The Stuarts in England : IV Trivia Quiz

Answer: 51

By the standards of the day, James was quite elderly. Considering the controversy surrounding him, he acceded to the throne easily, his accession going uncontested. His wife, Queen Mary Beatrice, was twenty-six at the time of his accession, still young, but childless.

As it was, people fully expected James to reign for a few years (probably not very long - he was not thought to be as strong as Charles II; ironically, he was the longest lived Stuart of his generation) and then be succeeded by his daughter, the Protestant Princess of Orange, who would reign alongside her husband, William. Prior to his brother's death, James had been in the middle of an affair with a woman called Catherine Sedley, and saw no reason to change things.

His wife was not unnaturally upset by this, but before long she would be wishing it was her only worry.

Answer: 23 April 1685

It was a magnificent, expensive ceremony, but riddled with ill omens, such as the crown falling off James' head (!) and the royal standard blowing off the White Tower. On 2 June that year, Princess Anne of Denmark (as James' younger daughter had been styled since her marriage) gave birth to a daughter, Lady Mary.

But celebrations were cut short when it was learned that the Duke of Monmouth, Charles II's eldest illegitimate son, had landed at Lyme Regis with an army of 4,000 men, claiming that his parents had been married and thus he was King of Britain.

His ill-advised rebellion was defeated at the Battle of Sedgemoor on 6 July (the last battle to be fought on English soil between Englishmen). Monmouth, that handsome, foolish young man was beheaded on 15 July, and James seemed secure.

Answer: Test

He also demanded that all penal laws against Catholics be suspended. This was bitterly opposed. In November 1685 he prorogued parliament, and though it was not formally dissolved until 1687, it was never to meet again during his reign. The problem lay equally in the King's policies and his personality.

He was almost the polar opposite of his late brother in every conceivable way. Where Charles was easy-going, humorous and astute, James was stiff, sour (Nell Gwynne called him 'Dismal Jimmy') and tactless.

The Duke of Buckingham, speaking during Charles's reign, had summed up the difference: 'the King could see things if he would, whereas the Duke [James] would see things if he could.' Unlike Charles, he had learned all the wrong lessons from the Civil War and his father's execution. Determined to be obeyed completely, he refused to bend, and instead was, as we shall see, broken. On 12 May 1686, Princess Anne had another daughter, Anne Sophia, shoring up the Protestant succession.

Answer: Elizabeth Villiers

Elizabeth was by no means as pretty as Mary (she was known as 'Squinting Betty') but she was witty and intelligent, just the kind of woman William liked, though it is not known whether or not they actually had a sexual affair. The affair caused Mary considerable distress, but she and William were both quite busy keeping an eye on events across the North Sea, from where they received regular letters from Princess Anne. Under the influence of his hated Catholic confessor, Edward Petre, James was becoming even more unpopular by his actions.

He received the first papal nuncio to England since the reign of Mary I, and suspended Henry Compton as Bishop of London. Meanwhile, the Ladies Mary and Anne Sophia died within six days of each other in February 1687 - Princess Anne had also had another stillborn child a month earlier.

Answer: It gave Catholics freedom of worship

James became increasingly heavy handed, and people were getting fed up with him, believing that he was hell bent on dragging Britain back to 'Popery'. With the heir to the throne in the Netherlands, Princess Anne (who had another stillbirth in October) began to see herself as the sole representative of Protestantism in the royal family, and did all she could to stir the pot against her father and stepmother, encouraged by her new friends, John Churchill and his wife Sarah, who had great influence over Anne and her husband. In 1687, James attempted to convert his elder daughter, sending Mary Catholic writings and explanations as to why her mother had converted, but Mary, encouraged by William, stalwartly resisted.

Answer: James Francis Edward

In December 1687, Mary Beatrice (who was still not yet thirty) had found that she was pregnant again. Princess Anne, as well as William and Mary, were shocked and horrified.
On 10 June 1688, Queen Mary Beatrice went into labour. There were some 60 witnesses, both Catholics and Protestants, a fact that would be of some significance later. Conspicuous by her absence was Princess Anne of Denmark, who deliberately avoided being present, for reasons that would soon come to a sinister light. Mary Beatrice, in her modest way, was embarrassed at being in labour in front of so many people, and at her request James leaned forward so his long peri-wig shielded her from their eyes.
Mary Beatrice's child was born at about 10 in the morning. 'I don't hear it cry,' the Queen whispered in alarm, but her fears were soon put to rest. It was a healthy boy, named James Francis Edward. James was so delighted he presented the midwife with 500 guineas. The child's godparents included the Dowager Queen Catherine of Braganza and the Pope, Innocent XI.
The birth of the new Prince of Wales filled almost every Protestant in England with dread. After James' death, they had fully expected that England would be ruled by the benevolent (and very Protestant) Princess Mary of Orange and her husband Prince William. James Francis Edward's birth, however, turned the whole situation on it's head. Now there seemed every possibility that James II would be succeeded by an equally Catholic James III. This was a situation some Protestants could not stomach. A vicious slander campaign against Queen Mary Beatrice was began - the baby was not hers at all, people said, it was another woman's baby, smuggled into her bed in a 'warming pan'. Princess Anne of Denmark encouraged these rumours (now her reason for not being present at the birth was clear - she could spread rumours about her half-brother with a clear conscience!) and wrote letters to her sister Mary, expressing doubt that their new brother was in fact related to them at all.

