THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER by Mark Twain Part 9. Chapter XXXII. Coronation Day. Let us go backward a few hours, and place ourselves in Westminster Abbey, at four o'clock in the morning of this memorable Coronation Day. We arenot without company; for although it is still night, we find thetorch-lighted galleries already filling up with people who are wellcontent to sit still and wait seven or eight hours till the time shallcome 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 astirever since the warning guns boomed at three o'clock, and already crowdsof untitled rich folk who have bought the privilege of trying to findsitting-room in the galleries are flocking in at the entrances reservedfor their sort. The hours drag along tediously enough. All stir has ceased for sometime, for every gallery has long ago been packed. We may sit, now, andlook and think at our leisure. We have glimpses, here and there andyonder, through the dim cathedral twilight, of portions of many galleriesand balconies, wedged full with other people, the other portions of thesegalleries and balconies being cut off from sight by intervening pillarsand architectural projections. We have in view the whole of the greatnorth transept--empty, and waiting for England's privileged ones. We seealso the ample area or platform, carpeted with rich stuffs, whereon thethrone stands. The throne occupies the centre of the platform, and israised above it upon an elevation of four steps. Within the seat of thethrone is enclosed a rough flat rock--the stone of Scone--which manygenerations of Scottish kings sat on to be crowned, and so it in timebecame holy enough to answer a like purpose for English monarchs. Boththe throne and its footstool are covered with cloth of gold. Stillness reigns, the torches blink dully, the time drags heavily. But atlast the lagging daylight asserts itself, the torches are extinguished, and a mellow radiance suffuses the great spaces. All features of thenoble building are distinct now, but soft and dreamy, for the sun islightly veiled with clouds. At seven o'clock the first break in the drowsy monotony occurs; for onthe stroke of this hour the first peeress enters the transept, clothedlike Solomon for splendour, and is conducted to her appointed place by anofficial clad in satins and velvets, whilst a duplicate of him gathers upthe lady's long train, follows after, and, when the lady is seated, arranges the train across her lap for her. He then places her footstoolaccording to her desire, after which he puts her coronet where it will beconvenient to her hand when the time for the simultaneous coroneting ofthe nobles shall arrive. By this time the peeresses are flowing in in a glittering stream, and thesatin-clad officials are flitting and glinting everywhere, seating themand making them comfortable. The scene is animated enough now. There isstir and life, and shifting colour everywhere. After a time, quietreigns again; for the peeresses are all come and are all in their places, a solid acre or such a matter, of human flowers, resplendent invariegated colours, and frosted like a Milky Way with diamonds. Thereare all ages here: brown, wrinkled, white-haired dowagers who are able togo back, and still back, down the stream of time, and recall the crowningof Richard III. And the troublous days of that old forgotten age; andthere are handsome middle-aged dames; and lovely and gracious youngmatrons; and gentle and beautiful young girls, with beaming eyes andfresh complexions, who may possibly put on their jewelled coronetsawkwardly when the great time comes; for the matter will be new to them, and their excitement will be a sore hindrance. Still, this may nothappen, for the hair of all these ladies has been arranged with a specialview to the swift and successful lodging of the crown in its place whenthe signal comes. We have seen that this massed array of peeresses is sown thick withdiamonds, and we also see that it is a marvellous spectacle--but now weare about to be astonished in earnest. About nine, the clouds suddenlybreak away and a shaft of sunshine cleaves the mellow atmosphere, anddrifts slowly along the ranks of ladies; and every rank it touches flamesinto a dazzling splendour of many-coloured fires, and we tingle to ourfinger-tips with the electric thrill that is shot through us by thesurprise and the beauty of the spectacle! Presently a special envoy fromsome distant corner of the Orient, marching with the general body offoreign ambassadors, crosses this bar of sunshine, and we catch ourbreath, the glory that streams and flashes and palpitates about him is sooverpowering; for he is crusted from head to heel with gems, and hisslightest movement showers a dancing radiance all around him. Let us change the tense for convenience. The time drifted along--onehour--two hours--two hours and a half; then the deep booming of artillerytold that the King and his grand procession had arrived at last; so thewaiting multitude rejoiced. All knew that a further delay must follow, for the King must be prepared and robed for the solemn ceremony; but thisdelay would be pleasantly occupied by the assembling of the peers of therealm in their stately robes. These were conducted ceremoniously totheir seats, and their coronets placed conveniently at hand; andmeanwhile the multitude in the galleries were alive with interest, formost of them were beholding for the first time, dukes, earls, and barons, whose names had been historical for five hundred years. When all werefinally seated, the spectacle from the galleries and all coigns ofvantage 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 werefollowed by the Lord Protector and other great officials, and these againby a steel-clad detachment of the Guard. There was a waiting pause; then, at a signal, a triumphant peal of musicburst forth, and Tom Canty, clothed in a long robe of cloth of gold, appeared at a door, and stepped upon the platform. The entire multituderose, and the ceremony of the Recognition ensued. Then a noble anthem swept the Abbey with its rich waves of sound; andthus heralded and welcomed, Tom Canty was conducted to the throne. Theancient