More English Civil War Facts Trivia Quiz

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.

Answer: True

His high rank was really a nominal appointment, and he was under the guidance and supervision of Lord Hopton as his military adviser. Sir Ralph Hopton was an experienced commander who had fought in Europe for the Elector Palatine during the Thirty Years War. Charles eventually regained his father's throne to become King Charles II.

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.

Answer: True

Sir Faithful had a most inappropriate name! Just before being charged by Prince Rupert's cavalry, he and his troop removed the orange sashes which identified them as Parliamentarians, and reputedly fired their pistols into the ground. Edgehill was an indecisive battle which took place on 23rd October 1642.

At a crucial stage of the battle, Prince Rupert's cavalry left the field in pusuit of fleeing Parliamentarian troops. Had they remained, victory might have gone to the Royalists, and Sir Faithful's treachorous decision may have proved wise!

Answer: a caracole

A caracole was a cavalry manoeuvre whereby pistols were fired by succeeding ranks. A gorget is a piece of armour worn around the lower neck. A morion is a steel helmet generally associated with the Spanish conquistadors, but in favour with soldiers throughout Europe. A montero is a type of cloth hat often worn by musketeers.

Answer: Royalists wore red. Parliamentarians wore orange

Red and orange were the normal colours, though others were occasionally worn. Sometimes the colours of the opposing side were worn as a disguise, as when Sir John Smith recaptured the King's standard (the Banner Royal) at Edgehill. Mounted cavalry troops also wore coloured sashes.

Answer: Edgehill

The prayer is known as "Astley's prayer". Sir Jacob Astley (later Lord Astley) was a professional soldier who fought throughout the English Civil War. At Edgehill he held the rank of sergeant major-general, commanding the central body of foot soldiers. Astley was both respected and liked by those who served under him, and when at the end of the war he surrendered the last Royalist field army he is quoted as saying to his men 'Well lads, you have done your business and may go play".

Answer: the circulation of blood

William Harvey (1578-1657) was a brilliant physician, who was personal physician to both James I and Charles I. He was educated at Cambridge University, and Padua University in Italy where he obtained his doctorates. His thesis on the circulation of blood was published in 1628, but was not universally accepted for many years as it was simply too controversial.

He is still remembered today, having a hospital named after him - the "William Harvey Hospital" in Ashford, Kent, where his statue stands in the hospital grounds.

Answer: military drill and discipline

Anyone involved in re-enactment of the English Civil War period will be familiar with Bariffe, as the drill procedures he describes are still the primary reference works on this subject. His best known work is "Military Discipline, or the Young Artilleryman" first published in 1635 and re-issued six times over the next twenty-five years.

Other senior officers published manuals on this subject but Bariffe's was the most influential, and was widely used by commanders on both sides.

Answer: a sconce

A sconce is a type of fort or defensive earthwork having bastions (or protruding walls) at each corner. A halbard is a long handled weapon tipped with a steel point, and having an axe head. It was generally carried by a sergeant, and could be used against the enemy, or to stop his own soldiers from running away ! A partisan is of similar length to a halbard, i.e. about six feet, with a broad blade at the end.

It was often carried by infantry officers. A drake is a type of light field artillery piece.

Answer: False

Despite the notoriety of Baldrick in the popular TV series "Blackadder", a baldrick has absolutely nothing to do with servants! A baldrick was a wide leather shoulder belt which supported a scabbard and sword. It was invariably slung from the right shoulder such that the sword hung on the left side, enabling it to be withdrawn with the right hand.

Answer: Regicides

When the monarchy was restored, Charles II agreed to rule with the consent of Parliament, but insisted that the Regicides be tried for the execution of his father. There were fifty-nine Regicides in all. Many managed to escape abroad, although some were eventually captured and executed. Ten others were quickly caught, tried and executed by being hung, drawn and quartered.

A further four had already died, and were posthumously tried and found guilty. These four included Oliver Cromwell the former Lord Protector, and Henry Ireton, Thomas Pride and John Bradshaw.

Their bodies were exhumed and hanged at Tyburn.

Answer: a spanker

A spanker is a fore and aft sail used on square rigged sailing vessels. It is set from the rear, or mizzen mast. A robinet is a small calibre field artillery piece firing a shot weighing less than one pound. A minion is a medium size piece which fired a shot weighing about four pounds. a culverin was bigger, and fired a shot weighing up to fifteen pounds.

A culverin could weigh nearly two tons and required a team of about eight horses to pull it. The term cannon is used loosely to include most artillery pieces, but really refers to the largest ones.

A typical true cannon during the English Civil War could weigh well over three tons, and fire a shot weighing about 50 pounds.

Answer: Charles II had been proclaimed King in Scotland only

The Third Civil War took place in 1650-1651. Charles I had been beheaded on 30th January 1649, and his son, Charles II was proclaimed King in Scotland one week later. His coronation took place at Scone on 1st January 1651. The most well known battles of the Third Civil War are the Battle of Dunbar which took place on 3rd September 1650, and the Battle of Worcester on 3rd September 1651. Oliver Cromwell commanded the successful Parliamentarian forces at both of these battles.

After his defeat at the Battle of Worcester, Charles fled to France.

Answer: Battle of the Severn

In 1649 Puritans established a colony called Providence on the Severn river, close to what is now the City of Annapolis, home to the American Naval Academy. Various skirmishes occurred between the Puritans and the pro-monarchist Roman Catholic community of Maryland, culminating in the Battle of the Severn in 1655.

The Battle of the Severn was re-enacted at Annapolis in 1999, and images of this can be seen at http://www.ecwsa.org/severn99photos.html. The other battles all took place in England where there were actually two Battles of Newbury, the first on 20th September 1643 and the second on 27th October 1644.

The Battle of Cropredy Bridge took place on 29th June 1644, and the Battle of Cheriton on 29th March 1644.