The King's Henchman: Stuart Spymaster and Architect of the British Empire

by Anthony Adolph

'Brilliant.' Gillian Tindall 'A moving love story between a commoner and a royal, as well as a breathtakingly fresh window into the courts of Charles I and Charles II, and the foundation of London's West End.' Fiona Mountain Charles II's succession to the throne came at a time of national his father had been beheaded, Oliver Cromwell had usurped his right to reign. England was at sea among Europe's constantly shifting allegiances. But Henry Jermyn, a Suffolk commoner, lover to the queen mother and possibly even father to the king, was there to keep the royal family together. Jermyn's deft way of secretly manipulating government and raising an army almost prevented Civil War. He was instrumental in saving the monarchy and set in motion the rise of the British Empire. A duellist, soldier and spymaster, Jermyn was close to the great men of the 17th Francis Bacon (his kinsman), Louis XIV, Cardinal Richelieu, Inigo Jones, Samuel Peypys, Christopher Wren and Thomas Hobbes (whose Leviathan he inspired). The King's Henchman is a story of love, family, regicide, adversity and last-minute escapes, set against the backdrop of bloody Civil War. It is also the remarkable love story of a commoner and a royal who together shared a vision for Britain and created St James's Square and Greenwich Park as its first grand expression.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

403 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2012

About the author

I went to St George’s College, Weybridge; Durham University (studying Medieval history) and The Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies, Canterbury, where I became a professional genealogist. I have been a freelance genealogist since 2003. I try to bring all my practical skills in historical and genealogical research to my writing, which I hope gives it an edge over many professional writers, who are not also day-to-day researchers. Besides research and writing I am also an occasional broadcaster. My most recent T.V. appearance was on the Australian version of Who Do You Think You Are? with Barry Humphries, the genius behind Dame Edna Everage. Although our interview appears in the middle of the program, it was actually the last bit of filming he ever did before his death. We shared a love of gardening, we discovered, and landscape painting. All of which is simply to show that good writers (like good entertainers) are not one-dimensional.

Reviews

[K.J. Charles · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't know anything about the subject before I started. I'm not sure if I do now. There's a passage on why Jermyn was a Grand Master of Freemasonry based on negative evidence (if he wasn't then someone wouldn't have...), there's a line that says on another topic 'but now you, the reader, know the truth at last'*, and there's a lyrically written fictionalised death scene of Jermyn's soul departing oh my God I thought this was a biography.

I conclude that I have no idea if this book is in any way reliable because my impression is one of authorial eccentricity rather than impartial research. if that's unfair, the publisher should consider getting the text under a bit more control. Shame. Interesting period, interesting character.

*quote from memory as I have deleted it already

[Neale Sourna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read about a little known but highly powerful and connected person of the British Charles I, Civil War, Oliver Cromwell, and Charles II.

One odd thing or two; author obviously relishes the idea that his subject might be the illegitimate father of Charles II; ignoring the fact that except for the shorter Charles I, who had an harsh illness when growing up, all of the Stuarts, male and female including Mary Queen of Scots to Queen Anne were very tall. All towering around 6 ft.

Author also tends toward writing his nonfiction as florid fiction.

[Lezley]

Recommended by Dennis

[Lauren Albert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full of speculation which, while stated as such, is also implied as truth. While the inside look at European courts was interesting, it is hard to know how much is based on fact. Probably the majority is fact but it is hard to know. The ending is strange--a fantasy or dream story involving Jermyn and Henrietta Maria.

[Wildbriar · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was well researched with sources noted at the end. Henry Jermyn held numerous titles over his lifetime and was involved in most historic events in the 1600s. It was highly probable that he was the father of most of Queen Henrietta Marie’s children, including King Charles II.

[Kasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping story about one of the most unusually amazing man.