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.
Generations later, when Laud’s work was removed from his tumultuous historical context, he became very popular among conservative churchmen. He is regarded as one of the great Caroline Divines—a group of theologians who ushered in a golden age of Anglican scholarship. John Henry Newman and members of the Oxford Movement saw him as a steadfast warrior for the Church. In his Apologia Pro Vita Sua, Newman described Laud’s work as “masterly.” These volumes contain thousands of pages of sermons, devotions, letters, and lectures, including Laud’s masterful Conference with Fisher the Jesuite.
In the Logos editions, Laud’s work is enhanced by amazing functionality. Scripture citations link directly to English translations, and important terms link to dictionaries, encyclopedias, and a wealth of other resources in your digital library. Perform powerful searches to find exactly what you’re looking for. Take your study with you using tablet and mobile apps. With Logos Bible Software, the most efficient and comprehensive research tools are in one place, so you get the most out of your study.