Original subtitles

"The lords and ladies of his court

were like so many jeweled butterflies

flitting through the palace to pay homage to the young king.

He, of course, far outshone them in beauty and wit and bravery and...”

What was he like? Was he handsome?

He was about my age, my size... Not quite as good-looking, perhaps.

"When all the beautiful maidens who were in love with him,

he singled out the damsel of his choice and he said to her,

'Prithee, most sweet and gentle lady, thou must be my queen.

Oh, no, John!

Mother!

Who's the best thief in London?

I... I am, Father.

- And who made you that? - You did, Father.

And why did I take the trouble?

S... so I could look after the family.

- And? - And to look after you

in your revered and honored old age,

when you'll be too old to steal for yourself.

Right. So you don't waste your time and my training

telling bloody fairy tales to kids

or trying to talk mealy-mouthed like a gentleman!

Handsome king?

Well, I'll show you who's king.

You cross my palm with five shillings come supper

or I'll rip your royal backside raw.

Now get away from him, you whimpering old slut!

Get out of here. Get!

Go on, off it!

It was only a sixpence you gave me, sir, truly.

You thieving slattern, it was a shilling!

- Do you think I can't count? - I think your shilling's

in your pocket, sir.

I saw you put one in there.

I keep my money in my purse.

Well, saints be with us.

Well, how... But... Oh, well.

My purse... It's gone! My purse!

Hey, stop! Stop, thief!

Hey, stop!

Stop, thief!

Not so fast, cutpurse!

You'll lose your ears for that.

Constable!

He stole my purse! He's a thief!

Don't let him get away! Catch him!

Stop that man!

Get off me!

After him! Stop him!

He's a thieving scoundrel!

Don't let him get away!

Find him!

Stop him! He's got my purse!

It's him! Stop that man!

Stop him!

What's this?

Wriggle, worm.

Is the weight of England too heavy for you?

I've carried it this 5 and 30 years.

Who are you?

No one, sir. No one.

No one?

Then if I break no one's arm, there's no harm done?

That's true, gossip Henry.

You'll have harmed nobody.

Break away, old Hal.

And yet, sire, you might be crippling a hand

that would serve you one day.

Who knows? If you spare it, it might do good work for Your Majesty,

cutting Scottish throats, for example.

If he cuts 'em no better than you did, I'd as well break every bone in his body.

You failed me in Scotland, Norfolk, and you know it well.

I didn't have the advantage of your personal direction at the battlefield, sire.

Lie still, you maggot.

I'll have that hand of yours cut off

and the stump dipped in boiling tar.

What say you to that, Milord Duke?

I say that he's some man's son, sire,

and as precious to that man as your own son is to you.

Up, vermin.

You ruin my garden, foul my foot with your lousy carcass.

You're a thief. I know the look.

I'm an honest man's son.

Even my son can't say as much.

Look here, worm.

I'll give you ten yards.

We'll see if you can run as well as you crawl.

Guards!

Run me this rascal down!

Thrash him back to the gutter he came from!

Run, you fool, your skin is at stake!

Stop! Come along!

This is well done, lad.

- Well done. - Well, my lord Norfolk,

would you take me to fight against the Scots?

If I was 20 years younger, I would be proud to follow.

Your Royal Highness against the Scots.

Keep your hands closer together on the quarterstaff.

Yes, I will. Thank you, my lord.

He was a stout old fighter, was he not?

Aye, stout enough.

Politician.

Beware of such creatures, Ned.

He's the pope's man and changes sides as easily as you change your shirt.

He stands close enough to the throne to covet it.

He has ambitions.

Never fear. I'll chop him down before I'm through.

Norfolk disloyal? Oh, Father, anyone else but...

We've turned statesman, have we?

Wait till you wear my crown for that, boy.

Till you do, leave the likes of Norfolk to me.

Yes, Father.

At the masque tonight, arrest the Duke of Norfolk.

Take him to the tower. The charge is high treason.

Yes, sire.

And the substance of the treason?

I do not like the color of his hat.

But the masque and ball are in Your Highness' honor.

If you do not wear a costume, all will be spoiled.

If I wear one of those, I will be spoiled.

Who are they meant to be, in God's name?

Oh, this is Adonis, who was adored by Venus.

Simple, yet fetching.

Tamerlane, king of the Turks,

and this is the spirit and embodiment of war, the pagan god Mars.

Mars in the grip of strong drink by the look of him.

You laugh, big sister.

And what are you going as?

I am not heir to the throne.

I can go in cap and apron for all anyone cares.

But Lady Jane is to be goddess of the clouds,

all in gold and gauze.

