England in the 17th Century: A Miscellany Quiz

Answer: One of the MPs was called Praise-God Barbon (or Barebone)

In an attempt to turn England into a "godly republic" the "Barebones Parliament" (1653) legislated with Puritan zeal against the "sins of the flesh" and turned many activities that had previously been regarded as sins into criminal offences, for example, fornication.

It derived its nickname from one of the MPs for the City of London, apparently called Barbon. There are various spellings of his name, including "Barebone". The name "Barebone's Parliament" is of course satirical. Some Puritans referred to this Parliament as the "Parliament of Saints".

Answer: 1662

The loss of Calais by Mary I in 1558 is well known. However, England acquired Dunkirk (previously part of the Spanish Netherlands) in 1658 after the Battle of the Dunes. At the time, England was fighting as an ally of France against Spain. The English troops, together with a French contingent, were commanded by Marshal Turenne, who was most impressed by the good discipline of the Cromwellian forces.

In 1662 Charles II sold Dunkirk to France.

Answer: False

James I assumed the title by royal proclamation in 1603 upon becoming King of England, and a Latin abbreviation of it was put on coins. As the "union" between England and Scotland was at that time purely personal - that is, they had the same reigning monarch - the status of this title before the Act of Union in 1707 is not altogether clear.

However, King James had the new title put on the coins.

Answer: Jamaica

Between 1655 and 1659 England was at war with Spain. An attempt to seize Hispaniola from Spain in 1655 failed, and the English fleet took Jamaica instead. A few of the Spaniards and some slaves fled to the mountainous parts in the north of the island and conducted a guerrilla war for about ten years.

The acquisition of Jamaica gave England (and later, Britain) a sizeable island of strategic importance in the Caribbean. Until the 1690s it was to a large extent run by buccaneers, many of whom invested little in the island. Among others, Sir Henry Morgan, did a stint as Deputy Governor of the island (from 1671 onwards).

Answer: False

For the first time for many centuries, most English coins ceased to bear Latin inscriptions. English was considered more 'democratic' and less regal than Latin - and didn't smack of Catholicism. However, a small number of coins appeared with Latin inscriptions. They were struck as patterns, but a few got into circulation. (Most coins dating from 1649-1659 are scarce or rare).

Answer: Charles I

He was crowned in 1633 in Holyrood Abbey, Edinburgh, eight years after his coronation in Westminster. Holyrood Abbey has in the meantime become a ruin. On 24 June 1953, Elizabeth II took part in a formal procession from Holyroodhouse Palace to St. Giles' Cathedral (in other words, the full length of the 'Royal Mile' in Edinburgh) and the 'Honours (regalia) of Scotland' were carried before her.

However, there was no Scottish coronation.

Answer: The Netherlands

The arms of the Royal Charles have been preserved and are on display in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. The Dutch fleet was very ably commanded by Michiel de Ruyter (1607-76). This Anglo-Dutch War ended with England in effect swapping Surinam for New Amsterdam.

Answer: True

The offer was made in March 1657 in the 'Humble Petition and Advice' and was rejected. As was said at the time, Cromwell was already 'king in all but name' and in June 1657 he was installed for a second time as Lord Protector of the Realm. The ceremony, in Westminster Hall, was carried out with much of the pomp and splendour of a coronation. Cromwell wore a purple robe trimmed with ermine and was invested with a gold sceptre. (Of course he wasn't crowned or anointed, though).

Answer: Hudibras (by Samuel Butler)

Proverbs 13:24 (in the KJV) comes quite close: "He that spareth his rod hateth his son ..." However, the jaunty rhythm of the popular saying is out of keeping with the style of the KJV. The saying is taken from Samuel Butler's burlesque satire on Puritans, "Hudibras", Part II, Canto I, ll. 843-44.

The relevant lines are: "Love is a boy by poets styl'd / Then spare the rod and spoil the child". "The child" referred to is none other than Cupid! These lines by Samuel Butler have nothing to do with child-rearing but refer to the relationship between the grotesque Puritan knight Hudibras and the woman he is wooing, to "possible escapades between Sir Hudibras and his heroine". Source - Part I of this website: http://theologytoday.ptsem.edu/jan1981/v37-4-article1.htm

Answer: 1682

The earliest reference is by Daniel Morhof (1639-91) in his history of the German language and literature, which includes a more general survey of European literature. (The German short title is "Unterricht von der deutschen Sprache und Poesie ..."). The author was Professor of Poetry at Rostock and later at Kiel.

However, it wasn't till well into the eighteenth century that Shakespeare became well known on the Contintent.