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The Seventeenth Century
James I and Charles I
After the death of her niece, Elizabeth, Barbara Ruthven decides to bring up and care for her nephew James as Elizabeth's husband has been killed in a duel a few months earlier. When James is twelve years old Barbara takes the boy back to Scotland - even although the whole Ruthven family is out of favour with King James VI.
Barbara takes him to his kinsman Sir George Bruce, a wealthy man with a large house in Culross, Fife. James makes friends with his cousins Edward and Magdalen. Sir George owns a coalmine which stretches under the Firth of Forth and James is fascinated by the technicalities of it although he is also horrified by the conditions in which the young children work in the mine.
Barbara receives a doubtful, lukewarm welcome. Sir George's wife, in particular, is openly hostile to her. Tactfully it is agreed that Barbara should go under the name of "Lady Barbara Bruce." She moves out of Sir George's house and goes to stay in two rooms in another house owned by Sir George. This suits her as she is now able to use the Ruthven skill in herbs and healing to help the little mine children and cure their sores and coughs.
But in the seventeenth century, skill in herbs and healing is regarded as being very close to witchcraft and Barbara's acts of charity are to bring her into danger. There follows a thrilling tale of a fearful storm and dreadful destruction, a witchhunt, a little tinker girl and a secret passage.
The first chapter starts rather slowly and, to a careless reader, the details of the family relationships could be rather confusing. This is unfortunate because once Barbara and James arrive in Scotland the story really picks up. The descriptions of the salt burners on the shore, and the coal mine under the Firth are fascinating. The story keeps the reader's interest while building up to an exciting climax with the storm and the witch hunt.
This is a gripping story which also illuminates seventeenth century conditions - the frightful conditions of the poorer classes and the cruelty and superstitions of the time.
The characters are sketched in lightly but they do come alive. For example, there are Edward and Magdalen, young but both already showing signs that they will soon be able to fit the positions they have been born to: the vindictive members of the whole Horne family: Isobel, the little tinker girl, timid yet determined and resourceful and Barbara herself, kind and compassionate.
Very highly recommended.
10+
In 1633 it was arranged that Charles I should be crowned in Scotland. He had been on the throne for eight years but he had not been crowned in Scotland. After the coronation he went on a tour of Linlithgow, Stirling, Falkland and Dunfermline. Then, on the return journey, disaster struck. The royal convoy had to be transported across the Firth of Forth in ferries. There was a freak storm and one of the overloaded ferries sank and all aboard were drowned. The following year nineteen witches were sentenced to death for having caused the storm.
Geoffrey Trease has taken this incident and woven an exciting story around it.
Rob Hardie is a boy actor in London. Summer is approaching. Summer, the slack time for the London theatres. But Rob is a friend of the aged playwright Ben Jonson who has just written a masque for the Earl of Newcastle; a masque which is to be performed before King Charles I himself. Ben Jonson's health prevents him from travelling so he authorises Rob to direct the masque for him and gives him a letter to the Earl of Newcastle. Rob travels to Welbeck Abbey in Sherwood Forest for the masque and the start of a strange adventure. After the masque Rob joins the royal baggage train and travels north to the coronation in Edinburgh. He travels as an assistant to the royal apothecary.
Once in Edinburgh Rob stays for a time with the family of his stern Scots grandfather, and later with a local laird. He also meets, and makes friends with Barbary, the daughter of a wise woman. He sees the coronation and travels with the King on his tour. Barbary is with him on the ferry in the storm.
Barbary is accused of having cursed the ferry and of having caused the storm but Rob helps her to flee to England. Can they escape their pursuers?
This book touches on so many aspects of life in 1633. There are vivid descriptions of the masque, the royal baggage train, seventeenth century healing and cures, the religious differences of the time and the fanatical fear of witches. Many of the characters were real people -- including the apothecary.
In Curse on the Sea meticulous historical research has been used to create a fascinating and authentic story.
10+
Everyone knows about the Fifth of November and Guy Fawkes. But why did so many people want to rid the country of James I? This book examines the reasons and it does so through the character of twelve year old Rhys.
Rhys works for Dr Thomas Wiliems in Trefriw in the Conwy Valley. He collects herbs for the Doctor to make his medicines. Rhys also helps the Doctor with the dictionary he is compiling.
Dr Wiliems has a relative, a John Wynn. At first Rhys thinks John Wynn a very kind man and then he finds out the truth. Rhys' grandmother and his sister live on a farm. John Wynn is a tyrant. He wants the farm and does not care what he does to get it. He was responsible for sending Rhys's father as a soldier to Ireland, where he was killed.
Then there is the question of religion. Many of the people in the district are Catholics and under James I they are having a hard time. If they do not go to the Church of England they are fined. Rhys' grandmother cannot pay the fine and has her farm stripped bare as a result.
Rhys does not understand much of what is happening around him. He takes messages for Doctor Wiliems and tells his patients, "Your medicine is ready." He does not realise that these words have a double meaning.
Then his elder brother Arthur explains everything. He tells Rhys of the plot for the Fifth of November.
Rhys is horrified. As well as blowing up the King in Parliament and killing and wounding a multitude of people the ships of Spain would be waiting around the shores of Britain and an army would cross from the Netherlands. It would mean civil war.
Robin is frightened and confused. He also feels guilty because he cannot tell anybody because he has taken an oath to his brother.
This book makes a brave effort to go beyond the bare facts and story element of the Fifth of November and explain the complicated reasons for it. Also the difficult questions of religious persecution and the crimes committed in the name of religion.
A truly challenging read for young minds.
10+