# Edward VI — The Prince and the Pauper character guide > Edward VI in The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Edward, King Edward VI, Edward Tudor, Edward Prince **First appearance:** 0004-i-the-birth-of-the-prince-and-the-pauper ## Who they are The longed-for Prince of Wales, raised in silk and ceremony, who learns what England looks like from the wrong side of its gates. ## Relationships ### [Tom Canty](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/characters/tom_canty) _friendship_ The prince and the pauper boy swap identities and develop a deep bond of mutual understanding and loyalty. ### [Miles Hendon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/characters/miles_hendon) _friendship_ Miles becomes Edward's loyal protector and companion during his exile, treating him with chivalrous devotion. ### [John Canty](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/characters/john_canty) _rivalry_ John Canty is a brutal antagonist who pursues Edward with violent intent after the prince is mistaken for Tom. ### [Hugo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/characters/hugo) _rivalry_ Hugo is a cruel thief and accomplice of John Canty who torments Edward during his time among the poor. ### [Lord St. John](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/characters/lord_st_john) _professional_ Lord St. John is a royal courtier who serves Edward and helps maintain the illusion of the prince's identity. ### [Father Andrew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/characters/father_andrew) _friendship_ Father Andrew shows kindness to Edward when he is lost and alone, offering him shelter. ### [Lady Edith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/characters/lady_edith) _social_ Edward meets Lady Edith during his wanderings and she shows him kindness, though she is conflicted. ### [Tom Canty](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/characters/tom_canty) _friendship_ The prince and the pauper boy swap identities and develop a deep bond of mutual understanding and loyalty. ### [Miles Hendon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/characters/miles_hendon) _friendship_ Miles becomes Edward's loyal protector and companion during his exile, treating him with chivalrous devotion. ### [Tom Canty](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/characters/tom_canty) _friendship_ The prince and the pauper boy swap identities and develop a deep bond of mutual understanding and loyalty. ### [Miles Hendon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/characters/miles_hendon) _friendship_ Miles becomes Edward's loyal protector and companion during his exile, treating him with chivalrous devotion. ### [John Canty](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/characters/john_canty) _rivalry_ John Canty is a brutal antagonist who pursues Edward with violent intent after the prince is mistaken for Tom. ## In the story ### [The Prince and the Pauper](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/chapters/the-prince-and-the-pauper) Born into royalty as the Prince of Wales, Edward is celebrated and pampered, unaware of the suffering outside the palace. ### [The Birth of the Prince and the Pauper](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/chapters/i-the-birth-of-the-prince-and-the-pauper) Born as the long-awaited Prince of Wales, celebrated by all England, lapped in silks and satins. ### [Tom's Meeting with the Prince](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/chapters/iii-tom-s-meeting-with-the-prince) The Prince of Wales who befriends Tom, swaps clothes, and is thrown out of the palace. ### [IV: The Prince's Troubles Begin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/chapters/iv-the-prince-s-troubles-begin) Wanders lost and injured through London, seeks help at Christ's Church, is mocked and attacked, then seized by John Canty. ### [Tom as a Patrician](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/chapters/v-tom-as-a-patrician) Mentioned as the prince who has left Tom alone; his absence causes Tom's distress. ### [Tom Receives Instructions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/chapters/vi-tom-receives-instructions) Referenced as the true prince, but not present in the chapter; his commands are conveyed through Lord St. John. ### [Tom's First Royal Dinner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/chapters/vii-tom-s-first-royal-dinner) The true prince is not present in this chapter, but his armor and belongings are mentioned as being in the cabinet where Tom goes. ### [The Prince in the Toils](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/chapters/x-the-prince-in-the-toils) The rightful prince, dragged to Offal Court, beaten by John Canty, and comforted by Tom's mother and sisters. He insists on his royal identity and later escapes into the crowd. ### [At Guildhall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/chapters/xi-at-guildhall) The real prince, outside Guildhall, proclaims his identity and is mocked by the crowd. ### [XII: The Prince and His Deliverer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/chapters/xii-the-prince-and-his-deliverer) Learns