Entry Five

Entry Four

Entry Three

While the switch between Tom and Prince Edward was completely unintentional, I am surprised by how bitter Edward was when he knew it was a mistake. Though I understand how devastating it would be to go from riches to rags and to be beaten by strangers, Edward swore to have Tom hanged once he got back to his throne. Another thing that surprised me was how well Tom was adjusting to his new life. When King Henry XIII died, Tom stepped up as his role of the new King and changed things for the better. He saved multiple people from death and attempted to right the debts that Henry had managed to build up during his reign. Edward was getting along better when he met Miles Hendon, who took care of him, but for the most part, he kept his royal etiquette. I don't think it fully hit him that he was now a peasant because he still expected to have servants to do things for him and for people to rise at his presence. Though I'm not sure, I think Tom is doing a better job as the King than Edward would, since Tom was exposed to life outside the castle while Edward knows nothing better. Tom can decide what is best for the people, such as trying to pay off their debts, while Edward probably wouldn't judging by how his uncle assisted Tom by telling him not to bring up or even think about the debts. Though Edward definitely doesn't like it and Tom would prefer a more normal life, I think it might be better that they are experiencing life on the other side. Tom almost seems like he can actually be the king, which was very surprising.

http://www.luminarium.org/renlit/tudor.htm This website includes information on King Henry XIII, who was the real king of England in the 1500's and was used as the father of Edward in The Prince and the Pauper. The information about his life, and the subsequent links to his wives and children (including Edward) helps to provide a background to the life of the Tudor family during the novel. The site gives multiple links, including historical events during the time of King Henry XIII's rule and also of other rulers who had the throne at the time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1eyWpUpkwI&feature=related The video explains the form of execution during the Tudor rule. In the novel, King Henry XIII demanded the execution of the Duke of Norfolk, and afterward three peasants were sentenced to harsh deaths such as death by boiling. In history, King Henry XIII was popular for killing his wives, marrying a total of eight times.

Entry Two

The Prince and The Pauper starts out as a letter announcing the birth of the Prince of Wales, Edward Tudor. Next, the writer says that another boy was born, Tom Canty, but they lived completely different lives. Edward lives in royalty and sleeps in cribs filled with silk and satin, while Tom has rags. Edward's birth caused celebration all throughout England, which Tom was born into a poor family who didn't want him. Though Tom was born with beggars and stealers, he didn't like his life and dreamed of being, or even just meeting, a prince. He begged for enough food to keep his family happy and then went to Father Andrew, a local priest who teaches him right from wrong, Latin and fairytales which inspires his dream of meeting a prince. While roaming around one day, he finds himself outside the royal castle and meets Prince Edward. Prince Edward was disturbed when his guard mistreated Tom and invited him inside. From there, they exchanged stories about their lives, Prince Edward becoming astonished how poorly Tom lives since he has only known the life of being waited on by servants. They decide change clothes for a bit to see what it is like, but Prince Edward is disturbed to see a bruise on Tom's hand. He goes to reprimand his guard, but since he is dressed as a beggar, is kicked out of the castle. Tom and Edward are separated from then on, stuck in a world they don't belong in and seen as crazy when they try to explain they are not who they seem to be.
I was surprised with how obsessed Tom was to meeting a real prince. He would act 'princely' which gained the attention of the people who lived around him. He seemed to take it very seriously, and was overjoyed to be in the same company as Edward. However, once they had switched places, Tom seemed to be scared and wanted to go back to his life as a beggar. It reminds me of the saying, all that glitters is not gold, because Tom always pretended to be a prince, but now that he took the place of one, he just wants to go back to his old life.
By the way the novel is progressing thus far, I think that Tom will do something that will be inexcusable for a prince to do. The king is already trying to tell everyone that he is not crazy, but Tom truly doesn't know royal etiquette or specific things that the real prince would know, such as where the Great Seal that the the Lord Chancellor needs in order to conduct business with the king. For Prince Edward, I think he will be miserable in his peasant life and try to change the people around him to become more proper.