coronation
While england is real king was going around the country wearing rags eating very little and running away from thieves and murderers king tom canty was beginning to enjoy himself
He did not make many mistakes now
When he wanted to talk to princess Elizabeth or lady jane grey he called for them and when he was bored he sent them away
He loved the royal banquets and liked walking to dinner with an army of officers and servants
He liked his wonderful clothes and asked for more and he had more servants now than king henry he was still a kind king and he changed many laws to help poor people but when he was angry his lords and officers were very afraid
At first tom felt very sorry for Edward the real king
But his new life was exciting
He did not think about Edward very often now and he began to forget his family too
On the evening of the nineteenth of February 1547 tom fell asleep in his comfortable bed in the palace feeling happy
The next day was the day of the coronation
That same evening Edward and miles arrived at London bridge
Everybody was talking about the coronation and people were eating drinking and dancing in the streets
Edward lost miles in the crowds and walked on to Westminster abbey
There he watched while workmen carried things in and out of the building making it ready for the next day
That beggar will not wear my crown Edward thought
When no one was looking he ran into the abbey and hid behind some decorations
When the last workman left the abbey that night he was asleep on the floor in the corner
At seven the next morning tom rode a beautiful white horse through London to Westminster abbey
Hertford was next to him and many lords and servants followed
The streets were full of people and sang
There were faces at every window and crowds in every street
Long live the king they shouted
One of the people in the crowd was tom is mother and when he saw her in his surprise his hands flew up in front of his eyes
His mother saw it and she pushed to the front of the crowd
My son my child she cried touching his leg
An officer pushed her away and tom looked down at her and said I do not know you woman
Tom rode on though the crowds but he did not see them any more or hear their shouts
He could only think of his mother is sad face
For a minute nobody spoke
Then hertford turned to Edward
Will you please answer some questions?" he asked
of course said Edward. Hertford asked him many questions about the palace, and Edward replied at once No one could understand it. How did this beggar know so much about the palace? Your answers are right said Hertford, looking at Edward. "If you can tell me one more thing, we will know that you are the king Where is the Great Seal? I keep it in the small cupboard in my room, Edward th answered easily. Go to this place and bring the seal," Hertford told one of the king's officers. The officer turned and left. Then all the great lords and ladies in the abbey sat and waited. They looked from one boy to the other, and talked. When the officer came back, everyone watched silently while he walked to the front of the abbey, then spoke to Hertford The seal is not there,' Hertford said, turning to Edward. Soldiers, put this boy out into the street.' Do not touch him, or you will pay with your life! shouted Tom, angrily Did you look carefully for the seal?' Hertford asked the officer. "That big gold ring can change the throne of England. The seal is a big gold ring?' cried Tom, jumping to his feet. "Now I know what it is and where it is, too
But I did not put it there: He turned to Edward. Do you remember, sir? After we changed clothes in your room, you went to talk to the soldier at the gates. But before you left, you hid the seal. You could not open the cupboard, so...?'
A smile appeared on Edward's face. Now I remember! I put it under the carpet in the corner of my room! The officer rode away to the palace again, and inside the abbey, people stood, waited, and talked excitedly The minutes came and went. At last, the officer ran into the abbey. He was holding the Great Seal! A great shout went through the abbey: Long live the true king! The abbey was full of the sounds of happy shouts and trumpets. Edward stood in his rags, smiling happily. Take the boy to the Tower, said Hertford, taking Tom's arm. But Edward stopped them Do not hurt him,' he said"I have won my crown again. He helped me, and no one must touch him Servants carefully took Tom's gold clothes and dressed Edward, and then the coronation began again. England had its true king at last, and guns sent the news across the city of London