The year was 1820. George IV was now King of England. Many years had gone by since young Edward VI of England had succumb to tuberculosis, and died at the very young age sixteen. Sir Miles Hendon, the man who had been the young King's protector, advisor, and dearest friend, sat back in his large soft- cushioned dark red silk brocade winged-back chair, and gazed thoughtfully at the flames in large open marble-framed fireplace, as they swirled around the burning logs.

As the logs burned and crackled, thoughts of young Edward flashed through his mind. He remembered the time that he had rescued the young prince from the slums of England, after he and a poor young waif named Tom Canty had traded places on a whim that Edward had, to seek adventure outside the confines of the castle. In many ways, Edward's quest to escape the boredom of everyday life at the castle, proved to his advantage. Not only did the young prince find the adventure that he was seeking, but he also became acutely aware of all the hardships and suffering, that was oppressing the people of England. He made up his mind upon his return to the castle, to bring about great changes throughout the kingdom, that would greatly improve the terrible conditions that plagued his future subjects. And this he did. Though his reign was brief, he ruled with compassion, justice, and equality throughout the kingdom. When he died, all of England sincerely mourned his death. Being such a kind and generous ruler, he had the potential to become the greatest rulers of his time.

[Excerpt from The Prince and the Pauper.] When some dignitary, some gilded vassal of the crown made argument against his leniency, and urged that some law which he was bent upon amending was gentle enough for its purpose, and wrought no suffering or oppression which one need mightily mind, the young King turned the mournful eloquence of his great compassionate eyes upon him and answered; "What dost thou know of suffering, and oppression? I and my people know, but not thou." [end of excerpt]

A warm feeling stirred in Miles's heart, as he remembered gazing at Edward with pride, as he heard the young man reply with such compassion, and sincerity.

Through the years, he had witnessed the succession of his country's rulers, and watched them bring about many changes in the kingdom; some good, and some bad. Out of all the kingdom's rulers who had ascended the throne, he had always held a special place in his heart for Edward. He surmised that it was because he had the good fortune to become so well acquainted with the young boy, and had grown to not only respect him, but love him, as well.

As he sat by the fire in his large English Tudor manor house that he had acquired after Edward had made him a Knight of the King, he was glad that Edward's ward and young friend Tom Canty still lived, and cherished the same memories of Edward, that he had cherished over the years. Miles reached into his coat pocket, and took out his cotton linen laced handkerchief, then wiped the tears that welled in his aged eyes, from his fond reflections of the King whom he had grown to love, and sighed.

As of lately, King George had not been performing his duties as King very efficiently. His lavish taste for wine, and women was causing the kingdom to greatly suffer. And this troubled Miles deeply. True, he had managed to bring about a few good changes here, and there, but for the most part; he was proving to be quite ineffective. Miles released a wistful sigh, and shook his head.

He had just celebrated his sixtieth birthday last week, and now as he sat before the warmth of the fire, he suddenly realized how brief life could be. In the past, he had been so busy with being the King's advisor, and tending to other duties concerning his position, that he had not taken time out, to explore what lay beyond the boundaries of his own surroundings. The urge to travel was beginning to stir inside, him once again.

In his youth, he had traveled to many countries in the past; France, Spain, Ireland, Scotland, Germany. But lately he had dreamed of traveling to another part of the world. A country clear across the map. America! He had gazed at it with interest many times, as he slowly turned his globe around, dreaming of all the places he would like to visit, and reflecting upon all the places he had been. Now today, he had finally made the momentous decision to go forth, and travel to a new land. He slowly rose from his chair, and was just about to inform his housemaid of his plans, when the sound of someone hammering the large brass door knocker against its brass plate, echoed throughout the front hall. Miles turned, and briefly widened his eyes, as he wondered who could be coming to see him, after all these years.

It had been a while since anyone had visited him. After the untimely death of Edward, he still performed a few duties at court, but through the years, as the rulers changed, so did his duties. Now that George IV was king, he was no longer needed at court, but he still retained his title, and the salary that came with it. The King had gathered together several of Miles's closest friends, including the young ward Tom Canty, now a young man of thirty, and had given him a grand party at the castle, in honor of his birthday, and in honor of his steadfast devotion to Edward, and his long years of service to the rulers of England.

Now that he had retired, he had spent most of his days either tending his garden, or passing the time of day with some of his friends at the local tavern. Occasionally he would hear some rumors about the King's misdeeds, but like the gentleman and devoted subject of the King that he was, he quickly defended his King, by denying that these rumors were true, and dared anyone to slander the good name of King George in his presence. He had hoped that someday, this well-educated, talented, charming King would come forth, and continue to maintain prosperity and tranquility in the kingdom, as his ancestors had done. Yet such was not the case.

