justice and Retribution
When the mysteries were all cleared up it came out by confession of Hugh
Hendon that his wife had repudiated Miles by his command that day at Hendon
Hall a command assisted and supported by the perfectly trustworthy promise
that if she did not deny that he was Miles Hendon and stand firmly to it he
would have her life whereupon she said take it she did not value it and she
would not repudiate Miles then the husband said he would spare her life but
have Miles assassinated This was a different matter so she gave her word and
kept it
Hugh was not prosecuted for his threats or for stealing his brothers
estates and title because the wife and brother would not testify against him
and the former would not have been allowed to do it even if she had wanted to
Hugh deserted his wife and went over to the continent where he presently died
and by and by the Earl of Kent married his relict There were grand times and
rejoicings at Hendon village when the couple paid their first visit to the Hall
Tom Cantys father was never heard of again
The king sought out the farmer who had been branded and sold as a slave and
reclaimed him from his evil life with the Rufflers gang and put him in the way
of a comfortable livelihood
He also took that old lawyer out of prison and remitted his fine He
provided good homes for the daughters of the two Baptist women whom he saw
burned at the stake and roundly punished the official who laid the undeserved
stripes upon Miles Hendons back
He saved from the gallows the boy who had captured the stray falcon and
also the woman who had stolen a remnant of cloth from a weaver but he was too
late to save the man who had been convicted of killing a deer in the royal
forest
He showed favor to the justice who had pitied him when he was supposed to
have stolen a pig and he had the gratification of seeing him grow in the public
esteem and become a great and honored man
As long as the king lived he was fond of telling the story of his
adventures all through from the hour that the sentinel cuffed him away from
the palace gate till the final midnight when he deftly mixed himself into a gang
of hurrying workmen and so slipped into the Abbey and climbed up and hid himself
in the Confessors tomb and then slept so long next day that he came within
one of missing the Coronation altogether He said that the frequent rehearsing
of the precious lesson kept him strong in his purpose to make its teachings
yield benefits to his people and so whilst his life was spared he should
continue to tell the story and thus keep its sorrowful spectacles fresh in his
memory and the springs of pity replenished in his heart
Miles Hendon and Tom Canty were favorites of the king all through his brief
reign and his sincere mourners when he died The good Earl of Kent had too much
sense to abuse his peculiar privilege but he exercised it twice after the
instance we have seen of it before he was called from the world once at the
accession of Queen Mary and once at the accession of Queen Elizabeth A
descendant of his exercised it at the accession of James I Before this ones
son chose to use the privilege near a quarter of a century had elapsed and the
privilege of the Kents had faded out of most peoples memories so when the
Kent of that day appeared before Charles I and his court and sat down in the
sovereigns presence to assert and perpetuate the right of his house there was
a fine stir indeed But the matter was soon explained and the right confirmed
The last earl of the line fell in the wars of the Commonwealth fighting for the
king and the odd privilege ended with him
Tom Canty lived to be a very old man a handsome whitehaired old fellow
of grave and benignant aspect As long as he lasted he was honored and he was
also reverenced for his striking and peculiar costume kept the people reminded
that in his time he had been royal so wherever he appeared the crowd fell
apart making way for him and whispering one to another »Doff thy hat it is
the Kings Ward« and so they saluted and got his kindly smile in return
and they valued it too for his was an honorable history
Yes King Edward VI lived only a few years poor boy but he lived them
worthily More than once when some great dignitary some gilded vassal of the
crown made argument against his leniency and urged that some law which he was
bent upon amending was gentle enough for its purpose and wrought no suffering
or oppression which any one need mightily mind the young king turned the
mournful eloquence of his great compassionate eyes upon him and answered
»What dost thou know of suffering and oppression I and my people know but
not thou«
The reign of Edward VI was a singularly merciful one for those harsh times
Now that we are taking leave of him let us try to keep this in our minds to
his credit
General Note
One hears much about the hideous BlueLaws of Connecticut and is accustomed to
shudder piously when they are mentioned There are people in America and even
in England who imagine that they were a very monument of malignity
pitilessness and inhumanity Whereas in reality they were about the first
SWEEPING DEPARTURE FROM JUDICIAL ATROCITY which the civilized world had seen
This humane and kindly BlueLaw code of two hundred and forty years ago stands
all by itself with ages of bloody law on the further side of it and a century
and threequarters of bloody English law on THIS side of it
There has never been a time under the BlueLaws or any other when above
FOURTEEN crimes were punishable by death in Connecticut But in England within
the memory of men who are still hale in body and mind TWO HUNDRED AND
TWENTYTHREE crimes were punishable by death23 These facts are worth knowing
and worth thinking about too
Finis
Notes
1 Christs Hospital Costume It is most reasonable to regard the dress as copied
