The Battle of Upton

Categories: 17th centuryTags: · · · · · 4 Comments

In the pre-dawn hours of 28 August 1651, eighteen Parliamentary soldiers inched along a narrow board, that was stretched across a broken bridge, while the high waters of the Severn swirled below them. Their mission: to surprise the Royalist forces holding Upton-upon-Severn on the opposite shore and open the way to Worcester where the King’s army was garrisoned. Fourteen months of a Cromwell the Cat and Charles the Mouse game were finally coming to a head. Background Following the execution of his father, King Charles I, by Parliament in 1649, Charles Stuart  sought allies to reclaim the throne and found in Scotland a willing partner….

Battle Scenes

Categories: 17th century · CreativityTags: · · · · · · · 2 Comments

That’s it. I’m just going to say it. I love battle scenes. I have no idea why, but they make me mad with excitement. I want to grab a sword or a pistol (a doglock pistol, thank you) and just rush into the thick of it. On a fine horse, of course. Fine dresses and jewels? Not as exciting as buff coats and bandoliers. It doesn’t matter if the battle scene happens on the sea (Master and Commander), on a beach (Robin Hood), in the Hellmouth (Buffy), or even in this excellent YouTube video produced by the English Civil War Society about…

The Battle of Hamilton

Categories: 17th centuryTags: · · · · · 1 Comment

Shhh! I’m hiding in Sarah Jean’s Close, a public house in Hamilton in 1650. Well, not exactly. Today, I’m a guest of the English Historical Fiction Authors Blog where I tell the story of the Battle of Hamilton, or more recently known as the Battle of Hieton. This action was fought on December 1, 1650 between Scotland’s Western Army and English Parliamentary forces during Cromwell’s invasion of Scotland. Come by for a visit. I promise you political intrigue, warfare and even a charming love story. Featured Image: Memorial plaque of the Battle of Hamilton (Hieton) By User: Supergolden (Taken by User: Supergolden)…

Finding the Fugitive King a Ship (Finale)

Categories: 17th centuryTags: · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 2 Comments

Up until now, our fugitive King, Charles Stuart, has hidden in a tree, fought off a deranged miller, crouched in a priest’s hole, sparred with a Republican smith, and ridden past a sea of enemy dragoons, all while picking up lessons on the speech and comportment of a country fellow. He’s had a busy time of it, but now we get to the final stretch. Our King must find a ship. After Charles had left the Nortons of Abbotsleigh, he arrived at Trent, the home of a close acquaintance, Colonel Frank Wyndham, who set to work to find him a…

Finding the Fugitive King (Part 1): White Ladies and Boscobel House

Categories: 17th centuryTags: · · · · · · · · · 19 Comments

In chess, it’s all about capturing the King. Imagine this: You’ve lost the Battle of Worcester, and your soldiers have been killed, captured, and/or scattered. You know what comes next. Your father, after all, was murdered at the hands of the very men who are scrambling to find you. Resources? 200 mounted men. Options? Run. Following the battle, Charles headed north toward Scotland. Not that he wanted to, and you could hardly blame him. Since June 1650 when he landed in Scotland to secure an alliance, the Scots had practically kept him a prisoner. He acted the part of a puppet…