Very becoming she'll look.

They're all monstrous.

- Take them all out. - But, Your Highness...

I shall think of something myself.

Or my clever sister Bess will devise it.

She's to embroider presents for me.

I am a princess, not a haberdasher.

Stitch your own shirts, Prince of Wales.

Highness, I will be very glad to sew something for the prince.

I won't hear of it.

In God's name, who the devil are you?

Oh, cor.

I beg your earnest pardon.

I was hanging up the chimney... I know where you were.

I asked who you are.

Get up, fellow.

What's your name?

Please, Your Worship,

I'm poor Tom Canty of Offal Court in Smithfield.

...I was hiding from the guards

when this great, big, horrible bastard in the garden made them chase me.

And I crawled in Your Honor's chimney, meaning no harm.

Did the great, big, horrible gentleman

have a green coat and a large staff?

That's him, milord. Do you know him? Gold... Wait.

Have I seen you before?

Where did... Turn your face this way.

Look in that mirror.

Gawd. We look like each other.

No. You look like me.

Which is interesting, if rather impertinent.

Do you know who I am?

I'm Edward, Prince of Wales.

The gentleman who set the guards on you, very properly,

is my father, King Henry of England.

So you see, you've blundered rather perilously, Master Canty.

You'd better explain yourself.

Oh... oh, look, sir, Your Grace...

Your Majesty, I couldn't help it.

They was after me, the constables, and I ran in here not knowing.

It's like your dad said,

I'm a thief, but I didn't come here to steal, I swear.

A discriminating thief.

But not a very expert one by the look of you.

This is my best suit.

Cleaned her last August.

You look like a scarecrow.

Or someone got up as a beggar for a fancy dress... Ball.

Why not?

Take off those rags.

Well, come on, man.

Get them off you. Give them to me.

There's a masque and ball and I must have a costume.

I shall go in your pauper's rags.

And by the masque, you shall go in my clothes.

What will they say when we stand together?

They'll not know which is which.

Here.

Oh, I couldn't put that on.

My servant shall dress you.

I don't mean that, Highness.

I mean, it wouldn't be fitting.

What would your dad say?

He may be big and great, but he's not always horrible.

Cheer up, Master Canty,

instead of a beating, you'll go back to Woeful Court...

- Offal Court. - Offal Court, then,

with a new suit and a pocketful of gold sovereigns.

Gold sovereigns? How many?

One hundred? Two hundred?

Done.

Now we can try disguises.

To my clothes you are welcome, Master Canty.

But the prince's seal stays with the true prince.

Come!

Good God. You, still here?

Have pity on a poor pauper, milord.

Spare a copper?

Your impertinence has lasted longer than your luck, my lad.

I'd better get you out of here while your skin's still whole.

Guard.

Out with this madcap.

But...

- Shall we thrash him, my lord? - No, no, no, that's not necessary.

Just see him safely out of the palace.

But... but... but... but, my lord, you don't understand! It's me!

Let go of me! Get your filthy hands off of me!

I command you to let go of me at once, do you hear?

Oh, good evening, Your Royal Highness.

A small commotion of, of no matter.

I hope Your Grace was not disturbed.

But...

Oh, gawd.

Let go of me!

Take your hands off me!

Crazy rubbish, I warned you!

You scum! You'll hang for this!

Now get away, or we'll take you in and tie you up and flog you to bloody rags.

But it is true.

I am the Prince of Wales.

Cock-a-doodle-doo!

Can I be your pretty princess then, dearie?

And I'll crown your Royal Highness.

I tell you again, you pack of unmannerly curs,

I am the Prince of Wales.

Look. Here is my seal.

The royal seal of England.

Now will you believe me?

God's truth.

Bleeding diamonds.

Nay, that's too pretty a trinket to round a madman's dirty neck.

That, sir, is far too dirty a hand even to lay upon a madman.

For it is plain he is mad!

Now tuck that beneath your shirt, boy, and get behind me quick.

And you... You animated piece of Offal, you take one more step

and I swear to God I'll split you like a goose.

Now back off there, sir!

And leave this poor idiot alone, will you?

I am the Prince of Wales.

Aye, boy, and I am Ivan the terrible.

Now back off!

Don't want it all to yourself, do you, captain?

Share and share alike?

Come on, now.

We'll split it. 50-50?

Here, take my cloak.

Back! Back!

My cloak.

My cloak! Against the wall, boy.

To the steps!

Hey.

Oh!

Run!

I suggest we depart.

Rabble! Traitors!

- Come, boy! - I'll build a gallows for you tomorrow.