As the months passed, King George's ineffectiveness as a ruler was beginning to take its toll on the kingdom, and people were becoming disgruntled with their King's philandering ways. Even Miles was beginning to feel a bit embarrassed for defending his King. Yet out of respect for his King, he continued to do so.

As he made his way to the front entrance, he saw Mrs. Jennings his housekeeper, opening the door. He stood for a moment just outside the foyer, a watched with curiosity to see who was at the door. Mrs. Jennings, who was a short well-round woman in her fifties, stood very straight and tall, as she gazed at the tall brown-haired, brown-eyed handsome young man sporting a neatly trimmed beard and mustache, and wearing his finest dark-red cotton-linen suit, white ruffled shirt, red silk cravat, and black polished leather boots, and black leather gloves, standing in the doorway smiling back at her. The young man made a deep bow, then stood very straight and tall, as he looked at the kindly housekeeper, and smiled.

"Good day to you, Mrs. Jennings! I must say, that you're looking more radiant than a summer's day!" he complimented sincerely.

Mrs. Jennings put her hand to her chest, and slightly blushed, as she looked at him amiably, and smiled.

"Oh, Master Canty! How you do go on! But thank you for the compliment, just the same!" she replied modestly.

Tom looked at her with affection, and smiled.

"A most sincere compliment, I assure you!" he stated gallantly.

Mrs. Jennings nodded, then looked at him with curiosity, and smiled.

"What brings you to the Manor House this fine day?" she asked.

Tom looked at her amiably, and smiled.

"I've come to see Sir Miles, good lady. Is he home?" he informed.

Mrs. Jennings nodded, then stepped aside, and motioned for Tom to come in.

"Oh yes, he is here. Please come in," she replied.

Tom nodded, then walked inside. Mrs. Jennings slowly closed the door, then looked at Tom, and smiled.

"Sir Miles is in the study. I'll take you to him," she stated.

Tom removed his gloves, then nodded, and smiled.

"Thank you, Mrs. Jennings," he replied.

At that moment, Miles walked into the front hall. A broad smile spread across his face, as he gazed the young man warmly, and smiled. He glanced over at Mrs. Jennings, and smiled.

"Here I am, Mrs. Jennings!" he stated as walked up to them, and smiled.

Tom held out his hand, as he looked at Miles with deep respect, and affection, and smiled.

"Sir Miles! It's so good to see you again! I haven't seen you since your birthday! Are you all right?" he asked with concern.

Miles grasped Tom's hand, and shook it, then looked at Tom warmly, and smiled.

"It's good to see you too, Tom! I'm fine, thank you! How are you?" he asked.

The two men finished their handshake then Tom looked at Miles, and nodded.

"I'm quite well, thank you!" he replied.

Miles nodded, and smiled, then looked at him with curiosity.

"What brings you out here, on this fine day? There must be more exciting things for a young man to do, than to visit an aging Knight of the King," he remarked somewhat modestly, and smiled.

Tom slightly chuckled, as he looked at his old friend warmly, and smiled.

"That's true my friend. But today, I have something very important I must tell you!" he stated with a hint of excitement in his voice.

Miles briefly widened his eye, then looked at Tom ruefully, and sighed.

"Forgive my manners, Tom! You must be thirsty after the long ride to my house. Come into the study, and I will have Mrs. Jennings bring us something to drink. We can talk in there!" he stated amiably. He looked at Mrs. Jennings amiably, and smiled. "Mrs. Jennings, could you please bring us something to drink?" he asked.

Mrs. Jennings nodded, and smiled.

"Right away, sir!" she replied. She turned, and walked off to the kitchen.

Tom looked at Miles amiably, and nodded.

"Thank you, Sir Miles!" he stated.

Miles nodded, then patted Tom on the shoulder, and smiled.

"You're welcome, Tom! And by the way, you don't have to call me Sir Miles anymore. Just Miles would be all right. 'Sir' makes me feel so ancient!" he stated with a wry smile.

Tom looked at Miles warmly, and smiled.

"Very well! Miles it is!" he stated.

Miles nodded, then gestured in the direction of the study.

"Come, let's go in here, and sit down," he suggested.

Tom nodded, then he and Miles walked into the study. As they entered the large open room, Miles gestured to a large gold winged-back silk brocade soft cushioned chair by the fireplace, then he walked over to his red chair by the fireplace, and sat down. Tom walked over to the gold chair, and sat down. Miles sat back in his chair, and rested his arms on the armrests of the chair. He looked over at Tom with curiosity, and smiled.

"So Tom, how are things at the castle?" he asked.

Tom laid his gloves in his lap, then sat back in his chair, and rested his arms on the armrests of the chair. He looked at Miles wistfully, and sighed.

"Oh, about the same! The King just goes from one escapade, to another! In the meantime, the people are going hungry, and everyone at court, is at their wit's end, trying to keep the King from making a spectacle of himself!" he stated ruefully.

