then i can sign the papers and send him to his death
lord hertford looked down at the floor
you remember sir he said quietly
you gave the great seal to prince edward two days ago
oh yes i did i remember now
i forget so many things these days
well go and get it at once the king replied
quick hurry
lord hertford hurried to edward is room but soon came back with no seal
sir hertford told the king
i am very sorry but the prince does nor remember the seal
shall i tell the servants to look in the his room
do not worry the poor boy said the king sadly and he lay back down on his bed
that night there was an important royal banquet for the prince at the guildhall servants came to dress tom
there were fifty royal boat on the river in front of the palace
they had gold and silver decorations on them
light were burning in the palace gardens and all along the river thames thousands of londoners were waiting for their prince
slowly great lords and ladies came through the palace gates and walked down to their boats
there was the sound of trumpet then a cry make way for prince edward
the crowds shouted when tom appeared
he was wearing a coat of white silver gold jewels
lady jane gray and the prince is sister princess elizabeth walked slowly beside him past the servants to their boat
while music plated softly the boat moved down the river
their light were like jewels on the water
to princess elizabeth and lady jane this journey along the thames was nothing special
but for tom born in rags in offal court what a different world this was
when the boat arrived tom princess elizabeth and lady jane rode horse to the guildhall and went to their seats at the banquet tables
lords and ladies stood behind their chair waiting to help and everyone in the room watched them
when lord hertford spoke quietly in tom is ear he stood up and drank from a gold cup
at once the banquet began