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John Canty / John Hobbs
Edward Tudor’s uncle. When Edward trades clothes with a young beggar named Tom Canty, Edward is mistaken for a beggar and the guards refuse to let him back into the palace after he goes out to scold them for hurting Tom. The Earl of Hertford, like Edward’s father, King Henry VIII, and the rest of the people living in the palace, believe that Tom is Edward even though Tom tries to tell them who he really is—they think Edward has simply gone mad. Henry, convinced that Edward’s sanity will come back on its own, tells everyone to ignore the symptoms. Hertford, however, senses that something is off about “Edward” and wonders if his story about actually being a beggar is true but he convinces himself that Henry is right and that the boy is just mad. Hertford and another nobleman, Lord St. John, stay close to the young prince, gently reminding him how to act and what to say and when. When Henry dies and Tom (as Edward) has to act as king, Hertford becomes Tom’s official protector, although Tom feels like he’s just Hertford’s mouthpiece. Hertford, like Tom and the real Edward, has a kind heart and so he supports Tom when he starts abolishing unjust laws. Tom, acting as king, tries to make Hertford a duke, but when Edward comes back and proves that he’s the real Edward Tudor by telling them where he hid the Great Seal before he was mistaken for Tom, Hertford tries to have Tom arrested. Edward stops Hertford and says that if Hertford wants to keep his new title then Tom will have to persuade Edward that Hertford deserves it. At this, Hertford relents and is allowed to keep his new title.
Earl of Hertford / Duke of Somerset Quotes in The Prince and the Pauper
The The Prince and the Pauper quotes below are all either spoken by Earl of Hertford / Duke of Somerset or refer to Earl of Hertford / Duke of Somerset . For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 6
Quotes
“Now were he impostor and called himself prince, look you that would be natural; that would be reasonable. But lived ever an impostor yet, who, being called prince by the king, prince by the court, prince by all, denied his dignity and pleaded against his exaltation? No! By the soul of St. Swithin, no! This is the true prince, gone mad!
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Chapter 11
Quotes
“Answer me truly, on thy faith and honor! Uttered I here a command, the which none but a king might hold privilege and prerogative to utter, would such commandment be obeyed, and none rise up to say me nay?”
“None, my liege, in all these realms. In thy person bides the majesty of England. Thou art the king—thy word is law.”
Tom responded in a strong, earnest voice, and with great animation—
“Then shall the king’s law be law of mercy from this day, and never more be law of blood! Up from thy knees and away! To the Tower and say the king decrees the duke of Norfolk shall not die!”
The words were caught up and carried eagerly from lip to lip far and wide over the hall, and as Hertford hurried from the presence, another prodigious shout burst forth—
“The reign of blood is ended! Long live Edward, King of England!”
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Earl of Hertford / Duke of Somerset Quotes in The Prince and the Pauper
The The Prince and the Pauper quotes below are all either spoken by Earl of Hertford / Duke of Somerset or refer to Earl of Hertford / Duke of Somerset . For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 6
Quotes
“Now were he impostor and called himself prince, look you that would be natural; that would be reasonable. But lived ever an impostor yet, who, being called prince by the king, prince by the court, prince by all, denied his dignity and pleaded against his exaltation? No! By the soul of St. Swithin, no! This is the true prince, gone mad!
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Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 11
Quotes
“Answer me truly, on thy faith and honor! Uttered I here a command, the which none but a king might hold privilege and prerogative to utter, would such commandment be obeyed, and none rise up to say me nay?”
“None, my liege, in all these realms. In thy person bides the majesty of England. Thou art the king—thy word is law.”
Tom responded in a strong, earnest voice, and with great animation—
“Then shall the king’s law be law of mercy from this day, and never more be law of blood! Up from thy knees and away! To the Tower and say the king decrees the duke of Norfolk shall not die!”
The words were caught up and carried eagerly from lip to lip far and wide over the hall, and as Hertford hurried from the presence, another prodigious shout burst forth—
“The reign of blood is ended! Long live Edward, King of England!”
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
