'The Town House' (4) - Maude Reed's Tale Quiz | Literature

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Maude was able to ride her pony, Browny, to Beauclaire. As she said, they 'were more like twins than we were, both with brown hair and paler manes and tails.' What was Walter's pony called?

Answer: Robin Hood

Maude and Walter were born in 1435 (a date stamp is given at the beginning of Nicholas Freeman's Tale in the same book), so it is safe to assume that at least two of the options here would not be likely as they are names from more recent tales. Robin Hood, however, has been a legend in the UK for many centuries, and although we may like to think it is rooted in truth, no real evidence has been found to show that it is.

2. The servant who came to escort Maude to Beauclaire was determined to rush the journey. As Browny was unable to keep up a fast pace, the servant struck at the pony, and Maude rebelled against this treatment. As a young girl travelling with a man, she was in an awkward position as no one would come to her aid. One man did, however, and when asked, he gave his name as John Fitz Arle. What did Maude promise him?

Answer: that she would pray for him every night of her life

"I put his name into my prayers that night, and I kept it there; for years and years, by rote and habit, long after I had forgotten what he looked like and everything about him, except that he had stood by me in a moment of great need."

3. Who was the first person to show any kindness to Maude at Beauclaire?

Answer: Melusine

The servant had just left Maude at a door, and she met first with Melusine, who took her to the toilet. She then delivered her to Dame Margaret, who left her to her own devices and it was some hours before she was finally delivered to Dame Margery and the Children's Dorter.

"All my misery was the result of having been sent to the wrong doorway."

4. Self-control was a virtue highly rated by Dame Margery, who oversaw the Children's Dorter, but which of the following modes of behaviour was permitted among the girls?

Answer: vicious quarrelling

"The boys, when they fell out, were allowed to use violence on one another, but not in the house. 'Into the yard and settle it,' Dame Margery would say; and the one who came back defeated had scant sympathy. 'You'll take harder knocks, if you live.'"

The Children's Dorter was a group within the confines of the establishment of Beauclaire. From the Children's Dorter, which included sleeping and living areas as well as their own outside area, the young people would graduate to other areas within Beauclaire according to their gender.

5. Who wrote a Christmas Piece to Maude and so encouraged her to learn to read and write?

Answer: Walter

Mixed among the gifts from home for her first Christmas away, Maude found a square of parchment, highly decorated with leaves and berries, and beautifully written out. Dame Margery was unable to read it out for her, and sent Maude to the Ladies' Dorter to see if anyone could spell it out for her. Melusine read it for her, and Maude asked if she could learn to read. Permitted to do so only if she could persuade another from the Children's Dorter to learn with her, she asked Henry Rancon, who went along and learned to write his name, but nothing else.

6. While playing in the Maze with the boys, Maude was lost and found herself eventually in the centre, where there was a Rune Stone. The Maze was monitored, with two servants constantly watching and counting the people in and out, so she was easily found. What game were the children playing?

Answer: Hare and Hounds

In return for Henry joining the reading and writing class in the Book Room, Maude had become Henry's liege man. When lost in the Maze, she had called out the Cry of Extremity, and he did not respond, so she considered the vows cancelled.

7. When Maude found herself uncomfortable and feeling sick at a bear-baiting, she put her change of heart down to - what?

Answer: reading

It is strange to us now, but watching a bear-baiting was quite normal in the fifteenth century. Maude found herself emphasising with the bear, and was violently sick behind the stands. Unwilling to return to her seat, she went back to the building and saw Melusine with her Uncle Godfrey, and Melusine told her that Godfrey had had a liaison with Lady Astallon, and that now he wished to marry her (Melusine).

8. Although Sir Godfrey Blanchefleur was in love with Melusine, he actually married another of the young ladies who was staying at Beauclaire. This year the plague (a regular occurrence in Britain) reached Windsor, and carried off this young lady's father, step-mother and half-brother, leaving her a wealthy heiress. Who was this?

Answer: Madge FitzHerbert

Ordinarily a rich heiress left in such a guardian-less state would become a Ward of the King, but Lord Astallon worked fast and married Madge to Godfrey within three days, taking advantage of the fact that the King was fully occupied with other matters. Melusine, although heartbroken, put up a brave front at the engagement celebration, but then drowned herself.

9. When Maude left Beauclaire soon after her twelfth birthday, she noted that only one person was sorry to see her go. With her uncle gone with his bride, and Melusine dead (having drowned herself) the three people who may have been saddened at her leaving were no longer at Beauclaire. One person, however, surprised her by coming over specially to say goodbye. Who was this?

Answer: Henry

Henry was to declare his love for her, and give her a base-metal ring which Maude was to wear for the rest of her life. At the end of the book he comes to the Old Vine and makes claim to her, and we learn in the next book ('The House at the Old Vine') that they married and had a son.

10. Determined to lessen Melusine's time in Purgatory, Madge insisted on following her mother's plan to send her to the convent at Clevely. After some work persuading her grandfather that she wanted to go, he finally permitted it, even though he was not happy about losing her again. How much money did he give the nuns each year for her keep?

Answer: �5

"'I can't go without your permission. They ask five pounds a year for my keep. And I must take a bed and blankets, linen. But I should cost as much at home.'
'Cost!' he said. 'Cost. That is nothing to me. You stay home, Maude, and I'll show you how little cost matters. I'll buy you a grey mare. I know where to go - a fellow at Flaxham breeds them and trains them to paces that suit a lady.

They have manes and tails like floss silk. You shall have a grey mare, Maude, and silk dresses, and a gold ring, a ring with a blue stone to match your eyes.'"

Source: Author ArleneRimmer

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'The Town House' (4) - Maude Reed's Tale Quiz

Martin's granddaughter was sent away from home by her mother, who disliked her intently. Forced to fend for herself even in the crowded community at Beauclaire, she emerged as formidable as her grandfather ever was.

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