Siege of Colchester – Grey Friars connections
In 1648 the town’s citizens were caught up in the conflict between the Royalists and the Parliamentarians. They suffered starvation, economic disaster and heavy fines for their, albeit mostly involuntary, involvement.
In the first connection, Grey Friars is mentioned in the Articles of Agreement governing the conduct of the surrender on 27th August 1648 shown below. The ‘first query’, which read “What is meant by rendering mercy?” was answered as follows: “By fair quarter we understand, that with fair quarter, for their lives, they shall be free from wounding or beating, shall enjoy warm clothes to cover them, and keep them warm, shall be maintained with victuals fit for prisoners, whilst they shall be kept prisoners.” The senior soldiers were afforded much less mercy.
Note: in the map the Grey Friars site is mistakenly labelled “Black Fryars” as the diagram was probably based on Speed’s original map of 1610. ‘K’ marks the “Friars’ yard”, now approximately where Roman Road meets East Hill.
It also shows an intriguing convoluted front boundary line seen in earlier maps. Such an arrangement, which may have something to do with the juxtaposition of the remains of the friary wall, Roman wall, eastern gate and guardhouse, could indeed have formed what may be termed ‘the friars’ yard’. This was, of course, only a convenient name, for the friars were long gone by this time!
NEW NOVEL … … Based on one of the most harrowing episodes in the history of Colchester and the English Civil Wars, this is a story of human endurance and the cruel consequences of conflict, for victor and vanquished alike.
It’s 1648 and the forces loyal to King Charles I are defeated; the English Civil War is over, but some would not have it so. Leading a resurgent Royalist army, Sir Charles Lucas enters the Parliamentarian town of Colchester in Essex. But the enemy, Sir Thomas Fairfax’s undefeated New Model Army, encircles the town. In the pitiless siege that follows, Katherine Wade, bound to a husband she loathes, discovers a perilous form of liberation. Beth Sayer, an impoverished weaver’s daughter, fights for the survival of her family and Tobias, a wounded soldier, must choose between duty and love.
Author and former Grey Friars tutor CLARE HAWKINS says …
“I worked in education for 36 years in various settings, from teaching English in secondary schools to co-ordinating adult classes for the WEA. Over the years, I attended a number of courses in creative writing, but commitments to family and job left little time for writing anything substantial. However, retirement from paid employment offered an opportunity to try and write a novel.
What started as an experiment quickly became an enjoyable obsession. My initial intention was to write historical romances aimed at women readers, though I have broadened the scope in more recent work. Inspiration for plots and settings derive from my fascination with social history and my background (childhood and youth spent in Scotland and experience of living in various different regions in England.) My favoured historical period was at first early modern England and Scotland, but nowadays I find myself ranging further afield for characters and themes. I write for readers who enjoy well-written, mainly plot-driven stories with strong elements of romance and dramatic action. I want readers to share in the emotional struggles and dilemmas of the characters, whilst appreciating an historical context where attitudes and beliefs offer both contrasts and resonances with those of today.”
More, including details of her second novel The Bookbinder’s Daughter (short-listed for the Historical Novel Society’s International Award 2012/13) and other novels, The Conjuror’s Truth, The Apprentice’s Pledge and The Dust of Melita on www.clarehawkins.co.uk