Dealing in Death: The Arms Trade and the British Civil Wars

This work examines the ways in which the armies on both sides acquired their arms and equipment during the civil wars in England, Scotland and Ireland. The course of events is appraised in the context of the logistics of arms production and distribution, and whether the needs of each side were satisfied. The author shows how, in terms of logistics, Parliament was in the stronger position: not only did it control the native arms industry, concentrated in the Home Counties, but also, because of its superior industrial and financial base, it was able to finance its purchases more easily. In addition, it had readier access to foreign supplies. A major feature of the book is the emphasis the author places on the importance of these arms shipments from abroad. Peter Edwards argues that the war may not even have broken out in 1642, and could not have been sustained, if consignments had not been coming in from mainland Europe.