from the costume of the citizens of London of that period when long blue coats
were the common habit of apprentices and servingmen and yellow stockings were
generally worn the coat fits closely to the body but has loose sleeves and
beneath is worn a sleeveless yellow undercoat around the waist is a red
leathern girdle a clerical band round the neck and a small flat black cap
about the size of a saucer completes the costume Timbs Curiosities of
London
2 It appears that Christs Hospital was not originally founded as a school its
object was to rescue children from the streets to shelter feed clothe them
etc Timbs Curiosities of London
3 The Duke of Norfolks Condemnation Commanded The king was now approaching
fast towards his end and fearing lest Norfolk should escape him he sent a
message to the Commons by which he desired them to hasten the bill on pretence
that Norfolk enjoyed the dignity of earl marshal and it was necessary to
appoint another who might officiate at the ensuing ceremony of installing his
son Prince of Wales Humes History of England vol iii p 307
4 It was not till the end of this reign Henry VIII that any salads carrots
turnips or other edible roots were produced in England The little of these
vegetables that was used was formerly imported from Holland and Flanders Queen
Catherine when she wanted a salad was obliged to despatch a messenger thither
on purpose Humes History of England vol iii p 314
5 Attainder of Norfolk The house of peers without examining the prisoner
without trial or evidence passed a bill of attainder against him and sent it
down to the commons The obsequious commons obeyed his the kings
directions and the king having affixed the royal assent to the bill by
commissioners issued orders for the execution of Norfolk on the morning of the
twentyninth of January the next day Humes History of England vol iii
p 307
6 The LovingCup The lovingcup and the peculiar ceremonies observed in
drinking from it are older than English history It is thought that both are
Danish importations As far back as knowledge goes the lovingcup has always
been drunk at English banquets Tradition explains the ceremonies in this way
in the rude ancient times it was deemed a wise precaution to have both hands of
both drinkers employed lest while the pledger pledged his love and fidelity to
the pledgee the pledgee take that opportunity to slip a dirk into him
7 The Duke of Norfolks Narrow Escape Had Henry VIII survived a few hours
longer his order for the dukes execution would have been carried into effect
»But news being carried to the Tower that the king himself had expired that
night the lieutenant deferred obeying the warrant and it was not thought
advisable by the Council to begin a new reign by the death of the greatest
nobleman in the kingdom who had been condemned by a sentence so unjust and
tyrannical« Humes History of England vol iii p 307
8 He refers to the order of baronets or baronettes the barones minores as
distinct from the parliamentary barons not it need hardly be said the
baronets of later creation
9 The lords of Kingsale descendants of de Courcy still enjoy this curious
privilege
10 Hume
11 Hume
12 The WhippingBoy James I and Charles II had whippingboys when they were
little fellows to take their punishment for them when they fell short in their
lessons so I have ventured to furnish my small prince with one for my own
purposes
13 Character of Hertford The young king discovered an extreme attachment to his
uncle who was in the main a man of moderation and probity Humes History
of England vol iii p 324
But if he the Protector gave offence by assuming too much state he deserves
great praise on account of the laws passed this session by which the rigor of
former statutes was much mitigated and some security given to the freedom of
the constitution All laws were repealed which extended the crime of treason
beyond the statute of the twentyfifth of Edward III all laws enacted during
the late reign extending the crime of felony all the former laws against
Lollardy or heresy together with the statute of the Six Articles None were to
be accused for words but within a month after they were spoken By these
repeals several of the most rigorous laws that ever had passed in England were
annulled and some dawn both of civil and religious liberty began to appear to
the people A repeal also passed of that law the destruction of all laws by
which the kings proclamation was made of equal force with a statute Ibid
vol iii p 339
Boiling to Death In the reign of Henry VIII poisoners were by act of
parliament condemned to be boiled to death This act was repealed in the
following reign
In Germany even in the 17th century this horrible punishment was inflicted on
coiners and counterfeiters Taylor the Water Poet describes an execution he
witnessed in Hamburg in 1616 The judgment pronounced against a coiner of false
money was that he should »be boiled to death in oil not thrown into the vessel
at once but with a pulley or rope to be hanged under the armpits and then let
down into the oil by degrees first the feet and next the legs and so to boil
his flesh from his bones alive« Dr J Hammond Trumbulls Blue Laws True and
False p 13
The Famous Stocking Case A woman and her daughter nine years old were hanged
in Huntingdon for selling their souls to the devil and raising a storm by
pulling off their stockings Ibid p 20
14 Leigh Hunts The Town p 408 quotation from an early tourist
15 From The English Rogue London 1665
16 Canting terms for various kinds of thieves beggars and vagabonds and their
female companions
17 Enslaving So young a king and so ignorant a peasant were likely to make
mistakes and this is an instance in point This peasant was suffering from
this law by anticipation the king was venting his indignation against a law