ceremonies went on, with impressive solemnity, whilst theaudience gazed; and as they drew nearer and nearer to completion, TomCanty grew pale, and still paler, and a deep and steadily deepening woeand despondency settled down upon his spirits and upon his remorsefulheart. At last the final act was at hand. The Archbishop of Canterbury liftedup the crown of England from its cushion and held it out over thetrembling mock-King's head. In the same instant a rainbow-radianceflashed along the spacious transept; for with one impulse everyindividual in the great concourse of nobles lifted a coronet and poisedit over his or her head--and paused in that attitude. A deep hush pervaded the Abbey. At this impressive moment, a startlingapparition intruded upon the scene--an apparition observed by none in theabsorbed multitude, until it suddenly appeared, moving up the greatcentral aisle. It was a boy, bareheaded, ill shod, and clothed in coarseplebeian garments that were falling to rags. He raised his hand with asolemnity which ill comported with his soiled and sorry aspect, anddelivered this note of warning-- "I forbid you to set the crown of England upon that forfeited head. I amthe King!" In an instant several indignant hands were laid upon the boy; but in thesame instant Tom Canty, in his regal vestments, made a swift stepforward, 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 partlyrose in their places and stared in a bewildered way at one another and atthe chief figures in this scene, like persons who wondered whether theywere awake and in their senses, or asleep and dreaming. The LordProtector was as amazed as the rest, but quickly recovered himself, andexclaimed 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 criedout-- "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 sostrange and surprising an emergency. While all minds were struggling toright themselves, the boy still moved steadily forward, with high portand confident mien; he had never halted from the beginning; and while thetangled 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 kneesbefore him and said-- "Oh, my lord the King, let poor Tom Canty be first to swear fealty tothee, and say, 'Put on thy crown and enter into thine own again!'" The Lord Protector's eye fell sternly upon the new-comer's face; butstraightway the sternness vanished away, and gave place to an expressionof wondering surprise. This thing happened also to the other greatofficers. They glanced at each other, and retreated a step by a commonand unconscious impulse. The thought in each mind was the same: "What astrange resemblance!" The Lord Protector reflected a moment or two in perplexity, then he said, with grave respectfulness-- "By your favour, 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, theprince, the princesses--the boy answered them correctly and withouthesitating. He described the rooms of state in the palace, the lateKing's apartments, and those of the Prince of Wales. It was strange; it was wonderful; yes, it was unaccountable--so all saidthat heard it. The tide was beginning to turn, and Tom Canty's hopes torun 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 theKing likewise can do. " This remark, and this reference to himself asstill the King, saddened Tom Canty, and he felt his hopes crumbling fromunder him. "These are not PROOFS, " added the Protector. The tide was turning very fast now, very fast indeed--but in the wrongdirection; it was leaving poor Tom Canty stranded on the throne, andsweeping the other out to sea. The Lord Protector communed with himself--shook his head--the thought forced itself upon him, "It is perilous tothe State and to us all, to entertain so fateful a riddle as this; itcould divide the nation and undermine the throne. " He turned and said-- "Sir Thomas, arrest this--No, hold!" His face lighted, and he confrontedthe ragged candidate with this question-- "Where lieth the Great Seal? Answer me this truly, and the riddle isunriddled; for only he that was Prince of Wales CAN so answer! On sotrivial a thing hang a throne and a dynasty!" It was a lucky thought, a happy thought. That it was so considered bythe great officials was manifested by the silent applause that shot fromeye to eye around their circle in the form of bright approving glances. Yes, none but the true prince could dissolve the stubborn mystery of thevanished Great Seal--this forlorn little impostor had been taught hislesson well, but here his teachings must fail, for his teacher himselfcould not answer THAT question--ah, very good, very good indeed; now weshall be rid of this troublesome and perilous business in short order!And so they nodded invisibly and smiled inwardly with satisfaction, andlooked to see this foolish lad stricken with a palsy of guilty confusion. How surprised they were, then, to see nothing of the sort happen--howthey marvelled to hear him answer up promptly, in a confident anduntroubled voice, and say-- "There is nought in this riddle that is difficult. " Then, without somuch as a by-your-leave to anybody, he turned and gave this command, withthe 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 theplace better than you--and, close down to the floor, in the left cornerremotest from the door that opens from the ante-chamber, you shall findin the wall a brazen nail-head; press upon it and a little jewel-closetwill fly open which not even you do know of--no, nor any soul else inall 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--fetchit hither. " All the company wondered at this speech, and wondered still more to seethe little mendicant pick out this peer without hesitancy or apparentfear of mistake, and call him by name with such a placidly convincing airof having known him all his life. The peer was almost surprised intoobeying. He even made a movement as if to go, but quickly recovered histranquil attitude and confessed his blunder with a blush. Tom Cantyturned upon him and said, sharply-- "Why dost thou hesitate? Hast not heard the King's command? Go!" The Lord St. John made a deep obeisance--and it was observed that it wasa significantly cautious and non-committal one, it not being delivered