Charles I appointed William Laud Archbishop of Canterbury in 1633. Thirteen years later, Parliament would execute Laud for treason. Throughout his career, Laud was known as a ceaseless worker who kept few friends. He endeared himself to few people, but his intelligence and administrative aptitude saw him meritoriously rise in the Church. He did not have the same trouble gaining enemies as he did friends—his devotion to the monarchy did little to improve his popularity. He was also devoted to tradition and strict liturgy and because of this, he was frequently criticized and under suspicion for being a papist. However, he was a principled man who would not bend his beliefs under pressure. His unbending personality eventually led to his execution in the heat of the English Civil War.

Enrich your study of early English history with over 25,000 historical documents and literary works. Spanning from the first works mass produced in English to the end of the seventeenth century, this collection provides insight into sixteenth and seventeenth century English literature, politics, and culture.