English Civil War Trivia

1. During the Leveller Mutinies of 1649, where were three of the mutineers shot on the orders of Oliver Cromwell?

From Quiz Wrong but Wromantic/Right but Repulsive - Part 3

Answer: Burford

Plans to invade Ireland, non-receipt of pay, and calls for Parliamentary elections led to unrest in the Army, and a series of mutinies occurred from the dissenting group known as the "Levellers". In Burford, a night attack on 13 May by Cromwell's troops successfully quelled the rebellion. Several hundred of the mutineers were locked in the local church, with three of the ringleaders, Cornet Thompson, Corporal Perkins and Private Church, executed by firing squad on 17 May.

From Quiz Wrong but Wromantic/Right but Repulsive - Part 2

Answer: Putney

In August 1647, the Army seized London from the English Presbyterians. Following this, radical elements of the Army published their proposals for a new constitution featuring ideas such as universal male suffrage - a belief primarily held by the Levellers - biennial parliaments, supreme authority vested in the House of Commons rather than the Sovereign and House of Lords, freedom of conscience and equality before the law. Agents of the radical members of the Army were subsequently invited to discuss these proposals with the Army Council at Putney in October 1647. Although a modified agreement between the two sides was reached, the escape of the King from custody meant more pressing matters became apparent.

From Quiz Wrong but Wromantic/Right but Repulsive - Part 1

Answer: Entered the House of Commons

On 4 January 1642, the day after his directive to Parliament, the King entered the House of Commons himself to arrest the errant MPs, becoming the first reigning monarch to set foot in the chamber. However, the accused MPs had been made aware of the King's planned action and had fled before his arrival. Charles' action caused significant anger within both Parliament and the wider community, and led to his having to flee London.

From Quiz More English Civil War Facts

Answer: King Henry IX

Henry Prince of Wales died of typhoid when he was eighteen years of age. His younger brother Charles was then only twelve. Henry was a popular prince who, had he survived would almost certainly not have brought the country to civil war. It would also have altered the future royal lineage, and it is highly unlikely that any of the monarchs we know today would have reigned.

From Quiz The English Civil War

Answer: Charles I

Charles inherited the throne from his father, James I. He was not in fact the primary heir to the British throne, but succeeded due to the premature death of his more popular brother Henry. If Henry had survived, the English Civil War might not have begun.

From Quiz English Revolution

Answer: Long Parliament

Charles had ruled the country for 11 years without the need of Parliament. Then in April 1640 the 'Short Parliament' was convened and dismissed. He was then forced to recall Parliament after the debacle of the second Scottish war and was not only required to give up his chief confidant and advisor the Earl of Strafford for impeachment (and eventual execution for treason in 1641) but other instruments of absolutist monarchical power. For example, control and abandonment of prerogative courts such as 'Star Chamber'. The passing of the 'Triennial Act' that ruled that no more than three years should pass without a Parliament and yet another act that prevented Parliament from being dissolved without its own consent. Taxation such as 'Ship Money', 'Tonnage' and 'Poundage', imposed without parliamentary consent, was abolished. The oppressive church courts were done away with and Archbishop Laud was impeached and imprisoned. Already then, great inroads were taking place to undermine Charles's claim to rule by the 'Divine Right of Kings'. This was radical stuff! How would he react?

From Quiz Wrong but Wromantic/Right but Repulsive - Part 2

Answer: Parliament

In November 1647, the King escaped the custody of the Army and made his way to Southampton Water, where he made contact with Robert Hammond, the Governor of the Isle of Wight, whom he believed to be sympathetic to the Royalist cause. However, Hammond confined Charles in Carisbrooke Castle and informed Parliament that he had captured the King.

From Quiz Wrong but Wromantic/Right but Repulsive - Part 1

Answer: Nottingham

Charles raised his standard on the grounds outside Nottingham Castle on 22 August 1642. However, the following day there was a storm that blew the standard down, something that was perceived as a bad omen for what was to come. Although Charles chose Nottingham to begin his campaign, just after he left the city fell to Parliament's forces and remained in their control for the rest of the war.

From Quiz English Revolution

Answer: Church Reform... control of the army... right to appoint ment of royal ministers.

The 'Grand Remonstrance' was Parliament's answer to the King's need for money to raise an army in order to put down rebellion in Ireland (October 1641). The obvious question was: Why wouldn't Charles instead use such an army against Parliament itself? Led therefore by John Pym, Parliament issued this document openly criticising the rule of Charles. Such unprecedented radicalism highlighted the division within parliament and swords were drawn in Parliament. Many moderates were driven into the arms of the King. Of course this action gave Charles renewed confidence and in the January of 1642 he entered Parliament and attempted without success to arrest Pym and others. Interesting to note that Pym and the others took refuge in the City of London, the bastion of trade and finance. War now became inevitable and the King left the capital.

