Chronology of the Marriage Debates

offered by Sharon Achinstein at the Eighth International Milton Symposium in Grenoble, France in June 2005

• 19 July 1643 Opening session of the Westminster Assembly
• 1 August 1643 First edition of The Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce (DDD)
• 2 February 1644 second edition of DDD with "To the Parlament of England with the Assembly"
• 4 June 1644 Of Education
• 6 August 1644 The Judgment of Martin Bucer, dedicated to Parliament
• 13 August 1644 Herbert Palmer's sermon, calling DDD a "wicked book"
• 14 August 1644 Westminster Assembly begins debate on marriage
• 7 November 1644 Palmer's sermon appears in Sationer's Register
• 18 November 1644 Draft of Directory for the publique worship of God (published March 1645?) presented to Parliament without a marriage ordinance
• 19 November 1644 Anonoymous, An Answer to a book intituled, The doctrine and discipline of divorce
• 21 November 1644 Westminster Assembly hears the report of the subcommittee on marriage
• 23 November 1644 Areopagitica published, addressed to Parliament
• 4 December 1644 Commons and Lords receive Westminster Assembly's draft Directory on Matrimony
• 6 December 1644 Commons requires re-wording of the "Solemnization of Marriage" (published March 1645?)
• 23-27 December 1644 Discussion of marriage in Parliament
• 28 December 1644 Stationers' Company complains to Lords about Milton's "scandalous books"
• 2 February 1645 DDD re-issued