Some interesting things about the book…
The original, working title, of this book, was The Physician’s Remedy.
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The opening scene in Cardinal Richelieu’s office is very strongly based on the opening paragraphs of another, rather famous, historical fiction set in 17th Century France…
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Christ Church College where King Charles had his residence in Oxford.
British Library , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
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The situation in Southampton in early December 1642 was an interesting one. Most of the citizens tended to favour Parliament, but there was still a sizable Royalist presence. In November 1642 Captain Swanley took the rather ironically named Parliamentarian warship The Charles to Southampton and demanded the surrender of the town which happened in December and a Parliamentarian garrison was then installed.
John Speed, 17th century artist, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
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Paris in the 1640s was the biggest city in Western Europe. It’s population was about half a million. That made it undoubtedly the most densely populated too with an eye-watering 250,000 people per square mile. Indeed Paris has never been so densely populated before or since.
by Claes Janszoon Visscher II , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
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The portrait of Philip Lord that hangs in the chateau of Saint-Léon-du-Moulin.
Eleanor Swift-Hook 