From Quiz Wrong but Wromantic/Right but Repulsive - Part 3

Answer: Treaty of Breda

Charles II had been proclaimed King of Scots in February 1649, following the execution of his father. However, in order for Charles to obtain the service of a Scots army, the Scottish government made a number of demands on the King, largely requiring the adoption of Presbyterianism across the three kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland. These demands were laid out in the document that came to be known as the Treaty of Breda, which was signed by Charles in the town of Breda in the Netherlands on 1 May 1650.

From Quiz Wrong but Wromantic/Right but Repulsive - Part 1

Answer: William Harvey, royal physician

Doctor William Harvey had achieved renowned status through his work in biological discovery, primarily on the circulation of blood, and was a close attendant of the King. While the young princes were eager to fight, Harvey, charged with their safekeeping during the battle, attempted to keep them occupied by reading to them as the guns were fired around them.

From Quiz More English Civil War Facts

Answer: Maryland

The devout Roman Catholic queen, Henrietta Maria, was an unusual choice of wife for King Charles, who was a staunch Protestant and follower of the Church of England. After a shaky start to their marriage they became a devoted couple, and she fully supported her husband throughout the troubled times ahead. Her eldest son Charles, eventually regained the throne of his father to become Charles II. Carolina (North and South) was named after Charles I. Louisiana was named after Louis XIV of France, and Georgia was named after George II of England.

From Quiz English Revolution

Answer: Robert Devereux Earl of Essex

In June 1642 Parliament had reiterated the demands as stated within the 'Grand Remonstrance' but as far as the King was concerned there was no further common ground between himself and the leaders of Parliament. Besides, many Peers from the House of Lords together with a large minority from the Commons had already shown their allegiance, and in August 1642 Charles raised his standard at Nottingham.

From Quiz Wrong but Wromantic/Right but Repulsive - Part 1

Answer: Reform of the Church of England

The Westminster Assembly was called with the function of restructuring the Church of England away from the model favoured by the King, which at the time he was Supreme Head of, and more in line with the Presbyterian Kirk in Scotland, which was governed by a system of elected elders called 'presbyteries'.

From Quiz English Revolution

Answer: It was a draw

Edgehill was fought by two unprofessional armies, and neither side fought particularly well. Generally, armies were gathered with the use of the feudal 'Posse Comitatus' method where men literally gathered and took allegiance to the flag. Charles managed to continue his a march on London, but was thrown back at Turnham Green in November 1642 and retreated to Oxford, where he set up his headquarters. Both sides would claim the victory, however, most modern historians agree that the battle was a draw.

From Quiz Wrong but Wromantic/Right but Repulsive - Part 3

Answer: To prevent a Scottish invasion of England

In June 1650, following the signing of the Treaty of Breda, Charles II arrived in Scotland to take command of the Scots army intended to secure his English throne. Upon hearing of the King's arrival, the English Council of State immediately made plans to invade Scotland as a means of preventing the Scots from invading England. The Battle of Dunbar was the culmination of a two-month campaign that saw Cromwell and Parliament cause major setbacks in the King's efforts to regain the throne of England.

From Quiz Wrong but Wromantic/Right but Repulsive - Part 2

Answer: A Royalist deserter

The revolt in Kent had led to Royalist forces taking the castles at Walmer, Deal and Sandown. Although the Parliamentary force, under Colonel Nathaniel Rich, was able to retake Walmer Castle, it was insufficient to successfully besiege both Deal and Sandown simultaneously. Additionally, Rich's force at Deal was bombarded by warships in the English Channel. These ships were primarily there to land Royalist reinforcements in secret. However, the element of surprise was lost when a deserter informed the Parliamentary forces of the plan. Of the 800 soldiers landed, less than 100 managed to escape to the ships, with another 300 reaching Sandown Castle.

From Quiz Wrong but Wromantic/Right but Repulsive - Part 1

Answer: Thomas Fairfax

Sir Thomas Fairfax had been close to the King and was not opposed to the monarchy, but believed the Sovereign's powers needed to be limited. Unlike the more radical Oliver Cromwell, Fairfax remained opposed to the abolition of the monarchy and, although initially appointed as judge presiding over the trial of the King, refused to take further part in the proceedings when he perceived that the trial was being conducted unfairly.

From Quiz The English Civil War

Answer: Royalists and Parliamentarians

Roundheads and Cavaliers may be the best known terms, but these are largely modern romantic nicknames, not widely used at the time. The term "roundheads" really only applied to the London apprentice boys who supported Parliament and had cropped hair. It was a term of abuse used by Royalist soldiers against those of Parliament.

From Quiz English Revolution

Answer: Oliver Cromwell

The Eastern Association was, at least in principle, a defensive group, that aimed to keep the civil war out of East Anglia ... In September 1643 Parliament signed the 'Solemn League And Covenant' with the Scots and a Scottish army crossed into England in 1644. In July the battle of Marston Moor was won by a combination of Scots, the Parliamentary forces of Yorkshire under Sir Thomas Fairfax and the army of the 'Eastern Association' under Manchester and Cromwell.

