The Prince and the Pauper
Chapter IX. The river pageant.
At nine in the evening the whole vast river-front of the
palace was blazing with light. The river itself, as far as the eye could
reach citywards, was so thickly covered with watermen's boats and with
pleasure-barges, all fringed with coloured lanterns, and gently agitated by the
waves, that it resembled a glowing and limitless garden of flowers stirred to
soft motion by summer winds. The grand terrace of stone steps leading
down to the water, spacious enough to mass the army of a German principality
upon, was a picture to see, with its ranks of royal halberdiers in polished
armour, and its troops of brilliantly costumed servitors flitting up and down,
and to and fro, in the hurry of preparation.
Presently a command was given, and immediately all living
creatures vanished from the steps. Now the air was heavy with the hush of
suspense and expectancy. As far as one's vision could carry, he might see
the myriads of people in the boats rise up, and shade their eyes from 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 were richly gilt, and their lofty prows and sterns were
elaborately carved. Some of them were decorated with banners and streamers;
some with cloth-of-gold and arras embroidered with coats-of-arms; others with
silken flags that had numberless little silver bells fastened to them, which
shook out tiny showers of joyous music whenever the breezes fluttered them; others
of yet higher pretensions, since they belonged to nobles in the prince's
immediate service, had their sides picturesquely fenced with shields gorgeously
emblazoned with armorial bearings. Each state barge was towed by a
tender. Besides the rowers, these tenders carried 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 great gateway, a troop of halberdiers. 'They were dressed in striped
hose of black and tawny, velvet caps graced at the sides with silver roses, and
doublets of murrey and blue cloth, embroidered on the front and back with the
three feathers, the prince's blazon, woven in gold. Their halberd staves
were covered with crimson velvet, fastened with gilt nails, and ornamented with
gold tassels. Filing off on the right and left, they formed two long
lines, extending from the gateway of the palace to the water's edge. A
thick rayed cloth or carpet was then unfolded, and laid down between them by
attendants in the gold-and-crimson liveries of the prince. This done, a
flourish of trumpets resounded from within. A lively prelude arose from
the musicians on the water; and two ushers with white wands marched with a slow
and stately pace from the portal. They were followed by an officer
bearing the civic mace, after whom came another carrying the city's sword; then
several sergeants of the city guard, in their full accoutrements, and with
badges on their sleeves; then the Garter King-at-arms, in his tabard; then
several Knights of the Bath, each with a white lace on his sleeve; then their
esquires; then the judges, in their robes of scarlet and coifs; then the Lord
High Chancellor of England, in a robe of scarlet, open before, and purfled with
minever; then a deputation of aldermen, in their scarlet cloaks; and then the
heads of the different civic companies, in their robes of state. Now came
twelve French gentlemen, in splendid habiliments, consisting of pourpoints of
white damask barred with gold, short mantles of crimson velvet lined with
violet taffeta, and carnation coloured hauts-de-chausses, and took their way
down the steps. They were of the suite of the French ambassador, and were
followed by twelve cavaliers of the suite of the Spanish ambassador, clothed in
black velvet, unrelieved by any ornament. Following these came several
great English nobles with their attendants.'
There was a flourish of trumpets within; and the Prince's
uncle, the future great Duke of Somerset, emerged from the gateway, arrayed in
a 'doublet of black cloth-of-gold, and a cloak of crimson satin flowered with
gold, and ribanded with nets of silver.' He turned, doffed his plumed
cap, bent his body in a low reverence, and began to step backward, bowing at each
step. A prolonged trumpet-blast followed, and a proclamation, "Way
for the high and mighty the Lord Edward, Prince of Wales!" High
aloft on the palace walls a long line of red tongues of flame leapt forth with
a thunder-crash; the massed world on the river burst into a mighty roar of
welcome; and Tom Canty, the cause and hero of it all, stepped into view and
slightly bowed his princely head.
