Harm and Welfare in England, Wales, and Ireland during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms

In terms of lives lost, the Wars of the Three Kingdoms were proportionally the bloodiest conflicts that the involved nations have seen in their respective histories. This thesis provides a comparative analysis of two source bases: Ireland's 1641 Depositions and the Civil War Petitions from England and Wales. Part I of the thesis explores accounts of harm by looking at imprisonment, siege warfare, and women’s and children’s experiences. Part II examines the assistance provided to the afflicted by discussing the monetary and medical help which was provided for the sufferers. Although the petitions and the depositions are the key sources, other primary sources are used to provide essential knowledge and context. The thematic chapters of this thesis all have their own conclusions about what the sources are able to tell us, and where this knowledge fits within our current understandings. Overall, the thesis will show that the 1641 Depositions and Civil War Petitions are very rich sources documenting wartime experience, which show that whilst the harm inflicted by the Wars was great, significant efforts were made to ease this hardship.