STARVATION OR SURRENDER

of Colchester

is the subject of a new book concerning the Siege of Colchester presented by John Hedges and Patrick Denney, local historians.

The Siege of Colchester is one of the most dramatic events in the town's long history. For eleven long weeks the Royalists inside the town were progressively cut off from any additional food supply by the Parliamentary army. Equally subject to suffering were the 6,000 citizens of Colchester, reduced to eating rats and dogs, their thatched roofs seized to feed Parliamentary horses. Equally serious was the effect on the town's cloth industry, as for eleven weeks no cloth left the town and no spun wool came in. The final indignity came when the townsmen had to contribute very considerably to the cost of the siege when it was over. We are fortunate indeed that much eyewitness evidence has survived to give life to that distant event. Of all those eyewitnesses, none are more important than Matthew Carter, quartermaster general to the royalist force locked up inside the town.

Having worked on this project for nearly three years, John invited Patrick Denney, local historian, to collaborate with him. The result is an attractive hardback 200 page book packed with facts, many pictures including colour, a large format detachable map and day-to-day diary of the siege from beginning to end, this book will without doubt enhance any bookshelf.

The current book that is supported by Colchester Museums Resources Centre contain an excellent foreword by Sir William Boulton of Alresford; prefaces by Matthew Carter and Patrick Denney, and added comments from Colchester's well-known historian, Andrew Phillips; all in all, John is delighted to present Matthew Carter's 17th century comprehensive and compelling story to 21st century readers.

The initial print run was strictly limited to 500 numbered copies nearly all of which have been sold by private subscription, but it quickly became apparent that we had greatly underestimated the interest in this book locally and so have now extended a further print run of non-limited copies for the retail market.

Copies of Starvation or Surrender are now only available exclusively from Waterstones Bookshop in the Culver Precinct at £14.95, there are however, a few numbered copies still unsold, any person wishing to purchase one of these numbered books for themselves or as a gift at the should contact John Hedges. Telephone: 01206 824409.

IMPORTANT! Please make cheques value £14.95 payable to JMH PUBLICATIONS, please also note that an additional £2.50 should be added to cover the cost of postage and packing if not resident in the Colchester area. (Overseas Postage upon application.)

SUMMARY

This quality book is enhanced with an outer jacket showing a multi coloured painting by well- known Colchester artist Charles Debenham, and shows a scene depicting victorious parliamentary troops marching past the Old Moot Hall in Colchester High Street at the end of the siege in August 1648.

Andrew Phillips, Colchester's historian has written a brief summary of conditions during the siege; this is located inside the front cover and is repeated at the end of this web page.

Sir William Boulton Bt., Kt., C.B.E., TD, whose home in Alresford, takes its name from the surrounding woodland, 'the Quarters House' which was extended by the architect Richard Wood to create a folly in 1772, and later painted by landscape artist John Constable in 1816. There is a story that its origin was the quartering of troops here by one side or the other in 1648. Sir William thinks this is indeed possible because there is both cover in the woods and also, water; but unfortunately there is nothing in the narrative to support this theory.

Matthew Carter, the leading character of this publication has also written a very informed preface giving his personal view of the tragic relation of the siege of Colchester.

My co-author Patrick Denney, well known lecturer, town guide, and local historian, has provided me with a comprehensive preface to this Edition.

The book in hardback measuring 165mm x 235mm contains 200 pages.

The inside front and back covers show a panoramic view of Colchester at the time of the visit of Cosimo, Duke of Tuscany in 1669, some of the ruins of Colchester during the siege 21 years earlier can be seen in this picture recently displayed at Colchester Minories.

There are 33 illustrations in both black and white and colour; the Colchester Museums Resource Centre has provided these.

This book makes freely available an important and relatively scarce source which can usually only be found on the shelves of the local library, or at a high premium in a second-hand bookshop. And secondly, unlike the original edition in which the text can prove a little difficult to navigate one's way through, this version comes complete with a comprehensive index, a biographical section dealing with the leading characters, a daily diary of events, a glossary, numerous illustrations, and a large format detachable siege map.

The Siege of Colchester is one of the most dramatic events in the town's long history. For eleven long weeks the Royalists inside the town were progressively cut off from any additional food supply by the Parliamentary army without. Equally subject to suffering were the 6,000 citizens of Colchester, reduced to eating rats and dogs, their thatched roofs seized to feed Parliamentary horses. Equally serious was the effect on the town's cloth industry, as for eleven weeks no cloth left the town and no spun wool came in. The final indignity came when the townsmen had to contribute very considerably to the cost of the siege when it was over. We are fortunate indeed that much eyewitness evidence has survived to give life to that distant event. Of all those eyewitnesses, none are more important than Matthew Carter, quartermaster general to the royalist force locked up inside the town.

I am delighted that his compelling story is now being made available to 2lst century readers through the medium of this book.

ANDREW PHILLIPS

ISBN 0-953-06331-3

£14.95

for further details please click below

or at

247 Old Heath Road

Colchester CO2 8BN

tel 01206 796822

or at

6 Ash Road, Alresford,

Colchester CO7 8DU

tel 01206 824409

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