ateither of the kings, but at the neutral ground about half-way between thetwo--and took his leave. Now began a movement of the gorgeous particles of that official groupwhich was slow, scarcely perceptible, and yet steady and persistent--amovement such as is observed in a kaleidoscope that is turned slowly, whereby the components of one splendid cluster fall away and jointhemselves to another--a movement which, little by little, in the presentcase, dissolved the glittering crowd that stood about Tom Canty andclustered it together again in the neighbourhood of the new-comer. TomCanty stood almost alone. Now ensued a brief season of deep suspense andwaiting--during which even the few faint hearts still remaining near TomCanty gradually scraped together courage enough to glide, one by one, over to the majority. So at last Tom Canty, in his royal robes andjewels, stood wholly alone and isolated from the world, a conspicuousfigure, occupying an eloquent vacancy. Now the Lord St. John was seen returning. As he advanced up themid-aisle the interest was so intense that the low murmur of conversationin the great assemblage died out and was succeeded by a profound hush, abreathless stillness, through which his footfalls pulsed with a dull anddistant sound. Every eye was fastened upon him as he moved along. Hereached the platform, paused a moment, then moved toward Tom Canty with adeep obeisance, and said-- "Sire, the Seal is not there!" A mob does not melt away from the presence of a plague-patient with morehaste than the band of pallid and terrified courtiers melted away fromthe presence of the shabby little claimant of the Crown. In a moment hestood all alone, without friend or supporter, a target upon which wasconcentrated a bitter fire of scornful and angry looks. The LordProtector called out fiercely-- "Cast the beggar into the street, and scourge him through the town--thepaltry knave is worth no more consideration!" Officers of the guard sprang forward to obey, but Tom Canty waved themoff and said-- "Back! Whoso touches him perils his life!" The Lord Protector was perplexed in the last degree. He said to the LordSt. John-- "Searched you well?--but it boots not to ask that. It doth seem passingstrange. Little things, trifles, slip out of one's ken, and one does notthink it matter for surprise; but how so bulky a thing as the Seal ofEngland can vanish away and no man be able to get track of it again--amassy golden disk--" Tom Canty, with beaming eyes, sprang forward and shouted-- "Hold, that is enough! Was it round?--and thick?--and had it letters anddevices graved upon it?--yes? Oh, NOW I know what this Great Seal isthat there's been such worry and pother about. An' ye had described it tome, ye could have had it three weeks ago. Right well I know where itlies; 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 tellyou himself where it lies--then you will believe he knew it of his ownknowledge. Bethink thee, my King--spur thy memory--it was the last, thevery LAST thing thou didst that day before thou didst rush forth from thepalace, clothed in my rags, to punish the soldier that insulted me. " A silence ensued, undisturbed by a movement or a whisper, and all eyeswere fixed upon the new-comer, who stood, with bent head and corrugatedbrow, groping in his memory among a thronging multitude of valuelessrecollections for one single little elusive fact, which, found, wouldseat him upon a throne--unfound, would leave him as he was, for good andall--a pauper and an outcast. Moment after moment passed--the momentsbuilt themselves into minutes--still the boy struggled silently on, andgave no sign. But at last he heaved a sigh, shook his head slowly, andsaid, 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. " Hepaused, then looked up, and said with gentle dignity, "My lords andgentlemen, if ye will rob your rightful sovereign of his own for lack ofthis evidence which he is not able to furnish, I may not stay ye, beingpowerless. But--" "Oh, folly, oh, 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 morningback again, every hap just as it happened. We talked--I told you of mysisters, Nan and Bet--ah, yes, you remember that; and about mine oldgrandam--and the rough games of the lads of Offal Court--yes, youremember these things also; very well, follow me still, you shall recalleverything. You gave me food and drink, and did with princely courtesysend away the servants, so that my low breeding might not shame me beforethem--ah, yes, this also you remember. " As Tom checked off his details, and the other boy nodded his head inrecognition of them, the great audience and the officials stared inpuzzled wonderment; the tale sounded like true history, yet how couldthis impossible conjunction between a prince and a beggar-boy have comeabout? Never was a company of people so perplexed, so interested, and sostupefied, before. "For a jest, my prince, we did exchange garments. Then we stood before amirror; and so alike were we that both said it seemed as if there hadbeen no change made--yes, you remember that. Then you noticed that thesoldier had hurt my hand--look! here it is, I cannot yet even write withit, the fingers are so stiff. At this your Highness sprang up, vowingvengeance upon that soldier, and ran towards the door--you passed atable--that thing you call the Seal lay on that table--you snatched it upand looked eagerly about, as if for a place to hide it--your eye caughtsight of--" "There, 'tis sufficient!