of his father's death and his own accession; insists on royal treatment; listens to Hendon's tale and vows to help him. ### [XIII: The Disappearance of the Prince](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/chapters/xiii-the-disappearance-of-the-prince) Sleeps deeply, is tricked into leaving with a youth, and goes willingly because he thinks Miles Hendon asked it. ### [XIV: “Le Roi Est Mort—Vive le Roi”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/chapters/xiv-le-roi-est-mort-vive-le-roi) Edward is the identity Tom is mistaken for; the chapter confirms his kingship after Henry VIII's death. ### [Foo-Foo the First](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/chapters/xvii-foo-foo-the-first) Lured into a trap by Hugo, recaptured by John Canty, forced to join a gang of thieves, and grieves for his father Henry VIII. ### [The Prince with the Tramps](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/chapters/xviii-the-prince-with-the-tramps) Forced to travel with tramps, refuses to beg or steal, escapes from Hugo, and finds shelter in a barn. ### [XIX: The Prince with the Peasants](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/chapters/xix-the-prince-with-the-peasants) Awakens in a barn, befriended by two little girls, and is taken in by their mother. He attempts to cook but burns the food, and later flees when John Canty and Hugo approach. ### [The Prince and the Hermit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/chapters/xx-the-prince-and-the-hermit) The king, fleeing from danger, seeks shelter in a hermit's hut and is bound while sleeping. ### [Hendon to the Rescue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/chapters/xxi-hendon-to-the-rescue) Bound and helpless, the king faces death at the hermit's hands, experiences hope when Hendon arrives, and is ultimately recaptured by John Canty and Hugo. ### [XXII: A Victim of Treachery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/chapters/xxii-a-victim-of-treachery) The king, still captive among the tramps, endures abuse from Hugo and Canty, fights Hugo with a cudgel, and is later framed for theft before being rescued by Miles Hendon. ### [XXIII: The Prince a Prisoner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/chapters/xxiii-the-prince-a-prisoner) Wrongly accused of theft, Edward struggles to maintain his royal composure but is persuaded by Hendon to submit to the law. ### [The Escape](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/chapters/xxiv-the-escape) The true king, being led to jail, observes the indifference of the streets and is aided by Hendon's scheme. ### [Hendon Hall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/chapters/xxv-hendon-hall) Travels with Hendon, now dressed in secondhand clothes, and listens to Hendon's stories. ### [Disowned](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/chapters/xxvi-disowned) The king muses on the strangeness of not being missed and writes a letter in three languages to Lord Hertford, insisting on his plan despite Hendon's objections. ### [In Prison](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/chapters/xxvii-in-prison) Chafes at imprisonment, converses with prisoners, learns of their cruel sentences, and vows to show mercy and reform unjust laws. ### [The Sacrifice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/chapters/xxviii-the-sacrifice) Witnesses Hendon's punishment, tries to intervene, and later dubs Hendon an earl. ### [To London](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/chapters/xxix-to-london) Travels with Hendon to London, deep in thought, and becomes separated from him in the riot. ### [Tom's Progress](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/chapters/xxx-tom-s-progress) The true king is wandering poorly clad and hungry, wedged among a crowd watching coronation preparations at Westminster Abbey. ### [The Recognition Procession](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/chapters/xxxi-the-recognition-procession) The true king, represented by an effigy in the pageant; Tom is mistaken for him. ### [Coronation Day](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/chapters/xxxii-coronation-day) The true king who arrives in rags at the coronation, answers questions correctly, and is finally recognized after the Great Seal is located. ### [Edward as King](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/chapters/xxxiii-edward-as-king) Now crowned king, he dispenses justice, restoring Miles Hendon's estates and punishing Sir Hugh, and honors Tom Canty. ### [Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/chapters/conclusion) King Edward VI lives only a few years but reigns mercifully, often retelling his adventures to keep compassion alive. ### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/chapters/endnotes) Historical Edward VI is credited with founding Christ's Hospital and other charities, and with repealing harsh laws, showing his merciful character. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/characters/edward_vi - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/characters