The Early Stuarts: A Political History of England, 1603-42

The Early Stuarts: A Political History of England, 1603-42

The Early Stuarts: A Political History of England, 1603-42

By Roger Lockyer (1998)
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Buy this book

Early Stuart England is one of the most intensively examined periods in English history. The outwardly successful reign of Elizabeth I gives way during the period to the breakdown of consensus, civil war, and eventually to the destruction of the monarchy itself. The reasons for this are hotly disputed. The tradional explanations have been challenged by the "Revisionsts", whose own work is being challenged in its turn. Although it takes proper account of the important secondary material, this book, therefore, is based on primary sources. Whilst the main focus is on politics and religion, the book also points to the significane of economic, social and cultural currents in the history of the period.

Fact of the Day

The Tudor Privy Council would sometimes punish those who fell out of its favour by making them wait to be seen by the Star Chamber for days, weeks, or months in London, during which time they would run up huge lodging bills. Wolsey made De Carteret of Guernsey wait for over four years.

Quote of the Day

"Water knee deep and up to the waist in places. Rumours of being relieved by the Grand Fleet. "
~ British First World War soldier writing about the trenches in his diary

On This Day

1579 Thomas Gresham, merchant, financier, and founder of the Royal Exchange, died suddenly, apparently of apoplexy. He bequeathed his estate, after the death of his wife, to the Corporation of London and the Mercers' Company to set up a college to provide free lectures to the public; Gresham College thus became London's first institution of higher education.
1916 The hospital ship Britannic, sister-ship of Titanic, hit a mine and sank, killing 30.
1918 Ten days after the Armistice, the German navy surrendered to the British in the Firth of Forth. 
1920 The assassinations of British intelligence officers ordered by Michael Collins in the Irish War of Independence led to thirty-one dead (from both sides) in what became known as 'Bloody Sunday'.
1974 21 people were killed and 182 injured when bombs exploded in two Birmingham pubs. The IRA was probably responsible, but the real culprits have never been found. The Birmingham Six, originally convicted of the bombings, were released because of dodgy police practices.
1981 The proceedings of the House of Commons were televised live for the first time.