From Quiz Wrong but Wromantic/Right but Repulsive - Part 3

Answer: Thomas Fairfax

Thomas Fairfax had led Parliament's forces during the First and Second Civil Wars, but was not in agreement with the decision to execute King Charles I. The intention to invade Scotland however was an act he found especially difficult to reconcile, as he saw Scotland as an ally, the Scots having signed the Solemn League and Covenant with the English Parliament in 1643. As a result, he resigned command of the army and went to live in retirement in Yorkshire.

From Quiz Wrong but Wromantic/Right but Repulsive - Part 2

Answer: Prince of Wales

Following a period living in Europe, the Prince of Wales became more active in fighting and, following the Naval Mutiny of June 1648, took command of the small force of warships from Chatham that had declared loyalty to the King. The fleet sailed from the Netherlands in July, but met with little success. The attempted naval action came to a head in August when the Prince of Wales's force was met by a small fleet commanded by the Earl of Warwick, the commander of Parliament's naval forces, in the Thames Estuary. Any attempt at fighting was prevented by bad weather, and the Prince's fleet returned to the Netherlands on 31 August.

From Quiz Wrong but Wromantic/Right but Repulsive - Part 1

Answer: Twenty-Four

The initial paper establishment of the New Model Army was intended to be eleven regiments of cavalry with 600 men each; twelve regiments of infantry with 1,200 men each; and a single regiment of dragoons of 1,000 men. Although the cavalry regiments were fully manned with sufficient volunteers, the infantry was as many as 7,000 men down on full strength, with men having to be impressed into the army from Parliamentary held areas of the country.

From Quiz English Revolution

Answer: Robert Devereux Earl of Essex

This was a humiliation for Parliament in its fight for the South-West. The North and the South West were seen to be strongholds for the King, excepting many of the port towns and cities. As centres of trade and industry, these generally favoured Parliament. Cromwell was able to push forward his argument for a professional style of army (The New Model Army) and importantly the 'Self Denying Ordinance' (April 1645) was passed disqualifying members of Parliament and all Peers from holding military commissions - except Cromwell of course! From now on Parliament would benefit from a professional army commanded by competent officers.

From Quiz Wrong but Wromantic/Right but Repulsive - Part 3

Answer: General-at-Sea

These three officers were appointed via an Act of Parliament named "An Act for authorizing Col. Blake, Col. Popham, and Col. Dean or any two of them, to be Admiral and General of the Fleet now at sea", which set out ruling whereby all three or any two of these officers could "order manage and command" the fleet. The appointments as General-at-Sea also gave them positions as Commissioners for the Admiralty and Navy, the body responsible for overall operational control of the Parliamentary Navy. In August 1651, Popham died of fever and was replaced by George Monck.

From Quiz Wrong but Wromantic/Right but Repulsive - Part 2

Answer: John Lambert

Lambert's force of approximately 4,000 was significantly outnumbered by the Duke of Hamilton's army, but was reinforced by Oliver Cromwell, who brought up to 5,000 additional soldiers following the capture of Pembroke Castle. However, the poor weather conditions led to significant numbers of Hamilton's army deserting. Upon Cromwell's arrival, he assumed command of the overall Parliamentary army from Lambert. This was Cromwell's first action in sole command, and resulted in a decisive victory.

From Quiz Wrong but Wromantic/Right but Repulsive - Part 1

Answer: Lieutenant-General

Before the Civil War, Cromwell had little military experience. However, in 1642, he recruited a troop of cavalry in his home county of Cambridgeshire, which he led to take part in, but arrived too late for, the Battle of Edgehill. This troop was subsequently increased to a full regiment in the army led by the Earl of Manchester, with Cromwell appointed as its colonel. After a number of successful actions, in July 1644 Cromwell was promoted to Lieutenant-General and given command of all of Manchester's cavalry.

From Quiz The English Civil War

Answer: Prince Rupert of the Rhine

Prince Rupert was the Kings' nephew, and a professional soldier from his teens, fighting on the Continent where he was imprisoned for a time. He commanded the Royalist Horse at the age of only 22. Prince Rupert was fascinated by science and produced a number of innovations.

From Quiz English Revolution

Answer: Royalist defeat at the Battle of Naseby (June 1645)

Naseby (Northamptonshire) was the decisive battle of the war. The defeat of the Royalist force under Prince Rupert utterley destroyed the chances of a victory for Charles. Rupert had ordered a charge from a superior vantage point against Sir Thomas Fairfax's Parliamentary army of about 13,000. Cromwell and his cavalry played a major role in the success of Parliament on that fateful day. The entire Royalist Commissariat was captured and important papers of the King which showed that Charles intended to import an Irish catholic army with European mercenaries in order to defeat Parliament. Of course Parliament published this information immediately. From here on the King's cause was doomed to failure, and the war now became a minor mopping process.

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