Abstract

Archbishop Laud

The article focuses on the book "Laud: Storm Center of Stuart England," by Robert P. Tristram Coffin. Coffin draws from the available historical material every possible conflict and climax and shows little need to heighten natural colors of his scene. Too readily, however, he falls into the Restoration spirit of angry scorn when he speaks of clergy William Laud's antagonists. According to the author, it is proper enough to write an apologia for Laud, but it is reprehensible in doing so to belittle even by silence the spirit of those whom his tyranny sought to crush. This fundamental inaccuracy, misunderstanding Puritans, overshadows but unfortunately does not obliterate several lesser errors of fact and interpretation, such as calling Catholics Separatists and saying that statesmen Francis Bacon foretold "an entirely new method of approach to knowledge."