. About my books :-
Dates of publication to be announced.
IN 1381, England's wealthy have difficulty finding men to work their estates. Following an outbreak of the Black Death some years earlier, war, poor leadership and high taxes are leaving the working poor dissatisfied. When Wat Tyler sets about organizing an uprising there are few who will not follow him. Enraged by a poll tax agreed to by Richard II and his senior officials, and demanding an end to serfdom, the rebels see this as the final straw and large parts of the country gather for the Peasant's Revolt as it was later known. In Norfolk there is also unrest and Geoffrey Litster, a dyer from Felmingham, persuades a small group of local men to join the protest march to London. One of them, Ranulf, is reluctant to go, but finally agrees little knowing what events will befall his wife in his absence. In Norwich, Henry le Despenser is not so much interested in the rising as he is in ridding the county of witches. Not for nothing is he known as the Fighting Bishop for he wields a sword as easily as he does the Bible.
When Tyler dies at Smithfield, many of the rebels disperse, but not our men from Norfolk.
Just who will triumph in this battle for justice amid the bloodshed of over a thousand men.
****
THE country is almost bankrupt, the wars in France are crippling, the nobility are corrupt, the poor are starving and their king is insane. England is ripe for revolution. . .
In 1450, penniless charmer, Jack Cade, arrives from Ireland. Landing at Bristol, he meets a streetwalker called Mary, but when their relationship founders, he must leave in a hurry. On the road to London, he has to escape his past and reinvent himself. During a chance meeting with Richard de Courcy in a Southwark tavern, he is offered work by the wealthy shipping merchant. With his finances improved and later his marriage to Mariamne, he achieves the social status he craves. Ralph, Lord Cromwell is one who threatens to unseat the king, Henry Vl and destroy the House of Lancaster in favour of Richard, Duke of York. Inside and outside the Court plots grow deeper and wars are threatening. Dreaming of a golden future, Kack has become the 'Captain of Kent' and in doing so has stumbled into a place of dark secrets.
But does he, Jack Cade, hold the greatest of them all?
****
WITH the coming of the wool trade in 1549, Norwich is becoming a rich city and its affluent landowners hastily invest in more sheep to increase their wealth. Norfolk peasant Thom Barwick and his neighbours are struggling to survive after losing their common grazing land to these landowners. He joins with others in protest and under the leadership of Robert Kett and his brother, William, they gather under an old oak tree near Wymondham before marching on Norwich. Several thousand strong, they demand to be heard by the authorities.
but they are forced to fight the moment they are seen from the city walls. Mousehold Heath becomes their camp from where they force their entrance into the city by swimming the river Wensum.
What happens to Thom during the rising, culminating in a bloody battle is woven into this tale of courage, fortitude, love and loyalty.