--and the good God be thanked!" exclaimed theragged claimant, in a mighty excitement. "Go, my good St. John--in anarm-piece of the Milanese armour that hangs on the wall, thou'lt find theSeal!" "Right, my King! right!" cried Tom Canty; "NOW the sceptre of England isthine own; and it were better for him that would dispute it that he hadbeen 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 mindwith uneasiness, apprehension, and consuming excitement. On the floorand on the platform a deafening buzz of frantic conversation burst forth, and for some time nobody knew anything or heard anything or wasinterested in anything but what his neighbour was shouting into his ear, or he was shouting into his neighbour's ear. Time--nobody knew how muchof it--swept by unheeded and unnoted. At last a sudden hush fell uponthe 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 musicalinstruments, and was white with a storm of waving handkerchiefs; andthrough it all a ragged lad, the most conspicuous figure in England, stood, flushed and happy and proud, in the centre of the spaciousplatform, 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, thyservant, 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--noneshall 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 poorlad, for I hear he hath made thee a duke"--the Protector blushed--"yet hewas not a king; wherefore what is thy fine title worth now? To-morrowyou shall sue to me, THROUGH HIM, for its confirmation, else no duke, buta simple earl, shalt thou remain. " Under this rebuke, his Grace the Duke of Somerset retired a little fromthe front for the moment. The King turned to Tom, and said kindly--"Mypoor boy, how was it that you could remember where I hid the Seal when Icould 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, yourMajesty. " "Then how used you it?" The red blood began to steal up into Tom's cheeks, and he dropped hiseyes and was silent. "Speak up, good lad, and fear nothing, " said the King. "How used you theGreat 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 himoff his feet. But if a doubt remained in any mind that Tom Canty was notthe King of England and familiar with the august appurtenances ofroyalty, this reply disposed of it utterly. Meantime the sumptuous robe of state had been removed from Tom'sshoulders to the King's, whose rags were effectually hidden from sightunder it. Then the coronation ceremonies were resumed; the true King wasanointed and the crown set upon his head, whilst cannon thundered thenews to the city, and all London seemed to rock with applause. Chapter XXXIII. Edward as King. Miles Hendon was picturesque enough before he got into the riot on LondonBridge--he was more so when he got out of it. He had but little moneywhen he got in, none at all when he got out. The pickpockets hadstripped him of his last farthing. But no matter, so he found his boy. Being a soldier, he did not go athis task in a random way, but set to work, first of all, to arrange hiscampaign. 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 theinstinct of unsound minds, when homeless and forsaken, as well as ofsound ones. Whereabouts were his former haunts? His rags, takentogether with the low villain who seemed to know him and who even claimedto be his father, indicated that his home was in one or another of thepoorest and meanest districts of London. Would the search for him bedifficult, or long? No, it was likely to be easy and brief. He wouldnot hunt for the boy, he would hunt for a crowd; in the centre of a bigcrowd or a little one, sooner or later, he should find his poor littlefriend, sure; and the mangy mob would be entertaining itself withpestering and aggravating the boy, who would be proclaiming himself King, as usual. Then Miles Hendon would cripple some of those people, andcarry 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 backalleys and squalid streets, seeking groups and crowds, and finding no endof them, but never any sign of the boy. This greatly surprised him, butdid not discourage him. To his notion, there was nothing the matter withhis plan of campaign; the only miscalculation about it was that thecampaign was becoming a lengthy one, whereas he had expected it to beshort. When daylight arrived, at last, he had made many a mile, and canvassedmany a crowd, but the only result was that he was tolerably tired, ratherhungry and very sleepy. He wanted some breakfast, but there was no wayto 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 honour; he could sparesome of his clothes--yes, but one could as easily find a customer for adisease as for such clothes. At noon he was still tramping--among the rabble which followed after theroyal procession, now; for he argued that this regal display wouldattract his little lunatic powerfully. He followed the pageant throughall its devious windings about London, and all the way to Westminster andthe Abbey. He drifted here and there amongst the multitudes that weremassed in the vicinity for a weary long time, baffled and perplexed, andfinally wandered off, thinking, and trying to contrive some way to betterhis plan of campaign. By-and-by, when he came to himself out of hismusings, he discovered that the town was far behind him and that the daywas growing old. He was near the river, and in the country; it was aregion of fine rural seats--not the sort of district to welcome clotheslike his. It was not at all cold; so he stretched himself on the ground in the leeof a hedge to rest and think. Drowsiness presently began to settle uponhis senses; the faint and far-off boom of cannon was wafted to his ear, and he said to himself, "The new King is crowned, " and straightway fellasleep. 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 towardWestminster, grumbling at himself for having wasted so much time. Hungerhelped him to a new plan, now; he would try to get speech with old SirHumphrey Marlow and borrow a few marks, and--but that was enough of aplan for the present; it would be time enough to enlarge it when thisfirst stage should be accomplished. Toward eleven o'clock he approached the palace; and although a host ofshowy people were about him, moving in the same direction, he was notinconspicuous--his costume took care of that. He watched these people'sfaces narrowly, hoping to find a charitable one whose possessor might bewilling to carry his name to the old lieutenant--as to trying to get intothe palace himself, that was simply out of the question. Presently our whipping-boy passed him, then wheeled about and scanned hisfigure well, saying to himself, "An' that is not the very vagabond hisMajesty is in such a worry about, then am I an ass--though belike I wasthat before. He answereth the description to a rag--that God should maketwo such would be to cheapen miracles by wasteful repetition. I would Icould contrive an excuse to speak with him. " Miles