One day Tom got up hungry, and left home hungry. He walked here and there in the city, hardly noticing where he was going, or what was happening around him. Some time later he found himself near a majestic palace—Westminster—the farthest from home he had ever walked. He stared in wonder at the vast pile of masonry, the wide-spreading wings, the frowning bastions and turrets, the huge stone gateway, with its gilded bars and colossal granite lions, and other the signs and symbols of English royalty. Here was a king’s palace. And Tom hoped he would see a prince now.
At each side of the gate stood a soldier. There was a crowd of people waiting for a chance to see a royalty. Poor little Tom, in his rags, approached, and saw a boy, shining with jewels. He was tanned and brown with outdoor sports and exercises, his clothing was all of lovely silks and satins; at his hip there was a little jewelled sword and dagger; on his feet there were dainty buskins, with red heels; and on his head a crimson cap, with feathers fastened with a big sparkling gem. Several fine gentlemen stood near—his servants, no doubt. Oh! he was a prince—a living prince, a real prince!
Tom’s eyes grew big with wonder and delight. Before he knew what he was doing, he went up to the gate. The next moment one of the soldiers snatched him rudely, and threw him into the crowd. They laughed; but the young prince ran to the gate, and cried out, “How dare you treat a poor boy like that? Open the gates, and let him in!”
The crowd shouted, “Long live the Prince of Wales!”
The soldiers opened the gates, and Tom came in.
Edward Tudor said—
“You look tired and hungry. Come with me.”
Half a dozen attendants sprang forward to interfere, but they were waved aside with a right royal gesture, and they stopped where they were, like statues. Edward took Tom to the palace, to the room which he called his cabinet. Food was brought in. The prince sent away the servants, sat nearby, and asked questions while Tom ate.
“What is your name, boy?”
“Tom Canty, sir.”
“Where do you live?”
“In the city, sir. Offal Court, near Pudding Lane.”
“Offal Court! An odd name. Do you have parents?”
“I have parents, sir, and a grandmother, also twin sisters, Nan and Bet.”
“How old are they?”
“Fifteen, sir.”
“Lady Elizabeth, my sister, is fourteen, and Lady Jane Grey, my cousin, is of my own age; but my sister Lady Mary—Are your sisters kind to their servants?”
“Do you think, sir, that they have servants?”
“And who helps them undress at night? Who dresses them when they get up?”
“Nobody, sir. Why should they take off their dress[3], and sleep like the animals?”
“Their dress! Do they have only one?”
“Ah, what would they do with more? They do not have two bodies each.”
“It is a marvellous thought! You speak well. Are you learned?”
“I do not know, sir. The good priest that is called Father Andrew taught me from his books.”
“Do you know Latin?”
“A little, sir.”
“Tell me of your Offal Court. Do you have a pleasant life there?”
“Yes, sir, except when one is hungry. There are Punch-and-Judy shows[4], and monkeys, and plays, and it is so fine to see them.”
“Tell me more.”
“We boys of Offal Court fight with each other sometimes. In summer, sir, we swim in the canals and in the river. We dance and sing around the Maypole; we play in the sand, and we make mud pastry—”
“Oh, it is marvellous! If I could put on your clothes and walk in the sand once, I could refuse the crown!”
“And if I could be dressed once like you, sir,—just once-”
“Oho, would you like it? Then so shall it be[5]. Take off your rags, and put on my clothes! We will have our happiness.”
A few minutes later the Prince of Wales was dressed in Tom’s rags, and Tom put on the clothes of royalty. The two went and stood side by side before a great mirror, and they saw they looked very much alike! At last the puzzled prince said:“You have the same hair, the same eyes, the same voice and manner, the same face that I have. Without clothes, nobody could say which is you, and which the Prince of Wales. And, now that I am dressed as you were dressed, I shall be able to feel as you do. Stay here till I come again! It is a command!”