You can't hide from my justice, you pikers!

Come, come, come!

Oof!

Highness?

Oh!

Your Highness.

No, no, I... I'm not.

- Your Highness? - I mean, I... I'm not what you think I am.

I... I'm not the Prince of Wales.

I'm a pauper.

A pauper.

Well, indeed you are, Royal Highness.

I see what it is.

Your improvised costume for the ball.

A delightful conceit.

The hunt is up, the hunt is up, and it is well nigh day,

and hearty our king, he's gone hunting to bring a deer to bay.

In the King's name... Henry, I believe.

Oh, are you... Are you arresting me?

Well, I've been in the court of the Tudors for 40 years.

I suppose it's about my turn.

May I ask on what charge?

High treason, my lord.

Oh. Most flattering.

A belted earl to arrest me,

a guard of yeomen to convey me to the tower,

thereafter to the block.

- These are royal honors. - My lord.

I thought such distinguished treatment

was reserved for His Majesty's unfortunate wives.

And hearty our king, he's gone hunting to bring a deer to bay.

This is well done, my child.

Well done.

A pretty goddess need not stand on her divine dignity with a king.

His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales.

Here, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty, I'm not the Prince of Wales.

You never looked less like him, I'll be bound.

Get up, lad! Get up, before I do myself a mischief.

Come here.

A very proper pauper, on my soul.

As ragged a rascal is he... I never doubted your intelligence, Ned,

but I never suspected you had wit.

Oh, but such a peacock must... must lead the ball.

Lady Jane, will the goddess dance a galliard.

With the pauper?

Very gladly, sire.

I cannot dance a galliard.

I... I know not how.

To be sure, what pauper does?

Get up, boy!

Come, Lady Jane.

Music master!

A galliard for our pauper prince!

God bless the Prince of Wales!

God bless the Prince... But I'm not the Prince of Wales.

But I am the Prince of Wales.

Yes, of course you are.

What about the other fellow, the one you changed your clothes with?

- Who's he? - I'm not sure.

Ranty, shanty.

No, it was Canty. Tom Canty.

A thief, he said.

From Offal Court, wherever that is.

Offal Court, that's in, in Smithfield, or what used to be.

- What then? - Then we were mistaken,

one for the other, and the guards seized me.

And then they beat me.

They beat me.

And then they flung me out onto the road.

Then you came along.

It's a nightmare.

I must wait before I go mad.

Yes, well, then, well, first drink.

It's the best medicine I know for an overheated imagination.

- Or lunacy. - I'm not a lunatic!

I am the prince!

Yes, I know you are.

You. You, whoever you are...

- I am Miles Hendon. - If you don't believe me,

then why did you rescue me from that rabble?

What was I to you?

What profit could you hope for by risking yourself for me,

unless you knew I was the prince?

That's certainly royal reasoning.

I saw one man standing up alone, unarmed, not afraid, talking about what he believed in.

It's all one to me whether he was the emperor of China or a moonstruck madman.

He is mad, but... He is my son and England's.

And mad or sane, he shall reign.

Now mark this... All of you.

Any man who speaks of this...

...this illness of the prince's, speaks treason

and shall pay for it with his head.

No man shall speak of it.

Not even the prince.

The prince will not deny his royalty.

He will not call himself a pauper, nor speak as a pauper speaks.

Now go, all of you.

Were he a thousand times mad, yet is he Prince of Wales still.

Where in the hell have you been?

Crawling around in a sewer by the look of you.

Or have you been rutting after some slut in the stews?

You dirty little ape.

What are you trying to do, break your poor mother's heart?

- No, John, he don't... - Shut up!

I told you I wanted five shillings come supper.

Well, you missed it.

Nipper!

But you're just in time for breakfast?

I ask you again, friend, is this your son?

I'm his father.

Whatever business that is of yours.

My business is with his welfare, which is why I'm returning him

to the bosom of his loving family.

Now, I think that he is mad.

But that's no wonder.

Even if you are his father, he's no common boy, so look you treat him kindly.

I'll use the bastard the way he deserves.

So look you mind your own affairs.

Use him kindly.

Remember.

Madam, take care of your princeling.

Hold.

Go to bed, friend.

I'll put you to bed, bully.

Good wife, we shall need hot water and bandages presently.

Clean bandages for me, please.

Hey!

Dickie get behind him!

Sweet Mary!

You've killed him!

Killed him?

Killed him, have I?

Well, didn't he ask for it?

Didn't he beg and bloody well pray for it?

Hey, you saw it!

He struck the first blow, didn't he?

You're a witness!

