The Betrayal of John Machele
28th March, 2025
It is the late 18th Century. John Machele is twenty years old and has never known who his parents are. Brought up by a succession of carers, he was moved on after certain “incidents”. There is an unidentified “personage” who takes an interest in him.
Physically John bears a resemblance to members of the ruling House of Hanover. He doesn't always think or behave like other people. He has no understanding why their reactions to him are so often not what he expects.
Things rarely end well for John and this is a pattern which follows him as he grows older. He has been dismissed from a Naval Academy, been “retired” from the Royal Scots Greys and now finds himself a Midshipman in King George’s navy.
Attempts are made to convince him that he has a say in what happens to him next but the reality is that the decisions have already been made without his knowledge.
Having engineered his own Court Martial he believes he has set in motion events which will leave him in total control of his life for the first time.
The letters that inspired The Betrayal of John Machele
11 Sept. 1796.
Earl Spencer has the honour of laying before your Majesty the proceedings of a court martial held upon a midshipman of the Sandwich for an attempt to stab the First Lieutenant of that ship, together with a letter from the members of the Court to the Board of Admiralty requesting that he may, in consideration of the circumstances therein mentioned, be recommended to your Majesty’s mercy, and several papers transmitted to Mr Nepean by a friend of the midshipman in question, including several statements which seem to prove that this unfortunate young man is at times afflicted with fits of insanity. Earl Spencer therefore humbly submits to your majesty whether it might not be proper that your Majesty’s royal mercy should be extended to him, and he is informed that should this be the event his friends will immediately take proper measures for securing him.
Earl Spencer
12 Sept. 1796.
I have received this morning the box containing the proceedings of a court martial on a midshipman of the Sandwich for an attempt to stab the first Lieutenant of that ship; but as it appears so clearly that the unhappy man is at times afflicted with fits of insanity I approve of his being pardoned, provided his friends will properly confine him, that he may not do mischief to others.
The King
FN ASPINALL A LATER CORRESPONDENCE OF GEORGE III VOL II 1793-1797 CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS 1963 LETTER 1437 P502-503