The Armourer's Prentices

In the New Forest in 1515, two young brothers face an abrupt change after their father's death. Ambrose and Stephen Birkenholt must make their own way as their elder brother takes over the family lodge. Stephen grieves for the familiar woods and worries about his ageing hound, Spring, while Ambrose turns to the practical business of money, shelter and seeking help from relatives. Their different temperaments give this historical novel a personal starting point within the reign of Henry VIII.

The story also enters the world of armour making, where Stephen works under Master Headley. A visiting soldier offers him the prospect of battles abroad, but Stephen's immediate concern is connecting the man with his family. Workshop obligations, family loyalties and the appeal of military adventure meet in this encounter. Charlotte M. Yonge's detailed descriptions and period dialogue offer readers a picture of Tudor surroundings alongside the brothers' uncertain beginnings.