He started the whole thing!

Murderer! Murderer!

Well, didn't he?

John, it's gallows for supper unless you get out of here!

Now, come on, steel yourself!

The priest will beat on you even if no one else does.

How do you know he's dead?

He's stiffer than a pope's conscience!

Now, come on, afore the word spreads.

You'll have to make a run for it out of London.

Come on!

Where can I go?

How will [ live?

Join up with the Ruffler's gang for a while, out Hendon way.

He'll hide you up!

Oh, and take him with you.

He can steal enough for the both of you.

Will you wait till the sheriff's men come and get you?

Stir, man!

Yeah, I'll get some things.

And then there was a pardoner, an almoner, and a priest.

And they were all going to Jerusalem.

I heard that story 40 years ago and I didn't laugh then...

God's blood and bones, let be.

Where did you study medicine, in a slaughterhouse?

If I might bleed, Your Majesty.

I have no blood to spare, you dolt.

His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales.

Come to me, boy.

Before these scoundrels murder me in my bed.

You look well, lad.

More like yourself.

Here, give me your hand.

I'm ill.

You will have to deputize for me at the Guild Hall Banquet tonight.

All men must see you, see you are well

so they will know the kingdom will be in safe hands when I...

When...

Kiss me, Edward.

Hertford.

Is that snake Norfolk snug in the tower?

Parliament has sealed his doom, sir, with a great seal.

When it's sealed with the edge of the great ax, I'll go content.

And for the high treason that you have committed,

a sentence upon you, Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk,

is that you be taken hence in the morning and your head struck from your body,

and may God have mercy upon you.

And upon you too, sir, when your time comes.

Highness!

It's kind of you to come to visit me, Your Highness.

I regret I have little in the way of hospitality.

My lord, I wish I could help you

as you helped that poor pauper boy in the King's garden.

And then how you sent him out of the palace without punishment.

That was very kind of you, my lord, to a poor and beggarly knave.

Well, it's just such poor and beggarly knaves

that hold England conscience and win her battles.

I've seen them, and I remember.

Besides, the older one gets, the more one realizes the necessity

of a few good deeds to set on the credit side of the ledger.

I've done enough harm in my time, God knows.

If only I could... I'm deeply sorry, my lord.

Well, I'll not pretend that I'm glad myself, Highness,

but as an old soldier who's faced it a hundred times,

do you know what death really means?

It's a cure for rheumatism.

So, God be with Your Grace.

My loyal greetings to the King, your father.

Remind him that we shall meet again.

Very soon.

God bless the Prince of Wales!

God bless Prince Edward!

Is Your Highness not well?

No. Yes, perfectly well.

Well then wave, you fool!

No, no, that's the pauper!

He's an imposter!

I'm the Prince of Wales!

Will you hold your tongue, you raving fool?

You want us arrested for treason?

- I'm the Prince of... - Shut up!

He's my son. A lunatic.

He's an idiot.

He means no harm, no harm.

He just has mad fancies.

God bless the Prince of Wales!

God save Prince Edward!

God bless him!

No.

No, it's sure to get soiled.

Take it away.

Carefully.

How short a time life has been.

Be at peace, sire.

Try to sleep.

Sleep.

A priest's advice.

Slip neatly into death.

Whimpering prayers.

No, I am a king of England.

I will look God in the eye.

Monks.

Monks.

Monks.

Summer is icumen in, loudly sing, cuccu.

Sing, cuccu!

Cuccu, cuccu!

Summer is icumen in, loudly sing, cuccu.

Sing, cuccu!

It must be the King.

The King is dead.

Long live the King!

Long live the King!

Long live the King!

Long live the King!

Long live the King!

But I'm not.

The King.

The King!

- My lord Hertford? - Sire.

If I give a command, will it be obeyed?

The King's word is law, Your Majesty.

Then send word to the tower that the King commands

that the Duke of Norfolk shall not die.

Long live Edward, the King!

Oh, young King Edward is all my joy

and little King Eddie is my delight.

Be quiet or you'll have another mouth under your chin.

Where's the boy? Where did Canty take him?

I don't know, I don't know.

Then goodbye, Master... He's took him away, sir, out of London.

I swear to God.

They've gone to join Ruffler's gang out Hendon way.

It's the truth, sir, honest.

Well, it better be, for your sake, otherwise you'll find yourself

eating your own Adam's apple, do you hear?

Your fingernails are filthy.

Can't be far.

The bloody dark.

Come on.

Well away, friend?

Lost your way, friend?

Frightened of the dark, friend?

I'm not armed! I mean no harm!

I'm looking for the Ruffler.