Hendon saved him the trouble; for he turned about, then, as a mangenerally will when somebody mesmerises him by gazing hard at him frombehind; and observing a strong interest in the boy's eyes, he steppedtoward 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 favour to carry my name to him, and say I beg to saya 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 begreatly bounden to you, my good lad. " The boy looked disappointed. "The King did not name him so, " he said tohimself; "but it mattereth not, this is his twin brother, and can givehis Majesty news of t'other Sir-Odds-and-Ends, I warrant. " So he said toMiles, "Step in there a moment, good sir, and wait till I bring youword. " Hendon retired to the place indicated--it was a recess sunk in the palacewall, with a stone bench in it--a shelter for sentinels in bad weather. He had hardly seated himself when some halberdiers, in charge of anofficer, passed by. The officer saw him, halted his men, and commandedHendon to come forth. He obeyed, and was promptly arrested as asuspicious character prowling within the precincts of the palace. Thingsbegan to look ugly. Poor Miles was going to explain, but the officerroughly silenced him, and ordered his men to disarm him and search him. "God of his mercy grant that they find somewhat, " said poor Miles; "Ihave searched enow, and failed, yet is my need greater than theirs. " Nothing was found but a document. The officer tore it open, and Hendonsmiled when he recognised the 'pot-hooks' made by his lost little friendthat black day at Hendon Hall. The officer's face grew dark as he readthe English paragraph, and Miles blenched to the opposite colour as helistened. "Another new claimant of the Crown!" cried the officer. "Verily theybreed like rabbits, to-day. Seize the rascal, men, and see ye keep himfast 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 dangleat a rope's end for a certainty, by reason of that bit of writing. Andwhat 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 heplucked his courage together, purposing to meet his trouble as became aman. The officer ordered the men to loose the prisoner and return hissword to him; then bowed respectfully, and said-- "Please you, sir, to follow me. " Hendon followed, saying to himself, "An' I were not travelling to deathand judgment, and so must needs economise in sin, I would throttle thisknave for his mock courtesy. " The two traversed a populous court, and arrived at the grand entrance ofthe palace, where the officer, with another bow, delivered Hendon intothe hands of a gorgeous official, who received him with profound respectand led him forward through a great hall, lined on both sides with rowsof splendid flunkeys (who made reverential obeisance as the two passedalong, but fell into death-throes of silent laughter at our statelyscarecrow 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, thenmade a bow, reminded him to take his hat off, and left him standing inthe middle of the room, a mark for all eyes, for plenty of indignantfrowns, and for a sufficiency of amused and derisive smiles. Miles Hendon was entirely bewildered. There sat the young King, under acanopy of state, five steps away, with his head bent down and aside, speaking with a sort of human bird of paradise--a duke, maybe. Hendonobserved to himself that it was hard enough to be sentenced to death inthe full vigour of life, without having this peculiarly publichumiliation added. He wished the King would hurry about it--some of thegaudy people near by were becoming pretty offensive. At this moment theKing 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 youngface 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 marvelling; thenturned his eyes around and about, scanning the gorgeous throng and thesplendid 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 hethe 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 upa 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 avoice exclaimed-- "Up, thou mannerless clown! would'st sit in the presence of the King?" The disturbance attracted his Majesty's attention, who stretched forthhis 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 andwell-beloved servant, Miles Hendon, who interposed his good sword andsaved his prince from bodily harm and possible death--and for this he isa knight, by the King's voice. Also learn, that for a higher service, inthat 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 meetfor the dignity. More--the privilege which he hath just exercised is hisby royal grant; for we have ordained that the chiefs of his line shallhave and hold the right to sit in the presence of the Majesty of Englandhenceforth, age after age, so long as the crown shall endure. Molest himnot. " Two persons, who, through delay, had only arrived from the country duringthis morning, and had now been in this room only five minutes, stoodlistening 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 SirHugh and the Lady Edith. But the new Earl did not see them. He wasstill staring at the monarch, in a dazed way, and muttering-- "Oh, 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 andseven-and-twenty servants! This is he who had never known aught but ragsfor 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 headin!" Then his manners suddenly came back to him, and he dropped upon hisknees, with his hands between the King's, and swore allegiance and didhomage for his lands and titles. Then he rose and stood respectfullyaside, a mark still for all eyes--and much envy, too. Now the King discovered Sir Hugh, and spoke out with wrathful voice andkindling eye-- "Strip this robber of his false show and stolen estates, and put himunder 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 fellapart, and Tom Canty, quaintly but richly clothed, marched down, betweenthese living walls, preceded by an usher. He knelt before the King, whosaid-- "I have learned the story of these past few weeks, and am well pleasedwith thee. Thou hast governed the realm with right royal gentleness andmercy. Thou hast found thy mother and thy sisters again? Good; theyshall be cared for--and thy father shall hang, if thou desire it