Thus was the young and tender-hearted Prince brought to a knowledge of
all these beggars, and therefore it was that their condition filled
him with sadness and induced him to speak so boldly to the King, his
father.
When he returned to Borland with the tidings that the King had granted
him permission to rule for a day the kingdom, the tutor was overjoyed,
and at once they began to plan ways for relieving all the poor of the
country in that one day.
For one thing, they dispatched private messengers to every part of the
kingdom, bidding them tell each beggar they met to come to the Prince
on that one day he should be King and he would relieve their wants,
giving a broad gold piece to every poor man or woman who asked.
For the Prince had determined to devote to this purpose the gold that
filled the royal coffers; and as for the great ball and tourney the
King had planned, why, that could go begging much better than the
starving people.
On the night before the day the Prince was to reign there was a great
confusion of noise within the city, for beggars from all parts of the
kingdom began to arrive, each one filled with joy at the prospect of
receiving a piece of gold.
There was a continual tramp, tramp of feet, and a great barking of
dogs, as all dogs in those days were trained to bark at every beggar
they saw, and now it was difficult to restrain them.
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