5. Scotland, 1639-40

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About this Lecture

Lecture

In this module, Diane looks at the problems that Charles faced when he attempted to reform the Church of Scotland. After riots broke out in church services across the country, Charles decided to turn to military invention to resolve the dispute. Parliament was recalled for the first time in eleven years, but with members of the Commons refusing to grant Charles resources for the war, he suffered military defeat, abandoned his plan to reform to Church of Scotland, and was forced by Parliament to execute his chief military advisor, the Earl of Strafford, as well as William Laud himself.

Course

This course provides key historical context for John Milton's 'Paradise Lost', looking in particular at the figure of Charles I. The course is divided into nine parts. The first seven look at Charles' early years (1600-25), his early reign (1625-29), the period of Personal Rule (1629-40), his problems in Scotland (1639-40) and Ireland (1641), and the English Civil War (1642-51). The last two look at the impact of Charles' reign on Paradise Lost, as well as Milton's own politics in this period.

Lecturer

Diane Purkiss is a Professor at Keble College, Oxford. She has published two books on the English Civil War - 'The English Civil War: A People's History' (2006) and 'Literature, Gender, and Politics during the English Civil War' (2005).