As currently constituted, this page, taken together with the three companion pages covering the years 1659-1700, 1701-1746, and 1747-1800, represents a fairly extensive chronological account of key historical and literary events between the years 1625 and 1800. A few of the historical entries, and more of the literary ones, are "linked" to primary texts in electronic form.

Historical entries are listed, on a year-by-year basis, in a somewhat arbitrary order of "importance". Literary entries are roughly sorted in the following order:

• General literary history, including important births, deaths, and cultural and literary events, especially as these latter relate to censorship or government control of the press.

• The publication of poetry.

• The publication of "prose fiction," somewhat arbitrarily defined, but including novels and "romances."

• The publication of very diverse varieties of prose nonfiction, including history, criticism, philosophy, science, polemic, and periodical literature.

• Performance dates for key plays.

Find the year in which you are interested in the menu below.

Table of Contents

• Charles I accedes to the throne, and quarrels with Parliament over his foreign policy.

• Charles' second Parliament is equally troublesome, and impeaches his chief minister, the Duke of Buckingham. Charles dissolves Parliament, and levies money through other, increasingly unpopular means. Opposition to his religious policies, especially from Puritans and Presbyterians, grows in the next decade, and becomes identified with opposition to his methods of taxation.

• Birth of the Prince of Wales, future Charles II.

• Death of John Donne, Michael Drayton, Sir Robert Cotton, and Captain John Smith.
Births of John Dryden, John Phillips, Katherine Philips, and Richard Cumberland.
• Publication of Francis Quarles' History of Samson.
• Performances of Ben Jonson's Chloridia, and Love's Triumph through Callipolis. Performances of Massinger's The Emperor of the East and James Shirley's The Traitor.

• Birth of the Duke of York, future James II.
•William Laud becomes Archbishop of Canterbury, and begins to enforce a "High Church" policy in the Church of England that many believe will lead to the reintroduction of Roman Catholicism.

• Charles, increasingly desperate for money, levies "Ship Money," a tax on coastal areas designed to subsidy the Navy. It is terribly unpopular, and becomes more so the next year, when it is extended to inland towns and cities as well.

• Deaths of Richard Corbett, Edward Fairfax, and Thomas Randolph.
Probably date of birth of Thomas Burnet. Births of Sir George Etherege, Thomas Flatman, Thomas Sprat, and Edward Stillingfleet.
• Posthumous publication of revised second edition of John Donne's Poems. Publication of two "emblem books," Francis Quarles' Emblems and George Wither's A Collection of Emblems.
• Publication of John Selden's Mare Clausum.
• Performances of Richard Brome's Sparagus Garden, William Cartwright's The Ordinary, and James Shirley's The Lady of Pleasure. Performances of three plays by Sir William Davenant: The Temple of Love, News from Plymouth, and The Platonic Lovers.

• A court case against John Hampden, for refusing to pay Ship Money, is won by the King, but only narrowly; the result actually encourages opposition to the King.
• Archbishop Laud attempts to enforce conformity to the official Church in Scotland by the introduction of a Book of Common Prayer; Scottish Presbyterians are outraged.

• Scottish Presbyterians sign the National Covenant, directed against Laud's Book of Common Prayer. Much of Scotland moves towards armed resistance to the policies of the King.

• Charles mounts an amateurish invasion of Scotland in an attempt to quell resistance: this, the First Bishops' War, ends in apparent compromise at the Treaty of Berwick, but it soon becomes evident that Charles does not intend to honour his agreements.

• Charles I's Fourth Parliament, the "Short Parliament," is assembled to supply the King with funds to fight the Scots; its opposition to the King leads to its dissolution after less than a month. Charles attempts another invasion of Scotland anyway, with disastrous consequences: the Scots overrun large portions of Northern England.
• In desperation, Charles calls another Parliament in November, which is to become known as the "Long Parliament": it will last, with interruptions, almost 20 years. This Parliament's violent opposition to the King's policies is almost immediately evident; far from providing financial help against the Scots, it makes clear that it supports their grievances, and launches instead virulent attacks upon Episcopacy (Church government by Bishops) and the King's chief ministers, especially Archbishop Laud and Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford.

• Deaths of Robert Burton, Thomas Carew, Philip Massinger and William Alexander, Earl of Stirling.
Probable birth of Aphra Behn.
• Posthumous publication of three collections of verse: Francis Beaumont's Poems (enlarged 1653), Ben Jonson's Underwoods (as part of his Works, published 1640-41), and Thomas Carew's Poems (enlarged 1642 and 1651). Publication of two important miscellanies: The Academy of Complements and Wit's Recreations. Publication of enlarged edition of Thomas Randolph's Poems.
• Posthumous publication of Ben Jonson's Timber, and of John Donne's LXXX Sermons (along with Izaak Walton's Life of Donne). Publication of John Wilkins' A Discourse Concerning a New Planet (including his earlier Discovery of a World in the Moone). Publication of James Howell's pastoral-political allegory Dendrologia. Dodona's Grove (second part published in 1650), and of Francis Quarles' Enchiridion. Performances of Mildmay Fane's Raguaillo d'Oceano and of William Habington's The Queene of Arragon.

