Tom Jones Book 8, Chapter 14

In Which the Man of the Hill Concludes His History

• Watson explains to the MotH (Man of the Hill) that he is financially ruined.
• If he doesn't get a hundred pounds ASAP, he's going to kill himself.
• The MotH offers to lend Watson the cash, as long as he doesn't gamble it away.
• At that moment, Watson's medical assistant comes running in.
• He announces that the Duke of Monmouth has invaded from the West.
• (The Duke of Monmouth was the illegitimate son of King Charles II. He thought he had a better claim to the throne than his uncle, King James II and VII and invaded England from Holland with a few supporters, but he totally failed to get even close to London. He was beheaded as a traitor in 1685.)
• So the MotH and Watson both decide to join the Duke of Monmouth as quickly as possible, so they can help to overthrow James II.
• The MotH gets slightly injured in the Battle of Sedgemoor, where the Duke is finally defeated.
• He and Watson escape the battlefield.
• As the MotH is getting treatment for his injury, Watson goes off and betrays the MotH to the troops of James II and VII.
• The soldiers drag him off to jail.
• The only thing that saves the MotH's life is a false alarm that sends all of the King's soldiers running off.
• The MotH escapes, but he feels truly paranoid now.
• The MotH finds this cottage, where he hides out until news of the Glorious Revolution (which led to James II's exile from England in 1688) reaches him.
• Once he knows that it is safe to leave hiding, he goes to see his brother.
• He gives up all right to their family property.
• In exchange, his brother settles a lifetime income on the MotH for one thousand pounds a year (about $200,000—not too shabby!).
• The MotH uses that money to travel all over Europe.
• Tom wants to hear about his travels, as well.