There was a time when the landed aristocracy sent their young sons out to learn of the world before returning to the governance of their wealthy estates. Richard IV was one such young man. His father's estate was vast, one that Richard would one day administer and inherit. His mother expected no less of Richard but wondered about his penchant for poetry rather than prose. It was Mary's way of saying Richard had less interest in the administration of their estate than was expected of him. A special concern of his father's, Richard III.

For Samuel, Richard's friend, who had little motivation beyond joyful revelry, night after night, it was the same. He, too, was expected to one day explore the world as it existed in sixteenth century England. That being the case, Samuel invited himself to join Richard, against Richard's initial objections. Their first days of travel were taken with ease, their nights spent in music and merriment. It wasn't long, however, before these two naive young men found themselves without the means of their families' wealth. Forced to survive on their own merits, they were delegated to the life of commoners, an unwelcome but enlightening experience not afforded them while growing up in the luxury of their families' wealth.