Oh, the Ruffler, is it?

And what might your business be with him?

What might you be?

- A beggar? - An ambassador?

- A spy? - No, a friend!

- I need his help! - Oh, his help!

- Can you pay? - Can you fight?

Can you steal?

- I must see him. - Are you sure?

- Are you wise? - Are you ready?

Wait, where are you taking me?

Halt!

What? Where?

Halt! No! No!

Hello, Ruffler.

Visitors for you!

They want your help.

We're honest folk, sir.

Well, then you are not welcome here.

If you are a thief, say, or a vagabond, even a nobleman or a lawyer.

My son's a thief.

The best in London, sir.

A thief, is he?

Light finger.

Cut purse.

Pickpocket.

It's a lie, I'm not a thief!

That lying murderer is not my father.

I'm the Prince of Wales.

A lying murderer and a madman.

Welcome, friends.

Mandrake, bring them closer.

Let us have a look at them.

Hey, he's not violent.

We are delicate, fragile people.

Oh, no.

Then loose him, Night Owl.

Linklight, bring food and drink for these worthy unworthies.

Let us show them the hospitality of the sturdy beggars.

Now, you mustn't mind the boy, sir.

He's a good thief, but a bit crazy, and he speaks the truth.

At least about you.

Liar and murderer.

Yes, you have the gallows look about you, bully.

Tell us who you killed.

- Tell us! - Tell us!

It was an accident.

Isn't it always?

We are all here by accident?

We are sturdy beggars.

Thieves, outlaws, cripples, harlots, runaways.

And unfrocked priests, dispossessed monks, banished yeomans, starving soldiers.

Perhaps even a gentleman or two here or there, who knows?

So welcome, murderer, and your lunatic.

He's not a true lunatic, sir.

And he steals well.

But he thinks he's the Prince of Wales.

Then he's behind the times.

Doesn't he know that the old King is dead and in Hell?

God rest him.

Why I should wish him ill, I do not know.

True, he did break the monastery when I was a monk

and drive us all out to starve.

God rest him in Hell.

As to King Henry's damnation, I am impartial.

A toast to the new King, Edward!

Long may he reign!

And may he look more kindly upon dishonest monks, honest beggars,

and all poor folk than his father did!

Why should he?

Why should he care?

Would he be any better than his father was?

You say King Henry broke your monastery, Ruffler.

You were lucky.

I were a ploughman before they enclosed my land.

Threw me into the road with my wife and babes

to be whipped from town to town.

Look at that.

To hell with your kings Henry and Edward, I say,

and let such things be.

- Amen. - Amen.

It is a cruel world.

I was a forester till they cut down the trees.

Then when I poached to feed my family, they... My wife was hanged.

They said it was for blasphemy.

If I'm caught, the law of England says I must burn.

You will not.

As from this hour, that law is dead.

And if my father, the King, had known about all these wrongs that you have suffered,

he never would have permitted it.

When you refer to the King, your father, do you speak figuratively

as one who holds that the King is father of all the people,

or do you claim to be one of His Late Majesty's numerous bastards?

Neither. I'm Edward, King of England.

Damn you, Tom, hold your tongue.

- He saw the King drive by... - That was an imposter,

a pauper who has stolen my throne.

Your Majesty had better hasten back to London,

for once they put that crown on that pauper's head,

it's goodbye to your throne forever.

Yes, I must go quickly, before I'm too late.

Don't fret, dearie!

We'll give you a coronation!

Mandrake!

King Tom, King Tom, the beggar!

No, King Frou-Frou!

King Frou-Frou the first!

King of the Moo Cows!

Throne him!

Let's throne him!

Crown him!

Scepter him!

Robe him!

Be gracious to us, Mighty Frou-Frou.

Trample not upon thy people, oh, great King!

Oh, pity thy slaves.

Reward thy humble servants!

Hail to the He, King Frou-Frou!

King Frou-Frou!

Honor me with a great big, royal kick up the ass, Your Majesty!

Run, boy!

Let them have a fair fight!

As foul as they please!

Come on, Hugo, get up!

Get up, Hugo!

Now I'm going.

Let no one hinder me.

At his peril.

Hey!

You're going nowhere.

When I'm crowned, my first task will be to build a gallows for you

so you will hang for the murder of my friend.

Children have no respect for their parents nowadays.

You're staying right here!

My God, if you try running out on me... Hold it, bully.

Don't let paternal affection cloud your judgment, let him go.

Madman or no, whoever he is, he's too good for you.

Prevent him. Carefully.

Let the boy go.

You. You ungrateful...

He's dead.

