Multiple sources confirm that families were divided during the English Civil War, with brothers (and other close relatives) ending up on opposing sides: - An academic article on the Greys of Bradgate states: "It has become almost a commonplace observation that Civil wars can turn brother against brother and offspring against parent. Certainly the period of the English Civil Wars provides many such examples of internal family dissensions and conflict between the adherents of the causes of King and of Parliament." - A Lockdown University lecture notes: "Civil wars are by their very nature, divisive society with brother fighting brother, father fighting son, wife fighting husband, and friend fighting friend. And the English Civil War between 1642 and 1651, nearly a decade of fighting, was no different in this respect." - The Pierrepont family of Nottinghamshire provides a concrete example: Henry Pierrepont sat with the Royalists at Oxford, while his brother Francis was a Parliamentarian colonel. Lucy Hutchinson, a contemporary chronicler, wrote that the Earl of Kingston "divided his sonns betweene both parties." - The Spectator published a review of Jessie Childs's work on the siege of Basing House literally titled "Brother against brother in the English civil war," noting how precarious loyalties were, including Lord Winchester's own brother attempting to betray the Royalist garrison. The phrase "brother against brother" is a standard historical characterization of the English Civil War, reflecting the reality that allegiance to King or Parliament frequently split families down the middle. Sources: - "Brother against brother in the English civil war," The Spectator, https://spectator.com/article/brother-against-brother-in-the-english-civil-war/ - "Brother versus Brother: The English Civil War," Lockdown University, https://www.lockdownuniversity.org/lectures/209-brother-versus-brother-the-english-civil-war/transcript - "The Greys of Bradgate in the English Civil War," archaeology data service (doi.org), https://doi.org/10.5284/1108250 - "By the Cause Divided: An investigation into the actions and interrelationships of prominent gentry families in Nottinghamshire and its environs during the British Civil Wars," Academia.edu, https://www.academia.edu/43778800/By_the_Cause_Divided_An_investigation_into_the_actions_and_interrelationships_of_prominent_gentry_families_in_Nottinghamshire_and_its_environs_during_the_British_Civil_Wars