The Prince and the Pauper Read online

  CHAPTER IX. The river pageant.

  At nine in the evening the whole vast river-front of the palace wasblazing with light. ?The river itself, as far as the eye could reachcitywards, was so thickly covered with watermen's boats and withpleasure-barges, all fringed with coloured lanterns, and gently agitatedby the waves, that it resembled a glowing and limitless garden offlowers stirred to soft motion by summer winds. ?The grand terrace ofstone steps leading down to the water, spacious enough to mass the armyof a German principality upon, was a picture to see, with its ranksof royal halberdiers in polished armour, and its troops of brilliantlycostumed servitors flitting up and down, and to and fro, in the hurry ofpreparation.

  Presently a command was given, and immediately all living creaturesvanished from the steps. ?Now the air was heavy with the hush ofsuspense and expectancy. ?As far as one's vision could carry, he mightsee the myriads of people in the boats rise up, and shade their eyesfrom 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 wererichly gilt, and their lofty prows and sterns were elaborately carved.Some of them were decorated with banners and streamers; some withcloth-of-gold and arras embroidered with coats-of-arms; others withsilken flags that had numberless little silver bells fastened to them,which shook out tiny showers of joyous music whenever the breezesfluttered them; others of yet higher pretensions, since they belonged tonobles in the prince's immediate service, had their sides picturesquelyfenced with shields gorgeously emblazoned with armorial bearings. ?Eachstate barge was towed by a tender. ?Besides the rowers, these tenderscarried each a number of men-at-arms in glossy helmet and breastplate,and a company of musicians.

  The advance-guard of the expected procession now appeared in the greatgateway, a troop of halberdiers. ?'They were dressed in striped hose ofblack and tawny, velvet caps graced at the sides with silver roses, anddoublets of murrey and blue cloth, embroidered on the front and backwith the three feathers, the prince's blazon, woven in gold. ?Theirhalberd staves were covered with crimson velvet, fastened with giltnails, and ornamented with gold tassels. ?Filing off on the right andleft, they formed two long lines, extending from the gateway of thepalace to the water's edge. ?A thick rayed cloth or carpet wasthen unfolded, and laid down between them by attendants in thegold-and-crimson liveries of the prince. ?This done, a flourish oftrumpets resounded from within. ?A lively prelude arose from themusicians on the water; and two ushers with white wands marched with aslow and stately pace from the portal. ?They were followed by an officerbearing the civic mace, after whom came another carrying the city'ssword; then several sergeants of the city guard, in their fullaccoutrements, and with badges on their sleeves; then the GarterKing-at-arms, in his tabard; then several Knights of the Bath, each witha white lace on his sleeve; then their esquires; then the judges, intheir robes of scarlet and coifs; then the Lord High Chancellor ofEngland, in a robe of scarlet, open before, and purfled with minever;then a deputation of aldermen, in their scarlet cloaks; and then theheads of the different civic companies, in their robes of state. Nowcame twelve French gentlemen, in splendid habiliments, consisting ofpourpoints of white damask barred with gold, short mantles ofcrimson velvet lined with violet taffeta, and carnation colouredhauts-de-chausses, and took their way down the steps. ?They were of thesuite of the French ambassador, and were followed by twelve cavaliers ofthe suite of the Spanish ambassador, clothed in black velvet, unrelievedby any ornament. ?Following these came several great English nobles withtheir attendants.'

  There was a flourish of trumpets within; and the Prince's uncle, thefuture great Duke of Somerset, emerged from the gateway, arrayed in a'doublet of black cloth-of-gold, and a cloak of crimson satin floweredwith gold, and ribanded with nets of silver.' ?He turned, doffedhis plumed cap, bent his body in a low reverence, and began to stepbackward, bowing at each step. ?A prolonged trumpet-blast followed, anda proclamation, "Way for the high and mighty the Lord Edward, Prince ofWales!" ?High aloft on the palace walls a long line of red tongues offlame leapt forth with a thunder-crash; the massed world on the riverburst into a mighty roar of welcome; and Tom Canty, the cause and heroof it all, stepped into view and slightly bowed his princely head.

  He was 'magnificently habited in a doublet of white satin, with afront-piece of purple cloth-of-tissue, powdered with diamonds, and edgedwith ermine. ?Over this he wore a mantle of white cloth-of-gold, pouncedwith the triple-feathered crest, lined with blue satin, set with pearlsand precious stones, and fastened with a clasp of brilliants. ?About hisneck 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, familiarwith rags and dirt and misery, what a spectacle is this!