Chapter 1 Summary

The story begins during the king's grand feast. During the feast, the prince, known widely as Prince Brat, sneaks around each chair of the lords and ties their powdered wigs to the backs of the chairs. When they stand up, their wigs fall off and the men gasp as they realize what has happened. Although he tries to cover up his laughter and delight, the king hears him. The king's temper flares and he demands the whipping boy, Jemmy. The whipping boy is a common boy that takes the punishment for the royal prince since whipping, spanking, and smacking are not allowed. Before he became the whipping boy, Jemmy was an orphan living in rags in the sewers.

The guards fetch the whipping boy, who is happily dreaming of his previous life, and bring him to the king. The king demands twenty whacks...