Chapter 7 Summary

The two outlaws decide that they should write a note to the king for ransom money. They find some paper, a feather, and use some juice from a beetroot and give it to Prince Brat to write since neither outlaw is literate. At first, the prince refuses to write because he is hungry. Then he admits that he cannot write. The outlaws know that kings and princes learn how to read and write at an early age, so they do not believe him.

Jemmy now hatches up a plan and tries to get the prince to play along. He announces that he can write and Prince Brat acknowledges it is true. The two outlaws cannot believe for a minute that the whipping boy is educated and the prince is ignorant. They believe that the two boys have falsely identified themselves. When they start...