Into Thy hands, God.

Why on earth did you bring him here?

Now we shall have to bury him.

You!

Yes, me.

I've been deep in this forest for hours in search of you and this Ruffler's camp.

Where's Canty?

Somewhere back there.

This monstrous man seized him!

- Excellent. - He may be killing him!

Even better. Come on, boy, hurry.

But I don't want to marry the Queen of Scotland.

She's only six years old.

Royal marriages take no account of ages, sire.

And the alternative could well be war, Your Majesty.

Oh, but I can't decide.

I don't know.

As Your Majesty pleases.

No, Jane, don't go.

You see what it is to be a king?

I don't understand half of what they say.

Why can't they make some decisions for themselves?

Because Your Majesty's word is the law.

Yes, that's true.

Kings may do as they please, mayn't they?

Yes, Your Majesty.

And the King must be obeyed.

Indeed, Your Majesty.

What an excellent arrangement.

Close your eyes.

Well?

Whatever Your Majesty wishes is your loyal servant's command.

Please?

Kings are lucky devils.

But the council.

- Should not Your Majesty... - Oh, anyone can talk to the council.

But there are some things a king must do for himself.

Pardon, Your Majesty.

I had thought to find you alone.

Why, sister, no ceremony, please.

If I might seek a word with Your Majesty in private?

Why? There's only Jane here.

Oh, very well, then.

Wait for me in the garden.

Well, Bessie, what have you come to talk to me about?

I could box your ears, by God!

What do I find in the corridor this minute?

The privy council of the realm chased out like idle schoolboys

so that you can play cupid with that hussy?

How dare you talk to me like that?

I'll dare more than that.

Do you think that a state runs itself

or that you can wave England's business aside because you're too idle or too peevish

or too hot after that simpering baggage?

- I'll see to her, God help me. - I'll not be railed at by any royal hoyden

who does not know her place and forgets the respect due to her King!

Respect?

Respect?

Now, mark me, little brother.

I may forget what is due to you,

but I shall never forget what is due to something you seem to have forgotten.

And what might that be?

England.

Oh, Ned... To see you so changed.

So careless of all government.

And your ministers waiting like beggars at the door

while you trifle away the time.

Oh, Ned, it's not worthy.

What I do is my affair, Madam, not yours.

I am the King, and I do not need your advice

or your fishwife tongue.

I have Your Majesty's leave to go.

Yes.

I am the King, you hear?

And I'll do as I like and I'll rule as I please!

If the day ever comes when you're on the throne, then you can take care of England!

By God, I will!

It's only a little way now.

Every moment lost is vital.

I must get to London!

- If that... - Oh, my God, not that again.

- Listen, boy, I'm not going... - Do not "boy" me, sir.

I am Your Majesty.

Your Majesty's pardon.

If Your Majesty would be pleased to take gracious note

that Your Majesty's humble servant is tired and he is hungry

and he has got blisters on his feet.

Now, my home is only just down the hill, and there we can rest

and we can eat and we can sleep.

And I swear I'll see you safe to London

where you can be crowned to your heart's content, Majesty.

There it is.

Hendon Hall.

Home.

I see the old apple tree is missing.

But it's been a long time.

Since you were last home?

Aye.

And in that time, I fought for pay from Poland to Barbary,

from the Scottish Marches to Constantinople.

And for all of which, I have to show what?

One, two, three, four, five wounds and 17 pounds in ready money.

And I've dreamed of returning with a fortune, boy... oh, Majesty.

But this is mine.

Mine!

And Edith will be waiting.

Edith?

Aye. The lady whom I shall marry.

But first let us see how my brother, Hugh, has been looking after my inheritance.

Oh. Royal Majesty.

Come, boy.

Here, the Hall.

Do you like it?

Minder?

Is it you?

Good to see you.

Sir, I do not understand.

Oh no.

Who are you, sir?

What do you want?

Hugh?

Have the wars changed me that much?

I was never pretty, it can only be for the better, sir.

Whoever you are, you are mistaken.

I do not know you, sir.

Nor this fellow, whoever he may be.

Well, as for this fellow, he is mad, but I, sir, am your brother.

My brother.

I know that there is more than one madman in my hall.

Call the grooms. Put this fellow out.

Your hall, sir?

My God, would you deny me that I am... Edith.

I have come home.

Edith!

You do not know this man.

My brother Miles is dead these last three years.

This is an imposter seeking to gain... Why are you mad?

You lying filth, what villainy is this?

Edith, it is Miles.

Surely, you must remember.

Why don't you speak?

Why do you not speak?