• Facing with an increasingly difficult situation in Scotland, and with no funds of his own, the King consents to Parliament's "Bill of Attainder" that leads, in May, to Strafford's execution.
• At the same time, attacks in the Commons upon Bishops and Charles' religious policies gain momentum. Rebellion breaks out in Ireland, and a "Grand Remonstrance," listing in detail the Common's grievances against the King, is passed.
• In December, a bill to turn command of the military over to Parliament is introduced.

• Deaths of Thomas Heywood and Sir Henry Spelman.
Births of Thomas Rymer and William Wycherley.
• Publication of Francis Quarles' Threnodia.
• Publication of John Milton's Reformation Touching Church Discipline, Prelatical Episcopacy, and Animadversions upon Remonstrant's Defence. Publication of the Answer to Humble Remonstrance, by "Smectymnuus," and of James Ussher's The Judgement of Dr. Rainolds and The Original of Bishops and Metropolitans.
• Performances of Richard Brome's The Jovial Crew, John Denham's The Sophy, Mildmay Fane's Candy Restored, Francis Quarles' The Virgin Widow, and James Shirley's The Cardinal.

• In early January, Charles strikes back against Parliament by ordering the arrest of 5 of the leaders of the opposition to his policies. When his attempt to seize them by force fails, he leaves London. His effort to commandeer military supplies at Hull is similarly thwarted, and civil war becomes inevitable: Charles raises the Royal Standard at Nottingham on 22 August. An indecisive battle at Edgehill follows, and Charles proceeds to establish his headquarters at Oxford.

• With the outbreak of civil war, and the relaxation of government censorship, numerous "Diurnals" – being early politically-motivated newsletters – appear on the scene, chiefly in London.
Parliament, left in control of London following the flight of the King, closes the public theatres on 2 September.
Deaths of John Chalkhill, Sir John Suckling, Henry Peacham, and Sir Francis Kynaston.
Birth of Sir Isaac Newton and Thomas Shadwell.
• Publication of first version of Sir John Denham's immensely influential topographical poem Cooper's Hill, and of Sir Francis Kynaston's Leoline and Sydanis An Heroick Romance.
• Unauthorized publication of Sir Thomas Browne's Religio Medici. Posthumous publication of the Second Part of the Institutes of the Lawes of England and of Sir Walter Ralegh's The Prince, or Maxims of State. Publication of John Hales' A Tract Concerning Schisme and Schismaticks and of Thomas Hobbes' De Cive, or The Citizen. Publication of John Milton's The Reason of Church Government and An Apology for Smectymnuus.
• Performances of Abraham Cowley's The Guardian, Thomas Killigrew's The Parson's Wedding, and James Shirley's The Sisters.

• The war proceeds to the general advantage of the Royalists. Parliament responds to these defeats by signing, in September, the Solemn League and Covenant with Scotland: the English agree to impose Presbyterianism, in return for Scottish help against the King.

• Death of William Cartwright, Sidney Godolphin and Lucius Cary, Lord Falkland.
Births of Gilbert Burnet and Charles Sackville, 6th Earl of Dorset.
• Publication of Abraham Cowley's anti-"puritan" satire, The Puritan and the Papist, and of Martin Parker's popular Royalist ballad, "When the King Enjoys his Own Again."
• Publication of the authorized version of Sir Thomas Browne's Religio Medici, and of Sir Kenelm Digby's Observations upon Religio Medici. Publication of John Milton's The Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce. Publication of Richard Overton's Mans Mortalitie and of William Prynne's The Sovereign Power of Parliaments. Publication of the Royalist diurnal Mercurius Aulicus (to 1645), and its Parliamentarian counterpart, Mercurius Britanicus (to 1646).

• Scotland invades England, on behalf of Parliament, in January. The war continues to go reasonably well for the Royalists, but a disastrous defeat at the hands of Parliamentary and Scottish forces at Marston Moor in July leads to the fall of much of northern England. • Traditional Christmas celebrations are banned by Parliament.

• Deaths of William Chillingworth, Francis Quarles, and George Sandys.
Birth of William Penn.
• Publication of Francis Quarles' The Shepherd's Oracle.
• Posthumous publication of the Third Part of the Institutes of the Lawes of England, by Sir Edward Coke. Publication of John Cleveland's royalist satire in prose, The Character of a London Diurnal (reissued frequently, with numerous additions), and of William Prynne's Independency Examined. Publication of John Milton's Of Education, Areopagitica, and The Judgement of Martin Bucer Concerning Divorce.
• At the Battle of Marston Moor, Roger Shandy wears the boots that Corporal Trim is later to make into cannons (Tristram Shandy Vol. III, Ch. 22).

