Part Four/Seventeen Summary

St. George's Day at Kenilworth is joyous for Katherine, John and their children. When the duke and his men, including young Henry, John Wyclif and Geoffrey, are mounted and ready to leave the castle, Katherine gives him the traditional drink of mead for safe travel, after confirming with him that he will not be seeing Costanza. He assures her that Costanza is not eager to see him, either, as he heads out for parliament in London.

At parliament, John's brother, the Prince of Wales, is deathly ill with dropsy. The king is old and tired and does not pay attention, except for noticing Alice's hidden presence. John's younger brother Thomas of Woodstock is not of age and is not consulted by anyone about political matters. The proceedings are long and boring with nothing out of the ordinary. The king...