Privy Council
Appointed Privy Councillor
Role range: 1626-1628
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
William Laud Biography and Timeline
Follow William Laud through 30 dated historical records for England.
William Laud, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
30Distinct records
1 of 1Page
1626–1645Years on this page
1626
1628
Bishop
Appointed Bishop of London
Role range: 1628-1633
1630
Lord Chancellor
Appointed Chancellor of Oxford University
Role range: 1630-1633
Oxford University
Appointed Chancellor of Oxford University
Role range: 1630-1633
1633
Demonstrations
A riot in St Giles Cathedral when the Scottish Service Book is used, resembles a mass
Role range: 1633-1645
Privy Council
Appointed Member of Privy Council
Policy of Thorough
Laud corresponded closely with Wentworth about enforcing an energetic programme of royal government.
Role range: 1633-1645
Archbishop of Canterbury
Provokes the Bishops War between England & Scotland. Appointed Archbishop of Canterbury
Role range: 1633-1645
Archbishop
Provokes the Bishops War between England & Scotland. Appointed Archbishop of Canterbury
Role range: 1633-1645
Coronation
Takes part in Charles Is Scottish coronation
Role range: 1633-1645
Reform of Church Governance
Seeks to eliminate Presbyterianism in Scotland & Calvinism in England. Introduces a Scottish Service Book
Role range: 1633-1645
Privy Council
Appointed Member of Scottish Privy Council
1640
Convocation Continues after Dissolution
Laud continues Convocation after the Short Parliament has been dissolved.
Role range: 1633-1645
Convocation Remains in Session
Laud keeps Convocation sitting after Parliament ends by issuing a new royal commission.
Role range: 1633-1645
Lambeth Palace Mob
Laud escapes an armed crowd that attacks Lambeth Palace during the night.
Role range: 1633-1645
Canons of 1640 Adopted
Convocation adopts new canons asserting royal authority and stricter religious conformity.
Role range: 1633-1645
Clerical Subsidies Granted
Convocation grants six clerical subsidies to help finance the King’s Scottish war.
Role range: 1633-1645
Et Cetera Oath Introduced
The new canons require clergy and professionals to swear the disputed Et Cetera Oath.
Role range: 1633-1645
Impeachment of Archbishop Laud
The Commons impeaches Laud for high treason and attacks his religious policies.
Role range: 1633-1645
1641
Commitment to Tower
Laud is committed to the Tower while Parliament prepares its case against him.
Role range: 1633-1645
Farewell to Strafford
Laud gave Strafford a final blessing from the Tower as the condemned Earl passed toward execution.
Role range: 1633-1645
Episcopal Authority Challenged
The Root and Branch Bill directly challenges the church structure Laud defended.
Role range: 1633-1645
Root and Branch Campaign
The Root and Branch Bill threatens the episcopal system associated with Laud.
Role range: 1633-1645
High Commission Abolished
Parliament abolishes the ecclesiastical court closely associated with Laud's policies.
Role range: 1633-1645
Loss of Ecclesiastical Courts
Laud's system loses its principal enforcement institution when High Commission is abolished.
Role range: 1633-1645
Star Chamber Abolished
The abolition of Star Chamber removes another institution used against religious opponents.
Role range: 1633-1645
Laudian Reforms Reversed
Parliament dismantles many ceremonial and disciplinary changes associated with Laud.
Role range: 1633-1645
1645
Death of William Laud
Death of William Laud, executed for treason
Role range: 1633-1645
Execution
Beheaded for treason
Role range: 1633-1645
Treason
Death of William Laud, executed for treason. Beheaded for treason
Role range: 1633-1645
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.