• Archbishop Laud is executed by Parliament in January.
• While an unsuccessful attempt to produce a negotiated peace falls apart in February, Parliament undertakes the creation of a professional, permanent army, to become known as the New Model Army. The appearance of this new force proves decisive: the Royalist forces are crushed at Naseby in June.

• Death of William Strode and Æmilia Lanyer.
• Posthumous publication of Francis Quarles' Solomon's Recantation. Publication of John Milton's Poems (reprinted with additions in 1673), George Wither's Vox Pacifica, and Edmund Waller's Poems.
• Posthumous publication of Lucius Cary, Lord Falkland's Of the Infallibilitie of the Church of Rome. Publication of John Milton's Tetrachordon and Colasterion, of Thomas Fuller's Good Thoughts in Bad Times, of the first volume James Howell's collection of letters, Epistolae Ho-Elianae, of John Lilburne's England's Birth-Right Justified, and of Richard Overton's The Arraignment of Mr. Persecution. Publication of De Causis Errorum by Edward, Lord Herbert of Cherbury, and of William Prynne's Truth Triumphing.

• Aware that the war is lost, Charles surrenders to the Scots in May, and begins to exploit the differences between the English and Scottish victors. He plays for time as he considers the stringent Newcastle propositions that are presented to him by Parliament in July.
• The Prince of Wales escapes into exile in France.

• Birth of Anthony Hamilton.
• Posthumous publication of Sir John Suckling's verse in Fragmenta Aurea. Publication of Richard Crashaw's Steps to the Temple, Henry Vaughan's Poems, James Shirley' The Trivmph of Beavtie and Martin Lluelyn's satiric collection Men-Miracles.
• Probable publication date of John Donne's Biathanatos. Anonymous publication by Jeremy Taylor of his pro-royalist Discourse Concerning Prayer Ex Tempore. Publication of Thomas Browne's Pseudodoxia Epidemica, John Hall's Horae Vacivae, John Lilburne's London's Liberty, and Alexander Ross's The New Planet No Planet (a reply to John Wilkins' A Discourse Concerning a New Planet, 1640).

• Charles is handed over to the English Parliament by the Scots; the Army, which is becoming increasingly vocal in its own demands, seizes him for itself as a bargaining chip. The Army occupies London, and expels 11 members of Parliament opposed to its own policies. In October, radical republican elements within the Army ("Levellers") give air to their grievances in the Putney Debates. Charles, however, escapes to the Isle of Wight in November, and enters in December into a secret "Engagement" with the Scots, who have come to dislike the radicalism of Parliament.

• Birth of John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rocheser.
• Posthumous publication of Richard Corbett's Poems, and of Francis Quarles' Hosanna. Publication of John Cleveland's Poems (with The Character of a London Diurnal), of Abraham Cowley's The Mistress, of John Hall's Poems, of Thomas Stanley's Poems and Translations, and of Sir Robert Stapylton's translation of Juvenal.
• Posthumous publication of Lancelot Andrewes' Private Devotions. Publication of Ralph Cudworth's influential latitudinarian Sermon Preached before the Honourable House of Commons, at Westminster, March 31. 1647, of Jeremy Taylor's The Liberty of Prophecying, and of John Lilburne's Rash Oaths. Publication of Thomas Fuller's The Cause and Cure of a Wounded Conscience and his Good Thoughts in Worse Times. Publication of second volume of James Howell's Epistolae Ho-Elianae, and of John Lilly's Christian Astrology. Publication of Thomas May's polemic History of the Parliament of England.

• The Second Civil War breaks out, with the Scots now fighting for the King; they are, however, decisively defeated after five months at Preston. Parliament again begins negotiations with Charles, now back in their custody, but in December, the Army marches on London and seizes the King.
• Opposed to a negotiated peace, elements of the army under Colonel Pride "purge" the Parliament of moderate members (constituting approximately three-fifths of the whole). The remaining MPs (who will eventually become known as the "Rump" of Parliament) support the trial of the King on charges of High Treason.

• The trial of Charles in January results in a conviction for treason, despite his refusal to accept the authority of the court. On 30 January, Charles is publicly executed in front of Whitehall Palace in London.
• Charles II is provisionally proclaimed King in Scotland, but England is declared a free Commonwealth in May.
• A Royalist uprising in Ireland is brutally suppressed by Oliver Cromwell in October.