Because my wife does not know you, fellow.

Your wife, sir?

It is not true.

Edith, it is not true.

I am Miles.

You must know me.

Say I am not Miles Hendon.

Say I am not Miles Hendon!

Aye... Aye.

Take him out.

You bastard!

You take my name, my home, my woman!

Amazing.

Crazy fellow pretending to be Miles.

Still, no one will heed his wild claims.

Will they?

Put him in the village stocks

so that all the people in the district can look at him

and see that he is not my unhappy brother.

There he is. Make him happy.

Stop! Stop, you cowards!

Make way there!

Make way for the gentleman and his lady!

Make way!

And this, my lord, is the, pretender

to Hendon Hall. Would you believe it?

Incredible!

- Is he a lunatic? - Possibly.

Either that or a criminal.

What is certain is that he is an imposter.

No one knows him, do they, my dear?

Wrong, brother.

I know.

And you know.

And I know.

This is my friend, Miles Hendon.

Two lunatics! Must be infectious.

Aye, like insolence.

We have a cure for that, too.

Williams?

Give this noisy cub a taste of your whip.

Let him yelp to some purpose.

- Come, boy. - You dare?

Traitors, you'll die for this!

You vermin, can't you see he's mad?

Will you flog an idiot?

If you must lash somebody, then let it be me.

Let him alone.

If you are men at all... then you'll whip me instead.

Very well.

Take him at his word.

And you... You can speak as much as you like,

but for every word you utter, he gets six lashes more.

Begin.

Please, Hugh!

You're brave, good heart.

The King will not forget...

Sir Miles Hendon.

May God forbid you ever make me duke, boy.

Go, boy. Get out of here. Leave me.

I shall... I shall do well enough.

It's folly to stay.

I'm not "boy," Sir Miles.

A knight should know how to address his king.

Miles.

Miles.

It's truly you.

Oh, God, you're home again.

Edith.

There, sir.

I thought you were dead, that you would never come.

So many years and no word from you, and yet always I waited.

And then three years ago, Hugh showed me a letter

that said... said you'd been killed in Germany,

and I thought I should die, too.

As for the letter, it was forged.

But why did you not know me?

He knew you were coming.

One of the grooms saw you on your way here.

He said no one must recognize you,

that if anyone did, he would kill you.

He said everyone must deny that you were Miles Hendon.

You don't understand how powerful he's become.

Why, the people here go in terror of him.

Is that why you married him?

Is it?

Out of fear?

No.

He held my father's debts.

You know how poor we were.

And then when I thought... you were dead.

Never mind.

It doesn't matter.

There are horses for you and your friend.

You must go quickly, before Hugh discovers you've escaped.

I will go no further than Hendon Hall.

I have an instrument of divorce to serve upon my brother

and it is made of Spanish steel.

No, Miles, no.

He'll have you killed or kidnapped and sold overseas.

He can do it.

He has the power and great friends at court.

We're going to the coronation tomorrow

- of the new king. - Sir Miles has a greater friend at court, lady.

He shall have back his inheritance.

But what matters is that you are alive and free.

But there's no hope for you here, not now.

No one will ever dare to recognize you.

You must leave, Miles, quickly.

For my sake.

Please.

Aye.

I will leave it.

But only for your sake.

Am I to scout the country like a thief or a pauper without a name?

Even shouting from the rooftops

that I'm Miles Hendon and nobody will believe me.

Am I to be a ragged shadow, unrecognized, disinherited, lost,

staring at myself in the mirror,

asking who I am and not getting an answer?

God, that is madness, boy.

That's what everyone will say... that you're mad.

You may tell them who you are,

but they'll only laugh and mock at you.

Or beat you, or set you in the stocks.

But they won't believe you.

I know.

No matter how hard you tell them, they'll just call you a madman.

I'm no madman, boy.

I know who I am.

Do you?

So do I.

But no one believes me.

Why should they believe you?

Why should I believe you, you who won't believe me?

Where's the difference between us?

Where are you going?

To London.

If I do not, they will crown an imposter in my place.

And when I am crowned, you shall have your name again

and your lady... and your inheritance.

I shall do justice.

Not only for you, but for all this land.

For all the poor... dispossessed, and persecuted.

I have seen them along the road and been one of them...

...and they shall have right.

Majesty.

My King.

My King.

Here comes the King!

Do I... look very foolish?

Your Majesty could never look that.

My Majesty... It's a perilous thing, this majesty.

Jane...

I love you... and I want to marry you.

Do you love me?

I have told Your Majesty so.

"My Majesty."

But suppose I were no majesty, but some ordinary fellow.

