Brereton’s journal is a book made up of letters from the English Civil War (1642–1646). A Parliamentary general, Sir William was engaged in the siege of Dudley Castle, Bridgnorth Castle and the fortifield cathedral close at Lichfield. The Letter Book contains copies of letters sent and received by Brereton. There are details of his victory against the last Royalist army in the field, his various sieges, his constant need for money and more troops, and the movements of King Charles I prior to his surrender to the Scots. The Introduction details a history of the civil war, of the battles and skirmishes, up to the writing of the Letter Book. A conclusion relates what happened after: the end of the war, the trial and execution of Charles I, the Interregnum and finally the Restoration and Brereton’s retirement from public life.

Joseph McKenna is a former senior assistant librarian in the Central Library, Birmingham, England. He has an M.A. in local history, and formerly sat on the Roman Catholic Archdiocesan Historical Commission, and Birmingham City Council’s Conservation Areas Advisory Committee.

Sir William Brereton
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 324
Bibliographic Info: 30 photos, 4 maps, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2012
pISBN: 978-0-7864-7269-7
eISBN: 978-1-4766-0082-6
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments      vi
Preface      1
Explanation of Terms      3
Introduction: A Brief History of the English Civil War      7

1 The Early Life and Military Career of Sir William Brereton      55
2 Siege Warfare      94
3 The Letter Book of Sir William Brereton      101

Conclusion      285
Chapter Notes      291
Bibliography      306
Index      309