• Deaths of Richard Crashaw and William Drummond.
• Publication of Richard Lovelace's verse collection Lucasta, of John Ogilby's translated Works of Virgil, and of the collection of elegies on Lord Hastings by Dryden, Marvell, Herrick, and others, Lachrymae Musarum.
• Posthumous publication of John Donne's Fifty Sermons. Publication of the enormously popular Eikon Basilike. The Pourtraicture of His Sacred Majestie in His Solitudes and Sufferings, purporting to be the last thoughts of the Charles I, but almost certainly by John Gauden. Publication of John Milton's The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates, and Eikonoklastes (a reply to Eikon Basilike). Publication of John Hall's A Humble Motion Concerning the Advancement of Learning, and of John Lilburne's England's New Chains Discovered and Legal Fundamental Liberties.

• With the breakdown of traditional authority, radical religious sects (most famously including the "Ranters") begin to arise in England, to the consternation of more established Protestants.
• Oliver Cromwell becomes Lord-General in command of the English Army, and invades Scotland, soon gaining control of the southern portions of the country.

• Deaths of Phineas Fletcher and Thomas May.
Birth of Jeremy Collier.
• Publication of Anne Bradstreet's The Tenth Muse, and the first volume of Henry Vaughan's Silex Scintillans. Publication of Sir William Davenant's epic fragment Gondibert, which attempts a renovation and "modernization" of the form, a project outlined in a "Preface" addressed to Thomas Hobbes.
• Publication of The Saints' Everlasting Rest by the Presbyterian divine Richard Baxter, and of Thomas Fuller's A Pisgah-Sight of Palestine. Publication of Thomas Hobbes' response to Davenant's address to him in An Answer. Publication of Hobbes' Human Nature and De Corpore Politico. Publication of the third volume of James Howell's Epistolae Ho-Elianae, and of Thomas Vaughan's mystical ruminations, Anthroposophia Theomagica. Publication of Jeremy Taylor's popular Holy Living, a religious conduct book with High Anglican leanings.

• Charles II is crowned in Scotland in January after he agrees to subscribe to Presbyterianism; a mixed force of Royalists and Scottish Presbyterians invades England, but is crushed by Cromwell at Worcester in September. Charles, after a series of romantic adventures (many of them in disguise), escapes to France.

• Probable date of death of Aurelian Townshend.
Probable date for birth of Nathaniel Lee.
• Posthumous publication of William Cartwright's Comedies, Tragi-Comedies. With other Poems. Publication of John Cleveland's collection Poems, Thomas Stanley's Poems, and Henry Vaughan's Olor Iscanus.
• Publication of Thomas Hobbes' enormously influential – and controversial treatise on political philosophy, Leviathan. Publication of Jeremy Taylor's Holy Dying. Publication of John Milton's Pro Populo Anglicano Defensio. Publication of first section of the romance Parthenissa, by Roger Boyle, Earl of Orrery (continuations in 1654-56, and 1669). Publication of William Harvey's Excercitationes de Generatione Animalium. Posthumous publication of Sir Henry Wotton's Reliquiae Wottonianae, with a "Life" by Izaak Walton.

• Parliament attempts to stabilize England after years of war, with only partial success.
• England enters into the First Dutch War.
• The Quakers begin to organize.

• Probable date of death of Richard Brome. Death of John Cotton, John Smith, and Martin Parker.
Births of William Dampier, Thomas Oway, and Nahum Tate.
• Posthumous publication of Richard Crashaw's Carmen Deo Nostro. Publication of Elias Ashmole's alchemical Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum, and of Edward Benlowes quasi-epic religious poem Theophila.

• In April, Cromwell and the Army to eject the Rump Parliament, and replace it with one nominated largely by the military (the "Barebones Parliament"). In December, this too is ejected, and the Commonwealth ends, to be replaced, with the introduction of the "Instrument of Government," by a Protectorate,with Cromwell as "Lord Protector" of England.
• A Royalist rising in Scotland is crushed.

• Birth of Nathaniel Lee.
• Publication of Isaac Walton's The Compleat Angler.

• The First Dutch War ends in English victory. • Mass expulsions of Catholic Irish from parts of Ireland begin, with tragic consequences as many die.

• Failed republican and Royalist plots (Penruddock's Rising) against Cromwell lead to the imposition in August of more direct military rule over the country through the agency of "the Major Generals"; this remains in effect for about a year.
• Jamaica is captured by the English.

•Birth of Lady Mary Chudleigh.
•Publication of Abraham Cowley's Poems.

• In March, Cromwell is offered the Crown of England, which he refuses in May; he is instead again named Lord Protector.
• Radical religious opposition to Cromwell's rule intensifies.
• War with Spain begins (until 1659).

• Cromwell dies on 3 September, and is succeeded as Lord Protector by his son, Richard.