and thelaw consent. Know, all ye that hear my voice, that from this day, theythat abide in the shelter of Christ's Hospital and share the King'sbounty shall have their minds and hearts fed, as well as their baserparts; and this boy shall dwell there, and hold the chief place in itshonourable body of governors, during life. And for that he hath been aking, 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, andnone shall copy it; and wheresoever he shall come, it shall remind thepeople that he hath been royal, in his time, and none shall deny him hisdue of reverence or fail to give him salutation. He hath the throne'sprotection, he hath the crown's support, he shall be known and called bythe honourable title of the King's Ward. " The proud and happy Tom Canty rose and kissed the King's hand, and wasconducted from the presence. He did not waste any time, but flew to hismother, to tell her and Nan and Bet all about it and get them to help himenjoy the great news. {1} Conclusion. Justice and retribution. When the mysteries were all cleared up, it came out, by confession ofHugh Hendon, that his wife had repudiated Miles by his command, that dayat Hendon Hall--a command assisted and supported by the perfectlytrustworthy 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, "Takeit!"--she did not value it--and she would not repudiate Miles; then thehusband said he would spare her life but have Miles assassinated! Thiswas a different matter; so she gave her word and kept it. Hugh was not prosecuted for his threats or for stealing his brother'sestates and title, because the wife and brother would not testify againsthim--and the former would not have been allowed to do it, even if she hadwanted to. Hugh deserted his wife and went over to the continent, wherehe presently died; and by-and-by the Earl of Kent married his relict. There were grand times and rejoicings at Hendon village when the couplepaid their first visit to the Hall. Tom Canty's 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 Ruffler's gang, and put himin the way of a comfortable livelihood. He also took that old lawyer out of prison and remitted his fine. Heprovided good homes for the daughters of the two Baptist women whom hesaw burned at the stake, and roundly punished the official who laid theundeserved stripes upon Miles Hendon's back. He saved from the gallows the boy who had captured the stray falcon, andalso the woman who had stolen a remnant of cloth from a weaver; but hewas too late to save the man who had been convicted of killing a deer inthe royal forest. He showed favour to the justice who had pitied him when he was supposedto have stolen a pig, and he had the gratification of seeing him grow inthe public esteem and become a great and honoured man. As long as the King lived he was fond of telling the story of hisadventures, all through, from the hour that the sentinel cuffed him awayfrom the palace gate till the final midnight when he deftly mixed himselfinto a gang of hurrying workmen and so slipped into the Abbey and climbedup and hid himself in the Confessor's tomb, and then slept so long, nextday, that he came within one of missing the Coronation altogether. Hesaid that the frequent rehearsing of the precious lesson kept him strongin his purpose to make its teachings yield benefits to his people; andso, whilst his life was spared he should continue to tell the story, andthus keep its sorrowful spectacles fresh in his memory and the springs ofpity replenished in his heart. Miles Hendon and Tom Canty were favourites of the King, all through hisbrief reign, and his sincere mourners when he died. The good Earl of Kenthad too much sense to abuse his peculiar privilege; but he exercised ittwice after the instance we have seen of it before he was called fromthis world--once at the accession of Queen Mary, and once at theaccession of Queen Elizabeth. A descendant of his exercised it at theaccession of James I. Before this one's 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 people's memories; so, when the Kent of that dayappeared before Charles I. And his court and sat down in the sovereign'spresence to assert and perpetuate the right of his house, there was afine stir indeed! But the matter was soon explained, and the rightconfirmed. The last Earl of the line fell in the wars of theCommonwealth fighting for the King, and the odd privilege ended with him. Tom Canty lived to be a very old man, a handsome, white-haired oldfellow, of grave and benignant aspect. As long as he lasted he washonoured; and he was also reverenced, for his striking and peculiarcostume kept the people reminded that 'in his time he had been royal;'so, wherever he appeared the crowd fell apart, making way for him, andwhispering, one to another, "Doff thy hat, it is the King's Ward!"--andso they saluted, and got his kindly smile in return--and they valued it, too, for his was an honourable history. Yes, King Edward VI. Lived only a few years, poor boy, but he lived themworthily. More than once, when some great dignitary, some gilded vassalof the crown, made argument against his leniency, and urged that some lawwhich he was bent upon amending was gentle enough for its purpose, andwrought no suffering or oppression which any one need mightily mind, theyoung King turned the mournful eloquence of his great compassionate eyesupon 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 harshtimes. Now that we are taking leave of him, let us try to keep this inour minds, to his credit. FOOTNOTES AND TWAIN'S NOTES {1} For Mark Twain's note see below under the relevant chapter heading. {2} He refers to the order of baronets, or baronettes; the baronesminores, as distinct from the parliamentary barons--not, it need hardlybe said, to the baronets of later creation. {3} The lords of Kingsale, descendants of De Courcy, still enjoy thiscurious privilege. {4} Hume. {5} Ib. {6} Leigh Hunt's 'The Town, ' p. 408, quotation from an early tourist. {7} Canting terms for various kinds of thieves, beggars and vagabonds, and their female companions. {8} From 'The English Rogue. ' London, 1665. {9} Hume's England. {10} See Dr. J. Hammond Trumbull's Blue Laws, True and