which was not yet in existence for this hideous statute was to have birth in
this little kings own reign However we know from the humanity of his
character that it could never have been suggested by him
18 From »The English Rogue« London 1665
19 Death for Trifling Larcenies When Connecticut and New Haven were framing
their first codes larceny above the value of twelve pence was a capital crime
in England as it had been since the time of Henry I Dr J Hammond
Trumbulls Blue Laws True and False p 13
The curious old book called »The English Rogue« makes the limit thirteen pence
hapenny death being the portion of any who steal a thing »above the value of
thirteen pence hapenny«
20 From many descriptions of larceny the law expressly took away the benefit of
clergy to steal a horse or a hawk or woolen cloth from the weaver was a
hanging matter So it was to kill a deer from the kings forest or to export
sheep from the kingdom Dr J Hammond Trumbulls Blue Laws True and False
p 13
William Prynne a learned barrister was sentenced long after Edward the
Sixths time to lose both his ears in the pillory to degradation from the
bar a fine of £3000 and imprisonment for life Three years afterwards he
gave new offence to Laud by publishing a pamphlet against the hierarchy He was
again prosecuted and was sentenced to lose what remained of his ears to pay a
fine of £5000 to be branded on both his cheeks with the letters SL for
Seditious Libeler and to remain in prison for life The severity of this
sentence was equaled by the savage rigor of its execution Ibid pp 1112
21 Humes England
22 Christs hospital or Blue Coat School the Noblest Institution in the World
The ground on which the Priory of the Grey Friars stood was conferred by Henry
the Eighth on the Corporation of London who caused the institution there of a
home for poor boys and girls Subsequently Edward the Sixth caused the old
Priory to be properly repaired and founded within it that noble establishment
called the Blue Coat School or Christs Hospital for the education and
maintenance of orphans and the children of indigent persons Edward would not
let him Bishop Ridley depart till the letter was written to the Lord Mayor
and then charged him to deliver it himself and signify his special request and
commandment that no time might be lost in proposing what was convenient and
apprising him of the proceedings The work was zealously undertaken Ridley
himself engaging in it and the result was the founding of Christs Hospital
for the education of poor children The king endowed several other charities at
the same time »Lord God« said he »I yield thee most hearty thanks that thou
hast given me life thus long to finish this work to the glory of thy name«
That innocent and most exemplary life was drawing rapidly to its close and in a
few days he rendered up his spirit to his Creator praying God to defend the
realm from Papistry J Heneage Jesses London its Celebrated Characters and
Places
In the Great Hall hangs a large picture of King Edward VI seated on his throne
in a scarlet and ermined robe holding the sceptre in his left hand and
presenting with the other the Charter to the kneeling Lord Mayor By his side
stands the Chancellor holding the seals and next to him are other officers of
state Bishop Ridley kneels before him with uplifted hands as if supplicating a
blessing on the event whilst the Aldermen etc with the Lord Mayor kneel on
both sides occupying the middle ground of the picture and lastly in front
are a double row of boys on one side and girls on the other from the master
and matron down to the boy and girl who have stepped forward from their
respective rows and kneel with raised hands before the king Timbs
Curiosities of London p 98
Christs Hospital by ancient custom possesses the privilege of addressing the
Sovereign on the occasion of his or her coming into the City to partake of the
hospitality of the Corporation of London Ibid
The DiningHall with its lobby and organgallery occupies the entire story
which is 187 feet long 51 feet wide and 47 feet high it is lit by nine large
windows filled with stained glass on the south side and is next to
Westminster Hall the noblest room in the metropolis Here the boys now about
800 in number dine and here are held the Suppings in Public to which visitors
are admitted by tickets issued by the Treasurer and by the Governors of
Christs Hospital The tables are laid with cheese in wooden bowls beer in
wooden piggins poured from leathern jacks and bread brought in large baskets
The official company enter the Lord Mayor or President takes his seat in a
state chair made of oak from St Catherines Church by the Tower a hymn is
sung accompanied by the organ a Grecian or head boy reads the prayers from
the pulpit silence being enforced by three drops of a wooden hammer After
prayer the supper commences and the visitors walk between the tables At its
close the tradeboys take up the baskets bowls jacks piggins and
candlesticks and pass in procession the bowing to the Governors being
curiously formal This spectacle was witnessed by Queen Victoria and Prince
Albert in 1845
Among the more eminent Blue Coat Boys are Joshua Barnes editor of Anacreon and
Euripides Jeremiah Markland the eminent critic particularly in Greek
literature Camden the antiquary Bishop Stillingfleet Samuel Richardson the
novelist Thomas Mitchell the translator of Aristophanes Thomas Barnes many
years editor of the London Times Coleridge Charles Lamb and Leigh Hunt
No boy is admitted before he is seven years old or after he is nine and no boy
can remain in the school after he is fifteen Kings boys and Grecians alone
excepted There are about 500 Governors at the head of whom are the Sovereign
and the Prince of Wales The qualification for a Governor is payment of £500
Ibid
23 See Dr J Hammond Trumbulls Blue Laws True and False p 11