Not Edward Tudor, but Harry or Dick or Tom.

Would you love me then?

Would you be content to be the wife of such a man?

I could never help loving you.

But I confess, I'd rather be Queen Jane than Mrs. Tom.

Well... that's honest.

But since you are king and soon to be crowned, what's to matter?

Inconvenient, the escape of that imposter, was it not?

Still, it need not trouble us.

When we have kissed the hand of the new-crowned king

at Westminster Abbey, then we shall be nicely in the saddle.

Now, remember, boy... Your Majesty, leave the fighting to me.

It's my trade?

Yes. And in 10 years of that trade, you made, £17, I think.

Forgive me, sir Miles, but I've seen you fight three times.

Once, we ran away, and twice, you lost.

You must do better for your king.

Yes, well, if Your Majesty will be gracious

to please get rid of the driver, I shall,

leap through the window. Come, sire.

Yaah!

Here!

Put this on.

Imposter.

Pretender!

Miles! Miles.

Pretender, Miles... Which am I, then?

Which am I?

Miles... my brother Miles.

You seem to have the facility

to change your mind from minute to minute.

No, Miles, no! You'll kill him.

That was my general intention.

Quick, help me get these clothes off.

- What? - Help me, woman!

Assn!

Is the damn fellow some kind of a midget?

Are you some kind of a midget?

Hallelujah, hallelujah!

Hallelujah... Hallelujah!

Our invitations, Captain.

Sorry, sir, you're too late.

The ceremony's begun.

Nonsense, sir.

This is the lord of Hendon Hall, and I am his lady.

You will admit us, sir, at once.

I beg your pardon, my lady.

Drive on.

Would you please hurry, sir.

'Tis plain to see.

What's this, sir?

You may not know it, but we are close to His Majesty.

Extremely close.

Stop that man!

He's an imposter! Traitor!

Get inside!

Close the doors!

Oh!

Close the doors!

Guard!

Guards!

Yah!

Go get your crown, boy!

Close the door!

Stop!

That head is forfeit.

That is not the King.

I am Edward of England. I am the King.

Take that man out!

Guards, seize him!

Wait! It's true.

He is Edward.

I'm not the King.

Your Majesty.

But, Your Majesty... Sire?

I was not a good king, sire.

I was not a good pauper.

In God's name, my lord, look at them!

But, which is which?

You have heard us both, my lord.

I am the King.

That is Tom Canty.

That's a fact, my lord.

But that's no proof.

You have our word, sir.

What other proof is needed?

Something more than the word of a rascal in rags!

Show him your seal, boy!

Your Majesty!

If you will not believe me,

will you believe the Prince of Wales's seal?

That would be proof indeed,

for only he that was the Prince of Wales could have it.

Very well, then.

But I had it!

Arrest that impostor!

Back! Whoever touches him perils his life.

Is this what you were looking for, Your Majesty?

You dropped it in the scuffle.

Proof, my lord?

It is the prince's seal.

Your Majesty.

God save the true King!

Wait!

Let him be.

This is my friend, Tom.

Get up, sir, get up!

You are sitting in the presence of the King!

Let him sit.

It is his right.

Edward VI was crowned King of England

in Westminster Abbey on the 20th of February, 1547.

One of his first acts as king was to make Tom Canty a royal ward

and appoint him chief of the governors

of Christ's Hospital, London.

And so, the thief and pauper became chairman of the board.

Being a dutiful son, Tom continued to look after his mother.

And with the money he gave her,

the poor widow Canty started a property and real estate business

providing slum dwellings for the poor.

In this way, Offal Court eventually spread over most of London.

Lady Jane, disappointed at not becoming queen,

Jilted Tom and married an extremely rich duke.

However, she and Tom continued to meet in secret,

and so lived happily ever after, from time to time.

The Duke of Norfolk,

whose kindness and humanity had so impressed Tom,

celebrated his escape of the execution by regaining political power

and wreaking vengeance on his enemies.

They died violently on the scaffold.

The kindly Duke survived into his 80s,

having outlived practically everybody.

Sir Miles Hendon and Lady Edith were married

and returned to Hendon Hall, where she drove him to drink.

One result of this was that he not only sat

but frequently lay intoxicated in the royal presence.

His wicked brother Hugh, having agreed to a divorce from Edith,

fled to America, where he enjoyed a successful political career.

The ruffler organized his sturdy beggars on a due-paying basis

and so became the first full-time trade union leader.

Princess Elizabeth, sister to Edward VI,

became queen in her own right when she was 25

and ruled for 45 years.

As she had promised, she took good care of England.