Chapter 11, 12 & 13 Summary Alexandra Grondelski

Chapter 11 Summary While Tom presides at a sumptuous banquet, Edward pounds on the gates of Guildhall, denouncing Tom as a fraud and proclaiming that he, Edward, is the rightful prince. Miles Hendon defends Edward from the crowd, but, as it seems he will lose, a messenger from the palace declares King Henry VIII is dead, and Tom is proclaimed king. His first act as king is to free the Duke of Norfolk.

Question I How are Tom’s and the nobles’ view of London different from the one Edward experiences as a pauper? Tom’s views of London are different from Edward’s because before being a prince, he was a poor pauper with nothing, but now he lives in this grand palace with servants at every door and order. People care about him and everything is overdone. In Edward’s case, it’s the total opposite. First he is this Prince of Wales everybody loves and adores, but now he is mistreated and pushed around. He is noticing now how really commoners live. He is taunted, pushed around and made fun around.

Question II How does Tom’s partaking of the loving cup in the court differ from the one in the previous chapter? Tom’s partaking of the loving cup in the court differs from the one in the previous chapter because in the previous chapter, John Canty is forced to drink from the loving cup by the waterman letting Edward escape his clutches. Tom’s drinking from in Chapter 11 because the loving cup is passed ceremoniously around.

Question III How does Tom’s first act as king reflect his character? His first act as king is to make law not a law of blood but of mercy. This is when Shakespeare's word come in. This tells us that Tom is a merciful and kind person who will do anything to help.

Vocabulary bawdkin- embroidered fabric made of woven silk and gold thread bawdricks- ornamental belts worn diagonally across the chest voyded- cut to show the garment underneath cannell-bone- collarbone mommarye- mummery, or mimed acting

Chapter 12 Summary Miles Hendon and Edward make use of the announcement to escape from the mob. Edward realizes he’s the king. As Hendon and Edward reach Hendon’s lodgings, Canty shows up to reclaim the boy. Hendon defends the boy against Canty and takes him into his home and vows to take care of him. After hearing Miles’ story, Edward vows to clear Miles’ name and proceeds to tell his own tale of misfortune. Miles still thinks Edward is crazy and vows to help him regain his health. Edward offers Miles his choice of rewards for saving him from the crowd.

Historical Note The practice of displaying the decapitated heads of treasoners on London Bridge began in the late 14th century and was not discontinued until the late 17th century.

Question I Why does Miles Hendon take such good care of Edward even though he doesn’t think Edward is the king? Miles Hendon is taking such good care of Edward because he feels sorry for this waif who thinks he is king.

Question II Why does Edward expect to be waited on? How does Miles react to Edward’s expectations? Edward know that he is king now, even though Tom is supposedly on throne but he knows the truth. Because Edward is king now, he expects to be waited on because he is the top-dog. Miles says he will treat him like a brother and be a friend to him. He also feels sorry for this child and agrees to his expectations and plays along, such as listening to his every order and calling him “my liege”, “your majesty” and other such important names.

Question III Why does Miles ask to sit in the presence of the king? Why is that a huge privilege? Everyone thought that to sit in the king’s presence was a huge honor and Miles was denied to sit with Edward, so while Edward ate, Miles was standing behind his chair.

Question IV Miles Hendon may well be Mark Twain’s homage to Cervantes’ Don Quixote de la Mancha. Discuss how each of these authors uses the courtly tradition for ironic and humanistic ends.

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Vocabulary athwart- in front of or across betwixt- between plebeian- a commoner trussed- to put on, to secure tightly cozened- to deceive

Chapter 13 Edward demands that Miles help him undress and takes his bed for the third night in a row. Miles takes pity on Edward’s insanity and goes out to buy the boy some new clothes, even though Miles doesn’t have much money. He buys clothes with holes in them, planning to stitch them up. Miles returns to find Edward gone and discovers through a bumbling servant that a young man accompanied by a “ruffian” came to get the boy, claiming that Miles had sent them to get Edward. Miles realizes it is Canty, who claims Edward is his son Tom.

Question I Why does Miles think bigger stitches are better? Where in our culture do we think “bigger is better”? Miles thinks bigger stitches are better because he thinks they make the garment look richer and he thinks better is nobler. Today we think the more money or thing we have is better.

Question II Why is Canty so determined to get “Tom” back? John Canty is so determined to get “Tom” back because “Tom” will beg for him and do his work for him. Canty won’t do it himself because he is afraid of getting caught.