False, p. 11. NOTE 1, Chapter IV. Christ's Hospital Costume. It is most reasonable to regard the dress as copied from the costume ofthe citizens of London of that period, when long blue coats were thecommon habit of apprentices and serving-men, and yellow stockings weregenerally worn; the coat fits closely to the body, but has loose sleeves, and beneath is worn a sleeveless yellow under-coat; around the waist is ared leathern girdle; a clerical band around the neck, and a small flatblack cap, about the size of a saucer, completes the costume. --Timbs'Curiosities of London. NOTE 2, Chapter IV. It appears that Christ's Hospital was not originally founded as a SCHOOL;its object was to rescue children from the streets, to shelter, feed, clothe them. --Timbs' Curiosities of London. NOTE 3, Chapter V. The Duke of Norfolk's Condemnation commanded. The King was now approaching fast towards his end; and fearing lestNorfolk should escape him, he sent a message to the Commons, by which hedesired them to hasten the Bill, on pretence that Norfolk enjoyed thedignity of Earl Marshal, and it was necessary to appoint another, whomight officiate at the ensuing ceremony of installing his son Prince ofWales. --Hume's History of England, vol. Iii. P. 307. NOTE 4, Chapter VII. It was not till the end of this reign (Henry VIII. ) that any salads, carrots, turnips, or other edible roots were produced in England. Thelittle of these vegetables that was used was formerly imported fromHolland and Flanders. Queen Catherine, when she wanted a salad, wasobliged to despatch a messenger thither on purpose. --Hume's History ofEngland, vol. Iii. P. 314. NOTE 5, Chapter VIII. Attainder of Norfolk. The House of Peers, without examining the prisoner, without trial orevidence, passed a Bill of Attainder against him and sent it down to theCommons . . . The obsequious Commons obeyed his (the King's) directions;and the King, having affixed the Royal assent to the Bill bycommissioners, issued orders for the execution of Norfolk on the morningof January 29 (the next day). --Hume's History of England, vol iii. P 306. NOTE 6, Chapter X. The Loving-cup. The loving-cup, and the peculiar ceremonies observed in drinking from it, are older than English history. It is thought that both are Danishimportations. As far back as knowledge goes, the loving-cup has alwaysbeen drunk at English banquets. Tradition explains the ceremonies inthis way. In the rude ancient times it was deemed a wise precaution tohave both hands of both drinkers employed, lest while the pledger pledgedhis love and fidelity to the pledgee, the pledgee take that opportunityto slip a dirk into him! NOTE 7, Chapter XI. The Duke of Norfolk's narrow Escape. Had Henry VIII. Survived a few hours longer, his order for the duke'sexecution would have been carried into effect. 'But news being carried tothe Tower that the King himself had expired that night, the lieutenantdeferred obeying the warrant; and it was not thought advisable by theCouncil to begin a new reign by the death of the greatest nobleman in thekingdom, who had been condemned by a sentence so unjust and tyrannical. '--Hume's History of England, vol. Iii, p. 307. NOTE 8, Chapter XIV. The Whipping-boy. James I. And Charles II. Had whipping-boys, when they were littlefellows, to take their punishment for them when they fell short in theirlessons; so I have ventured to furnish my small prince with one, for myown purposes. NOTES to Chapter XV. Character of Hertford. The young King discovered an extreme attachment to his uncle, who was, inthe main, a man of moderation and probity. --Hume's History of England, vol. Iii, p324. But if he (the Protector) gave offence by assuming too much state, hedeserves great praise on account of the laws passed this session, bywhich the rigour of former statutes was much mitigated, and some securitygiven to the freedom of the constitution. All laws were repealed whichextended the crime of treason beyond the statute of the twenty-fifth ofEdward III. ; all laws enacted during the late reign extending the crimeof felony; all the former laws against Lollardy or heresy, together withthe statute of the Six Articles. None were to be accused for words, butwithin a month after they were spoken. By these repeals several of themost rigorous laws that ever had passed in England were annulled; andsome dawn, both of civil and religious liberty, began to appear to thepeople. A repeal also passed of that law, the destruction of all laws, by which the King's 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 followingreign. In Germany, even in the seventeenth century, this horrible punishment wasinflicted on coiners and counterfeiters. Taylor, the Water Poet, describes an execution he witnessed in Hamburg in 1616. The judgmentpronounced against a coiner of false money was that he should 'BE BOILEDTO DEATH IN OIL; not thrown into the vessel at once, but with a pulley orrope to be hanged under the armpits, and then let down into the oil BYDEGREES; first the feet, and next the legs, and so to boil his flesh fromhis bones alive. '--Dr. J. Hammond Trumbull's Blue Laws, True and False, p. 13. The Famous Stocking Case. A woman and her daughter, NINE YEARS OLD, were hanged in Huntingdon forselling their souls to the devil, and raising a storm by pulling offtheir stockings!--Dr. J. Hammond Trumbull's Blue Laws, True and False, p. 20. NOTE 10, Chapter XVII. 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 thislaw BY ANTICIPATION; the King was venting his indignation against a lawwhich was not yet in existence; for this hideous statute was to havebirth in this little King's OWN REIGN. However, we know, from thehumanity of his character, that it could never have been suggested byhim. NOTES to Chapter XXIII. Death for Trifling Larcenies. When Connecticut and New Haven were framing their first codes, larcenyabove the value of twelve pence was a capital crime in England--as it hadbeen since the time of Henry I. --Dr. J. Hammond Trumbull's Blue Laws, True and False, p. 17. The curious old book called The English Rogue makes the limit thirteenpence ha'penny: death being the portion of any who steal a thing 'abovethe value of thirteen pence ha'penny. ' NOTES to Chapter XXVII. From many descriptions of larceny the law expressly took away the benefitof clergy: to steal a horse, or a HAWK, or woollen cloth from theweaver, was a hanging matter. So it was to kill a deer from the King'sforest, or to export sheep from the kingdom. --Dr. J. Hammond Trumbull'sBlue Laws, True and False, p. 13. William Prynne, a learned barrister, was sentenced (long after EdwardVI. 