PRINCE          How fine it must be to be free to come and go, and play with so many friends any time you wished. You are so lucky! 

TOM                I lucky, Your Highness! Nay, it is you who are lucky, to live in such luxury, with your servants and rich clothes! 

PRINCE          You like my garments? I find them uncomfortably stiff. I’d give my right arm to run barefoot in loose shirt and britches. Say, as you like play acting so much, let us swap clothes for an hour, to see how it feels to be the other that we envy so much. 

TOM                Nay my lord, I couldn’t possibly - 

PRINCE          Oh nonsense, tis only a game. Come! 

                        (they swap clothes. When they look at each other they gasp in amazement) 

PRINCE          How well my clothes fit you. You could almost be me! 

TOM                And how well my old rags fit you sire. I swear you could wander through Offal Court and nobody would know the difference. 

PRINCE          Ay, tis so, we are truly alike, in mind as well as in looks. You are a fine lad Tom Canty, and it makes my blood boil to think how people mistreat you so. That guard at the gate will pay for his loutish rudeness before the hour’s out. Wait here for me! 

                                (PRINCE rushes out, leaving TOM calling after him) 

TEACH            (reading) ...... and before Tom knew what was happening, the Prince had raced from the room, back along the corridors, and out into the courtyard to the gates ..... 

PRINCE          Open these gates! Open them at once I say! 

GUARD           Oh, it’s you again is it, you little rat! Get me in trouble with his lord high and mighty would you? Well we’ll soon see who’s in trouble now! 

                                (GUARD opens gate and pulls PRINCE out roughly) 

PRINCE          Unhand me you oaf! How dare you lay your filthy paws on the Prince of Wales?? 

GUARD           I’ll give you Prince of Wales, you miserable cur! (hits PRINCE again and again) Go on, be off with you, and don’t let me see you round here again!