the meat thief
And so Edward was back in the gang of thieves again
He did not beg or steal for them and every day he tried to escape from this terrible life of crime
At night in his dreams he was back in his palace
Most of the gang were not unkind to king foo foo but it was hugo is job to watch Edward and hugo did not like him
Hugo was always looking for a way to make trouble for the little king
One morning he and Edward went into a small town and walked past a woman who was carrying a big bag of meat
Hugo ran up behind the woman and took the bag then dropped it into Edward is arms
Take it he shouted and he ran away
Edward dropped the bag at once but the woman caught his arm
Thief she cried
Take your hands off me woman Edward said
I did not steal your bag
But a crowd of angry people were standing around him
We will teach you a lesson a big man said holding a long piece of wood above his head
But just then a sword came down softly on the man is arm and a voice called out
Good people go carefully
Let is ask a judge to decide about this not you
The circle of people slowly opened the woman dropped Edward ran happily to the man with the sword
Miles he cried
You have saved me again
Miles smiled and then said quietly to Edward
Listen to me and say nothing
A constable soon appeared and miles Edward the woman and the crowd followed him to the court
Did this boy steal from you the judge asked the woman when the group sat in the town is court room that afternoon
Yes sir
She replied
He stole some meat
And how much did the meat cost you
I paid forty four pence for it
The judge is eyes darkened and miles is face turned white
But poor Edward who did not know the country is laws about stealing waited quietly
Leave us the judge told the other people in the room
Then the turned to the woman
Good woman he said this poor boy only stole because he was hungry
But the law says that I must execute a thief if he steals more than thirteen pence
Edward jumped up his eyes open wide but the woman began to shake and cried out
Oh no I do not want that
I have not written the cost of the meat in my book yet the judge said and he looked hard at her
Are you sure of the cost
Oh no yes
I remember now she answered
I paid eight pence for it
When he heard this miles hendon jumped happily to his feet and put his arms around Edward
The woman left with her meat but she was not alone
The constable went after her into the hall outside and miles who saw everything followed them
It is good piece of meat the constable was saying to the woman
I will buy it from you for eight pence
You will not said the woman
I paid forty-four pence for it
But in court just now you said that it cost only eight pence
Let is go back now and tell the judge
Then they will execute that boy
No no the woman cried
Here you are
Give me eight pence and say no more
I beg you
The woman gave the meat to the constable and walked away crying while the constable hid the meat behind a chair and then went back into the court room
You will go to prison for two weeks the judge was telling Edward when miles arrived at the side
Edward is mouth fell open
Say nothing and do what I say miles said quietly
It was nearly the end of the day and the streets were empty when Edward and miles followed the constable through the town to the prison
Look away hendon suddenly said to the constable
Then this poor boy can escape
What did you say said the constable
Shall I send you to prison too
I saw what happened with that woman outside the court room said miles
You only paid her eight pence for that meat
The king is officers will execute you for that and I am going to tell them now
He turned to go but constable took his arm
No no please dear sir
Go now with the boy and I will look away and see nothing
Good said miles
And you will give the woman back her meat
Yes said the constable
Do not forget miles said and he and Edward turned and ran away down the road and out of the town
While they ran they talked about their adventures of the last few days
We must go at once to see lord hertford miles Edward said
I have to win back the throne
His poor little head is still busy with this mad dream miles thought to himself
But I have things to do in London before I go to hendon hall so to London we will go