's time) to lose both his ears in the pillory, to degradation from thebar, a fine of 3, 000 pounds, and imprisonment for life. Three yearsafterwards he gave new offence to Laud by publishing a pamphlet againstthe hierarchy. He was again prosecuted, and was sentenced to lose WHATREMAINED OF HIS EARS, to pay a fine of 5, 000 pounds, to be BRANDED ONBOTH HIS CHEEKS with the letters S. L. (for Seditious Libeller), and toremain in prison for life. The severity of this sentence was equalled bythe savage rigour of its execution. --Ibid. P. 12. NOTES to Chapter XXXIII. Christ's Hospital, or Bluecoat School, 'the noblest institution in theworld. ' The ground on which the Priory of the Grey Friars stood was conferred byHenry VIII. On the Corporation of London (who caused the institutionthere of a home for poor boys and girls). Subsequently, Edward VI. Causedthe old Priory to be properly repaired, and founded within it that nobleestablishment called the Bluecoat School, or Christ's Hospital, for theEDUCATION and maintenance of orphans and the children of indigent persons. . . Edward would not let him (Bishop Ridley) depart till the letter waswritten (to the Lord Mayor), and then charged him to deliver it himself, and signify his special request and commandment that no time might belost in proposing what was convenient, and apprising him of theproceedings. The work was zealously undertaken, Ridley himself engagingin it; and the result was the founding of Christ's Hospital for theeducation of poor children. (The King endowed several other charities atthe same time. ) "Lord God, " said he, "I yield Thee most hearty thanksthat Thou hast given me life thus long to finish this work to the gloryof Thy name!" That innocent and most exemplary life was drawing rapidlyto 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 Jesse'sLondon: its Celebrated Characters and Places. In the Great Hall hangs a large picture of King Edward VI. Seated on histhrone, in a scarlet and ermined robe, holding the sceptre in his lefthand, and presenting with the other the Charter to the kneeling LordMayor. By his side stands the Chancellor, holding the seals, and next tohim are other officers of state. Bishop Ridley kneels before him withuplifted hands, as if supplicating a blessing on the event; whilst theAldermen, etc. , with the Lord Mayor, kneel on both sides, occupying themiddle ground of the picture; and lastly, in front, are a double row ofboys on one side and girls on the other, from the master and matron downto the boy and girl who have stepped forward from their respective rows, and kneel with raised hands before the King. --Timbs' Curiosities ofLondon, p. 98. Christ's Hospital, by ancient custom, possesses the privilege ofaddressing the Sovereign on the occasion of his or her coming into theCity to partake of the hospitality of the Corporation of London. --Ibid. The Dining Hall, with its lobby and organ-gallery, occupies the entirestorey, which is 187 feet long, 51 feet wide, and 47 feet high; it is litby nine large windows, filled with stained glass on the south side; andis, next to Westminster Hall, the noblest room in the metropolis. Herethe boys, now about 800 in number, dine; and here are held the 'Suppingsin Public, ' to which visitors are admitted by tickets issued by theTreasurer and by the Governors of Christ's Hospital. The tables are laidwith cheese in wooden bowls, beer in wooden piggins, poured from leathernjacks, and bread brought in large baskets. The official company enter;the Lord Mayor, or President, takes his seat in a state chair made of oakfrom St. Catherine's Church, by the Tower; a hymn is sung, accompanied bythe organ; a 'Grecian, ' or head boy, reads the prayers from the pulpit, silence being enforced by three drops of a wooden hammer. After prayerthe supper commences, and the visitors walk between the tables. At itsclose the 'trade-boys' take up the baskets, bowls, jacks, piggins, andcandlesticks, and pass in procession, the bowing to the Governors beingcuriously formal. This spectacle was witnessed by Queen Victoria andPrince Albert in 1845. Among the more eminent Bluecoat boys are Joshua Barnes, editor ofAnacreon and Euripides; Jeremiah Markland, the eminent critic, particularly in Greek Literature; Camden, the antiquary; BishopStillingfleet; Samuel Richardson, the novelist; Thomas Mitchell, thetranslator of Aristophanes; Thomas Barnes, many years editor of theLondon Times; Coleridge, Charles Lamb, and Leigh Hunt. No boy is admitted before he is seven years old, or after he is nine; andno boy can remain in the school after he is fifteen, King's boys and'Grecians' alone excepted. There are about 500 Governors, at the head ofwhom are the Sovereign and the Prince of Wales. The qualification for aGovernor is payment of 500 pounds. --Ibid. GENERAL NOTE. One hears much about the 'hideous Blue Laws of Connecticut, ' and isaccustomed to shudder piously when they are mentioned. There are peoplein America--and even in England!--who imagine that they were a verymonument of malignity, pitilessness, and inhumanity; whereas in realitythey were about the first SWEEPING DEPARTURE FROM JUDICIAL ATROCITY whichthe 'civilised' world had seen. This humane and kindly Blue Law Code, oftwo hundred and forty years ago, stands all by itself, with ages ofbloody law on the further side of it, and a century and three-quarters ofbloody English law on THIS side of it. There has never been a time--under the Blue Laws or any other--when aboveFOURTEEN crimes were punishable by death in Connecticut. But in England, within the memory of men who are still hale in body and mind, TWO HUNDREDAND TWENTY-THREE crimes were punishable by death! {10} These facts areworth knowing--and worth thinking about, too.