Miles shook his head in distress, and sighed.

"We can only hope that one day, he'll come to his senses, and start thinking of the people, instead of himself!" he stated somewhat angrily.

Tom nodded, and sighed.

"I suppose you're right, Miles. Hopefully his advisors can straighten him out! But so far, they haven't done much good!" he stated ruefully, and shook his head. He briefly widened his eyes, then looked at Miles amiably, and smiled. "But I didn't come all the way out here, just to talk about the state of affairs at the castle! I have something of great importance to tell you!" he stated cheerfully.

Miles looked at him with great interest, and smiled.

At that moment, Mrs. Jennings walked into the study, carrying a large silver serving tray, with two crystal wine glasses, and a tall crystal wine carafe upon it. She carried her tray over to the two men, then set her tray upon a table which set between the two chairs. She looked at Miles amiably, and smiled.

"Here are your drinks, Sir! I thought you might like some wine. Would you like me to pour it?" she asked.

Miles looked at her amiably, and smiled.

"Thank you, Mrs. Jennings. No thank you, I'll take care of that myself," he replied.

Mrs. Jennings looked at him, and smiled.

"Very well. Would you and Master Tom like anything else?" she asked.

Tom shook his head, and smiled.

"No thank you, Mrs. Jennings. Not for me. Thank you for the wine, though," he stated.

Mrs. Jennings looked at him amiably, and nodded.

"Very well, sir. You are quite welcome," she stated.

Miles shook his head, and smiled.

"No thank you, Mrs. Jennings! That will be all," he stated decidedly.

Mrs. Jennings looked at Miles and Tom amiably, and smiled.

"Very well. Enjoy your wine!" she stated earnestly.

Miles nodded, and smiled.

"Thank you!" he replied.

Mrs. Jennings nodded, then turned, and walked out of the study.

After she left, Miles slightly leaned forward in his chair, then looked at Tom with curiosity, and smiled.

"So my young friend, what is it that you have come to tell me, that is so important?" he asked. He reached over, and removed the stopper from the carafe, then set it on the tray. He picked up the carafe, then poured some wine into the two glasses sitting on the tray. Miles picked up one of the glasses, and Tom picked up the other. They briefly raised their glasses in a toast.

"Here's to friendship, and to England!" Tom stated earnestly.

Miles nodded, and smiled.

"Here, here!" he agreed. He and Tom lightly touched their glasses together, then took a drink of their wine. Tom held his wine glass gently in his hands, then looked at Miles thoughtfully, and smiled.

"Miles, how would you like to sail to America?" he asked somewhat impulsively.

Miles widened his eyes, then carefully set his glass on the tray. He looked at Tom in disbelief, and surprise.

"What did you say?" he asked in amazement, as if he couldn't believe his ears.

Tom took another drink of his wine, then set his glass on the tray. He looked at Miles resolutely, and smiled.

"I said, how would you like to sail to America?" he repeated.

Miles gazed at Tom with curiosity, and smiled.

"Are you serious?" he asked trying to hide his excitement.

Tom nodded, and smiled.

"Quite serious, I assure you!" he replied.

Miles slowly rose from his chair, then walked over to the fireplace, and gazed thoughtfully at the still burning logs. He put his hands in the pockets of his coat, then turned and looked at Tom amiably, and smiled.

"Tom, you're probably going to think that this is really strange, but just before you came here, I was just going to inform my housekeeper, that I was going to take a long trip,…to America!" he stated resolutely.

Tom picked up his gloves, and rose from his seat, then looked at Miles in disbelief, and smiled.

"Were you really?" he asked in surprise.

Miles looked at him earnestly, and nodded.

"Yes, I was!" he replied.

Tom looked at him insightfully, and nodded.

"You're right! This is very strange indeed! What a coincidence! How extraordinary!" he mused out loud.

Miles nodded, and smiled.

"How extraordinary, indeed!" he agreed. He looked at Tom with curiosity. "By the way, why did you ask me if I would like to sail to America?" he asked.

Tom laid his gloves on the arm of the chair, then reached into the inside of his coat pocket, and took out a rolled up parchment with a red ribbon tied around it. He handed the document to Miles, and smiled.

"Here my good man. Read this! It will explain everything!" he stated smugly.

Miles stared at Tom with curiosity, then took the document. He removed the ribbon from the parchment, then put it in his coat pocket. He unrolled the parchment, and began reading it to himself.

"On order of King George IV, to maintain good relations with our neighbors in America, his highness has requested that Sir Miles Hendon serve as Emissary of England, and Master Thomas Canty as his aid, and sail to California in the Americas to pass on diplomatic relations to all the main towns in the surrounding territories on this day, June 22, in the year of our Lord, 1820."

