Hello all.
I thought I might tell you a little more about the novel that I'm planning. I've a little more information to push through the old grey cells, but I'll be starting the writing process once I'm fully sure on where the plot is taking me.
One of the main reasons that I wanted to write an English Civil War novel was because there just plain aren't that many around. The ones out there are great. I particularly like the pair of novels by Giles Kristian - Brother's Fury and The Bleeding Land. But beyond that, there are only the text books to rely on, and I do realise, that those aren't always everyone's cup of tea.
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| The Bleeding Land, Giles Kristian |
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| Brother's Fury, Giles Kristian |
I mentioned in the last post that I had joined the Sealed Knot, a brilliant organisation that really brings the period to life, with not only battles filled with gunpowder smoke and the push of pike, but also camps and living history exhibits where the good folk sell equipment and show aspects of 17th century lifestyle. And because of the fun and action that happens on and off the battle field, coupled with the short selection of novels on the period, I wanted to write a novel and an accompanying set of short stories that really showed the nitty gritty stuff that happened during the conflict. I wanted to write a series that would engage people; that was fun, action packed and brought in all the lesser known struggles that happened on a day to day basis. In short, I wanted to start writing a set of stories that could introduce people to the period. After all, it is a period of massive reforms in the way Christianity is worshipped, civil rights, the way the legal system works, the way parliament is run, and also how much power the monarchy can hold over the people.
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| Musket versus Musket, only one will win. |
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| Holding the line. |
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| What happens in camp, stays in camp. |
But, more about the novel that I'm planning.
I don't want to give too much away about the plot, but I was extremely taken by the Siege of Lichfield in Staffordshire. There were three of them in fact. the first siege saw Lichfield in the hands of the Royalist. Under the command of Sir Richard Pagot, the gentry had decided to give him their support and had fortified the Cathedral, turning two lakes around the edifice into a moat. When the Parliamentarians arrived, there were running skirmishes, filling the streets with gun smoke; the general populace having sided with the newly arrived Roundheads, under the command of Lord Brooke. Early on, once the Parlimentarians had set up lines around the Cathedral, preparing for the imminent struggle to take the Cathedral - dedicated to St Chad - when Lord Brooke took a musket shot through the eye from a deaf and dumb sniper and son of a local land owner, affectionately known as Dumb Dyott while under the bombardment of one incarnation of Roaring Meg, the over-sized mortar. The irony being that this single act, greatly disordering the Parliamentarians, happened on St Chad's day, shortly after Lord Brooke - a staunch Puritan - had declared that churches were the refuge of the anti-christ. But, much to the Royalist's chagrin, Parliamentary reinforcements were quickly on their way, under the command of a very efficient career soldier named John Gell, who had fought on the continent during the 30 Years War - see The Three Musketeers - and soon, weighed down by the force of superior numbers of troops, the Royalists surrender the cathedral and its fortifications to the Parliamentarians.
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| Off to war. Defend the house at all costs. |
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| Get that saker loaded! |
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| In the living history section. |
This would only last a couple of weeks though. After the Battle of Hopton Heath - an act of inconsequential retribution for the loss of Lichfield, led by Prince Rupert of the Rhine that saw the death of Spencer Compton, Ealr of Northampton - the Royalists returned to Lichfield, still under the command of Prince Rupert of the Rhine. Prince Rupert had brought in miners from nearby Cannock Chase who preceded to burrow under he moat, draining it and carrying on to then plant petards - massive placable bombs - under a defensive wall around the Cathedral. With a good portion of the defenses blown away and the bulk of he Parliamentary troops trying to plug the gap, it wasn't long before the town of Lichfield was back in the hands of the Royalists after a second siege.
The town of Lichfield would change hands a few more times during the decade long conflict, but these two sieges are perhaps the most well known. But, that is just the setting for the novel. Three troops from opposing sides meet after regaining consciousness after the first seige and flee north east together, wanting to escape the horrors of war. But their luck is out.
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| Blessings before battle. |
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| For King and Country! |
At Burton on Trent, they arrive in time to meet Queen Henrietta Maria, wife of King Charles I returning to Oxford with weapons bought in France. Burton saw one of the most brutal dragoon charges of the war and after the dragoons escorting Queen Henrietta Maria had set up camp once the Parliamentarians had been routed, they went about raping and pillaging their way through the town. Even at the time, the actions of the Royalists were noted as being particularly barbaric, even if you take into account the way the Royalists were portrayed in Parliamentarian propaganda - another new concept that was invented during the English Civil War. On meeting up with Queen Henriatta Maria after the taking of Burton on Trent, the three survivors of Lichfield are assigned a mission to meet up with James Stanley of Lancashire, who held not only the title of Earl of Derby, but also the marvellous name of Lord Strange - any relation to Dr Strange of Marvel comics fame?
From there, the three survivors of Lichfield make their way north and west to meet up with Lord Strange at the Siege of Manchester, But, of course, you'll have to stay tuned to find out more...
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| A Parliamentary defensive line |
