Property Destruction in the English Civil Wars
Civil War in England brought destruction and damage in town and country far more akin to continental warfare than has often been supposed.
A notable feature of the English Civil Wars was the war of words which accompanied the fighting. This was waged in the thousands of books, pamphlets, broadsheets and newspapers which were published during the 1640s. Amongst other issues, the propaganda writers of both sides tried to minimise the damage and disruption done by their own troops, whilst drawing their readers' attentions to that caused by enemy soldiers. Sir John Birkenhead wrote in his newspaper, Mercurius Aulicus, that it was 'a common Parliament practice, to set a House on fire, and then to runne away by the light of it'.
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