English Revolution Trivia Quiz

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Answer: Archbishop Laud

Episcopacy was abolished in October 1646 and not resored until 1660. Archbishop Laud was particularly unpopoular as an ardent supporter of absolute monarchy. He had also had Prynne's ears cut off for allegedly insulting the monarchy. Bishops' lands were put up for sale. Sound business practice!

Answer: The Scots

The Scots handed Charles over to Parliament in January 1647 after they had failed to negotiate the establishment of Presbyterianism in England.

Answer: Religion, liberty, property

The conflict between Parliament and Monarch is often seen either as a Civil War or a Rebellion or a Revolution. Certainly, religion was a prime concern, as was the idea of liberty. But even as early as the Parliament of 1621, out of 105 prepared bills only 10 were concerned with religion whereas 40 bills were concerned with trade matters.

In fact, the 11 year 'personal rule' period of Charles I (1629-1640) broke down because it lost the good-will of the propertied class.They paid the fair or unfair taxes but were disallowed from representation at the whim of the monarch.

The 'Ancien Régime' of England had to be destroyed in order that the nation could move forward.