rewrite the Bible as it might have been written with the benefit of a humanist English
education. If this does not conform to our ideas of Puritans, not all Puritans were
like Shakespeare’s Malvolio or Jonson’s Tribulation Wholesome.
Milton was not a conformist. His father’s career illustrates the link between
Protestantism and capitalism: turned out of the house for reading the Bible in his
room, he became a scrivener (legal writer) and moneylender in London. He stuck to
his books,giving his eldest son the education of a scholar and a gentleman: St Paul’s
School (stiff ); Cambridge University (disappointing); five years of private study; a
gr and tour of Italian literary patrons. Education moulded the life and work of
England’s most influential poet.
It was an upbringing in the high Protestantism of Spenser. St Paul’s gave its pupil
a humanist faith in the powers of the mind and in the lofty role of poetry. He read
THE STUART CENTURY 155Crisis, Civil War, Commonwealth, Restoration
1629 Parliament, refusing further taxes, is dissolved
1633 Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury, acts against the Puritans
1634 Charles I imposes Ship Money to raise revenue
1635 Attempt to impose the Anglican liturgy in Scotland is resisted
1638 Scots sign a National Covenant to resist episcopacy
1639 Charles’s army proves unreliable against the Scots Covenanters
1640 Short Parliament is called; and refuses taxes. The Scots invade. The Long Parliament is
called (and sits till 1653)
1641 Charles’s minister, Strafford, is tried by Parliament and executed; the Star Chamber court
is abolished; Grand Remonstrance at royal excesses; Puritan legislation; a rising in Ireland
1642 The King leaves London after conflicts with Parliament. Royalist and Parliamentary armies
fight at Edgehill. The Puritans close public theatres
1643 Many battles. Parliament imposes Presbyterianism in England
1644 Cromwell defeats Prince Rupert at Marston Moor
1645 Cromwell’s New Model Army triumphs at Naseby. Laud executed
1646 Charles surrenders to the Scots. Levellers proclaim the people sovereign
1647 Scots hand over Charles to Parliament for £400,000. Parliament’s attempt to disband the
Army fails. Charles intrigues
1648 Scots, invading on Charles’s behalf, defeated at Preston. Parliament purged of its
Presbyterian majority by the Army. Rump Parliament votes for the trial of the King
1649 Charles I tried and executed. The Rump abolishes the monarchy and the House of Lords,
and proclaims England a Commonwealth. The Levellers suppressed. Royalist Protestants
join Catholics in Ireland: rising crushed by Cromwell
1650 Charles II lands in England. Cromwell defeats Scots at Dunbar
1651 Scots crown Charles II king. Defeated at Worcester, he goes to France
1652 War with Holland (to 1654). The Army petitions for a new Parliament
1653 Cromwell replaces remaining elected members with a group of nominees, the Barebones
Parliament. Proclaimed Lord Protector
1655 Major-Generals rule England in eleven military districts
1657 Parliament offers Cromwell sovereign powers
1658 Cromwell dies, and is succeeded by his son Richard
1659 Richard retires. General Monck marches the Army down from Scotland to restore
Parliament
1660 Charles II invited back to restore the old form of government