History tells us that ‘The Black Box’ actually existed. It contained the forged papers written by Robert Ferguson of the alleged marriage of King Charles II to his lover Lucy Walters and that James Duke of Monmouth was the rightful heir to the throne of England. Monmouth landed at Lyme Regis in June of 1685 and tried in vain to organise an army of French and Dutch troops to first take the City of Bath and from there to march on London hoping to oust King James II. But James II had made arrangements with King Louise XIV not to send troops! Monmouth was left with a depleted army of peasants armed mostly with pitchforks. His army such as it was was surrounded at Sedgemoor and thoroughly beaten. Michael Fane served under Colonel Percy Kirke ‘The Butcher of Sedgemoor’ and the new book ‘The Black Box’ by William Cook tells of his adventures and near death at the hands of Judge Jeffreys at the ‘Bloody Assize’. It goes on to include how Daniel Defoe and he join forces with Peter Blood (So brilliantly played by Errol Flynn in ‘Captain Blood’) and how they escape to The Hague and join William the Prince of Orange to form a new army to defeat James II.

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To See the Cover and the write ups on ‘The Black Box’ Simply click on the Amazon Box. No obligation !!!

When I first wrote The Black Box I used the original book written by W.Bourne Cooke way back in the mid eighteen hundreds as my template. The New version is available on line including at Amazon World Wide and The UK here…
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Black-Box-Books-One-Two/dp/1846857201/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1210692103&sr=1-1

The picture is of Michael Fane before Judge Jeffreys in ‘The Bloody Assize’

Excerpt

Judge Jeffreys took more wine and said “Michael Fane, you are a murderer, a traitor, liar, usurper and a more evil soul I have yet to meet, to hang you would be merciful, to hang draw and quarter you likewise, are you familiar with being stumped and pitched?” My mouth must have fallen open, as I simply remember saying ‘God in Mercy’. The Judge continued, “ No, I doubt it, well it’s off with your hands, as you did to poor Darius, but I will go one step further, read the articles clerk”. A clerk took up a book and flicked through the pages, he stopped and whispered in his ear, a wicked and perverse smile emanated from his face, he took more wine and looked at me. “Tis the best news I have had this tiring day, usher”, he said pointing, “More wine to celebrate this good news, I have been reminded that under the penal code, the death sentence for ‘High Treason’ can and will include disembowelment and removal of the privy parts, followed by applying hot pitch to halt an early death, and YOU Sir will see your privy parts burnt before your very own eyes, oh how fitting, this to be followed by later, much later in your case, by cutting off your arms and legs and then finally, being drawn, if there is anything left to draw”, he said mockingly to the jury, who laughed as one. “Then you will be quartered Sir, and your head will be placed on the gates of Bath as a warning to all, take him away from my sight.” He stood, turned to leave and then stopped and turned again “Wait, I think I will attend this event, I must see you on your way to Hell.”
I was in a state of mortal dread, as my jailors led me back to the jail one of them whispered mockingly in my ear, I smelt his foul breath, “First your hands, then your feet, then yer bollocks and guts followed by yer arms and then yer legs, aye, a rusty saw no less, no sharp blade for you, two days methinks!”

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This month (May 2008) I am being highlighted on Radio Cambridge and will be doing a live interview on the book on the 28th. Obviously the more publicity the better.

A blog is also available and can be viewed here http://newhistoricalfictionbooks.blogspot.com/