William Laud

Archbishop of Canterbury (1573-1645) · United Kingdom · Academics · Died at 71

William Laud is read about 161 times a day, in 32 languages.

A typical day, 30 days to 17 September 2026

The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 60 days, one point a day.

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Archbishop of Canterbury under Charles I, arrested by Parliament in 1640 and beheaded five years later - not for treason in the usual sense, but for insisting the English pray a certain way. His name became shorthand for the ceremonial rigidity that split a kingdom.

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A life in dates

1645Died10 January 16451639“I have been informed that some masters come to St. Mary's, and stand or sit there bare in sermon time, not out of any devotion, but only to hide their hats...”In their words4 October 1639Letter to the vice-chancellor of Oxford University (4 October 1639), quoted in The Works of the Most Reverend Father in God, William Laud,Read the whole statement

“No man can set a better state of the question between Scripture and tradition, than Hooker doth.”In their wordsA Relation of the Conference betweene William Lawd...and Mr. Fisher the Jesuite (1639), quoted in The Works of the Most Reverend Father inRead the whole statement

1638“Mr. Alex. Henderson, who went all this while for a quiet and well-spirited man, hath showed himself a most violent and passionate man, and a Moderator without moderation.”In their words3 December 1638Letter to the Marquis of Hamilton (3 December 1638), quoted in The Works of the Most Reverend Father in God, William Laud, sometime LordRead the whole statement

1637“It is versus altare, 'towards His altar', as the greatest place of God's residence upon earth.”In their words16 June 1637Speech in the Star Chamber at the censure of John Bastwick, Henry Burton and William Prynne (16 June 1637), quoted in The Works of the MostRead the whole statement

1633“I had a serious offer made me again to be a Cardinal. ... But my answer again was, that something dwelt within me which would not suffer that, till Rome were other than it is.”In their words17 August 1633Diary (17 August 1633), quoted in The Works of the Most Reverend Father in God, William Laud, sometime Lord Archbishop of Canterbury.Read the whole statement

1625“The King is God's immediate lieutenant upon earth; and therefore one and the same action is God's by ordinance, and the King's by execution.”In their words19 June 1625Sermon preached at Whitehall (19 June 1625), quoted in The Works of the Most Reverend Father in God, William Laud, sometime Lord ArchbishopRead the whole statement

1573Born7 October 1573

Also in Deutsch

Photos 8

William Laud

Tower Hill Scaffold Site memorial plaque William Laud Harry Vane Algernon Sidney James Duke of Monmouth James Radcliffe Simon Fraser Trinity Square Gardens London England 01

A speech delivered in the Starr-Chamber, on Wednesday, the XIVth of Iune, MDCXXXVII Fleuron T128369-3

A speech delivered in the Starr-Chamber, on Wednesday, the XIVth of Iune, MDCXXXVII Fleuron T128369-5

Anthony van Dyck - Portrait of William Laud (1573-1645), Archbishop of Canterbury, c1635-1637 - Fitzwilliam Museum

Anthony van Dyck - Portret van William Laud (1573-1645), aartsbisschop van Canterbury - 2043 - Fitzwilliam Museum

Archbishop Laud

Canterbury Cathedral JC 09

In their own words 10

William Laud

10 statements, newest first

I have been informed that some masters come to St. Mary's, and stand or sit there bare in sermon time, not out of any devotion, but only to hide their hats...
Oct 4, 1639, Letter to the vice-chancellor of Oxford University (4 October 1639), quoted in The Works of the Most Reverend Father in God, William Laud,, Own words
Wednesday, Coronation-day, King Charles took his journey northward, against the Scottish covenanting rebels. God of His infinite mercy bless him with health and success.
Mar 27, 1639, Diary (27 March 1639), quoted in The Works of the Most Reverend Father in God, William Laud, sometime Lord Archbishop of Canterbury. Volume, Own words
No man can set a better state of the question between Scripture and tradition, than Hooker doth.
1639, A Relation of the Conference betweene William Lawd...and Mr. Fisher the Jesuite (1639), quoted in The Works of the Most Reverend Father in, Own words

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About this person

William Laud was born in October 1573 and rose through the Church of England as a bishop before Charles I made him Archbishop of Canterbury in 1633. He believed in rule by bishops and drove a reform movement - "Laudianism" - that enforced liturgical ceremony, clerical hierarchy, and uniformity across the church, foreshadowing what would later be called high church practice. Puritans accused him of Arminianism, of covert sympathy for Rome, of standing against Calvinism; they saw him as a threat. When he used the Star Chamber to crush dissenters like William Prynne, he became deeply unpopular. Parliament arrested him in 1640. He was executed in January 1645, near the end of the First English Civil War.

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United Kingdom

Academics from the United Kingdom 6

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