Miles read the document once more, just to make sure he had read it correctly the first time. When he had finished, he looked at Tom in amazement, then shook his head, and smiled.

"I don't believe it! This is too good to be true! The King has made me an Emissary, and you my aid, and he is sending us to California! What an absolute stroke of good fortune this is!" he stated cheerfully. His smile briefly faded, as he looked at Tom with curiosity. "Why would the King ask me to be the Emissary? Surely he would have chosen someone who was closer to him to go," he remarked with great interest.

Tom looked at Miles modestly, and smiled.

"Well, I hope you won't be angry with me for telling you this, but I was the one who suggested to the King that he should bring you out of retirement, and give you the distinguished title of Emissary, and let me go along, as your aid. He wanted someone who was honest, trustworthy, forthright, compassionate, and a good diplomat, and loyal servant of the King. So, without giving it a second thought, you my dear old friend were the perfect candidate for that position! And since I had been Edward's ward, and had always been a favorite at court, it was only natural, that I should go along as your aid!" he stated resolutely.

Miles felt himself slightly blush, as he gazed at Tom modestly, and smiled. He handed the document back to Tom, and shook his head.

"Well, for once, I'm speechless! I don't know what to say except that I'm flattered, and honored, that you would suggest me to the King for such an awesome position as Emissary of England! I can't believe the King himself, agreed to choose me for this job!" he stated in utter disbelief, and humility. He walked over, and stood in front of the fireplace with his hands clasped behind his back, and gazed thoughtfully at the burning logs, as they crackled, and popped. Tom took the document, and rolled it up, then put it back in the inside of his coat pocket. He walked over to Miles, then calmly put his hand on his shoulder, as he looked at him with deep respect, and compassion.

"Miles, despite what everyone thinks about the King, he knows which subjects of his are truly loyal, and which are not. And he knows that you are one of his most trustworthy, loyal subjects, and he knew the moment that I mentioned your name, that you were the right man for the job!" he stated earnestly.

Miles turned and looked at Tom modestly, and sighed.

"Thank you, Tom! I am honored to have the King bestow upon me such a grand title! I will try to represent our beloved country with pride and dignity, and with good-will, and diplomacy!" he stated earnestly.

Tom looked at Miles with respect and affection, and nodded.

"I'm sure you will, my friend! I'm sure you will!" he stated decidedly.

Miles briefly widened his eyes, as he remembered the day of their departure.

"Tom, did you say that we leave on the twenty second?" he asked.

Tom nodded, and smiled.

"Yes! We leave day after tomorrow!" he replied.

Miles nodded, then patted Tom on the shoulder, and smiled.

"Well then, I'd better get packing!" he stated with excitement. He looked at Tom warmly, and smiled. "Thank you again, Tom! You have made an old man, very happy!" he stated earnestly.

Tom gazed at Miles with affection, and smiled.

"No thanks are necessary, my friend. This is going to be a very enlightening voyage for us, and we'll have lots of stories to tell, when we get back!" he remarked insightfully.

Miles nodded, and smiled.

"It surely will! And we'll be telling those stories for years to come!" he agreed cheerfully. He looked at Tom with concern. "I suppose you should return home, so that you can start packing too," he stated.

Tom shook his head, and smiled.

"Not to worry my friend. I started packing just right after the King signed that document! I have already informed my housekeeper, and the other servants to start closing up the house. The moment the King gave me that document, I was so excited about going, that I immediately went home, and began packing. When I had finished, I rode out here as fast as I could, to give you the good news!" he stated resolutely.

Miles looked at him in amazement, and nodded.

"I see! Well, since you are more ready than I am, maybe you could start being a good aid, and help me pack!" he remarked with a wink.

Tom chuckled, and smiled.

"I would be happy to!" he stated earnestly.

Miles looked at Tom amiably, and smiled.

"Oh before we start packing, we must have a drink, to celebrate this adventure which we are about to begin!" he stated decidedly. He walked over to the carafe of wine, then picked it up, and refilled the two glasses. He set the carafe down on the silver tray, then picked up the two glasses. He handed Tom his glass, then looked him amiably, and smiled.

"Here's to a long and hopefully successful voyage filled with adventure, good-will, and diplomacy!" he stated as he raised his glass in honor of his toast.

Tom raised his glass, then he and Miles lightly clinked their glasses together in honor of Miles's toast, then he and Miles slowly drank their wine. When they had finished their wine, they set their glasses down on the tray, then Miles looked at Tom amiably, and smiled.

"Well Master Tom, it's time to make yourself useful, and help me pack!" he chuckled. He motioned for Tom to follow him. "This way my trusty aid!" he stated happily. Tom nodded and smiled, then he and Miles left the study, and made their way to Miles's bedroom to pack for the long voyage ahead.

End of Part 1