Answer: 7

Known to history as the 'Immortal Seven', their request was one that William was all too happy to agree to. He landed at Torbay on 5 November to a tumultuous welcome. Princess Anne, pregnant once again (she had had a miscarriage in April) was still in London, but her loyalty to her father was wavering. James' leading generals (including John Churchill and the Duke of Grafton, an illegitimate son of Charles II) deserted him and joined William, and Anne soon followed with Sarah Churchill in tow. James advised Mary Beatrice to flee with their young son, but she did so only on condition that he follow within forty-eight hours.

She left England disguised as a laundress and fled to France, where she was cordially received by Louis XIV, who escorted her to St Germain-en-Laye, which was to be her home in exile.

Answer: 23 December 1688

James, deserted by his generals and friends, panicked. He attempted to flee on 11 December, even throwing the Great Seal into the Thames, but was intercepted at Faversham and brought back to London. William, however, had no wish to make James a martyr and allowed him to escape.

In France, Mary Beatrice was worried sick. The night after her arrival in St Germain, Louis arrived in Mary Beatrice's chamber and announced 'Madame, I bring you a gentleman of your acquaintance whom you will be very glad to see.' It was James. In England, a group of peers urged William to issue writs for a new parliament, which he did.

This 'Convention Parliament' declared that by fleeing England James had abdicated, and declared the throne vacant in January 1689. On 3 February, William told parliament he would be unwilling to rule as either regent, or merely as Mary's consort (her 'gentleman usher' as he put it).

In this he had, of course, the devoted Mary's full support. On 13 February, parliament offered the crown to William and Mary jointly, and so they ascended the throne as William III and Mary II (the Scottish parliament declared them King and Queen of Scots on 11 April that same year).

In return, however, the new king and queen were forced to give their assent to the 'Bill of Rights', which confirmed them as monarchs and condemned James' behaviour. It also declared it illegal for a Catholic to be king or queen of England, and illegal for the monarch to marry a Catholic. Furthermore, it curtailed the power of the monarch, and settled the succession - William and Mary were to be followed by their children (if any), then by Anne and any of her children, then finally by William and any children he might have by a later marriage.

Answer: Kinsale

The Irish parliament had declared that James remained king, and support for him was strong in Ireland. William (who had been crowned with Mary on 11 April) sailed to Ireland himself to deal with it. At the same time, there was a pro-James uprising in Scotland under Viscount Dundee (soon crushed).

In Ireland, James' forces were crushingly defeated at the Battle of the Boyne on 1 July 1690, and James fled ignominiously back to France. Three weeks later, Princess Anne gave birth to a son, named William and styled Duke of Gloucester. Anne's last pregnancy had ended in stillbirth, but William, against all expectations, survived. Anne was growing increasingly close to Sarah - they now addressed each other in letters as 'Mrs Morley' (Anne) and 'Mrs Freeman' (Sarah). Scotland was subdued after the brutal Massacre of Glencoe, which didn't win William any popularity - because the sole 'exercise of regal authority' was vested in him, and not in Mary, he became identified with government policy, and his popularity suffered accordingly, whereas Mary was publicly adored.

Answer: Louise Marie

James welcomed her arrival - 'See what God has given to be our consolation in our exile'. He called her 'La Consolastrice' - here, he said, was a daughter who had not betrayed him, unlike Mary II and Anne. William and Mary were now firmly entrenched as king and queen, with mixed successes. William hated London and Whitehall Palace, which was bad for his asthma, so the couple spent most of their time in the newly bought Kensington Palace. William never really warmed to England (just as the English never really warmed to him) and found English political intrigue tiresome. Scotland was seen by him as a mere distraction.

He channeled all his energy into European affairs, determined to do down King Louis XIV of France. While William was abroad, Mary was regent.

At first he had no confidence in her, making sure all power was held by a council. Soon, however, she proved herself to him by her shrewd judge of character and total loyalty to him, and when he returned from Ireland he delighted her by saying he was 'very much pleased' with her - praise from William was few and far between.

Answer: Anne's continued friendship with Sarah Churchill.

In 1692, Sarah's husband, who was now Earl of Marlborough, had been dismissed for apparently plotting to restore James II. Anne, firmly under Sarah's thumb, was horrified. Relations between Anne and Mary had always been difficult - they were very different women and Anne loathed William, whom she referred to as 'that Dutch monster'. Anne appeared at court with Sarah, showing her support for the Churchills, much to Mary's displeasure. She wrote to her sister: 'It was very unkind in a sister, would have been very uncivil in an equal, and I need not say I have more to claim...' Anne's behaviour can perhaps by excused by the many physical and emotional problems she was going through at the time - she had had a daughter, Mary, in 1690, but the baby had lived only two hours. Another child, George, born in 1692, died young too and she had yet another stillborn in 1693. Also, she felt that William and Mary had no respect for her and her husband George, Duke of Cumberland. George was a dull, somewhat plodding man (Charles II had famously said of him: 'I have tried him drunk and I have tried him sober and there is nothing in him') but Anne was devoted to him and felt any slight keenly. Also, Sarah disliked Mary, and did all she could to turn Anne against her sister.
Anne and Mary were now not even on speaking terms. Mary ordered Sarah to leave the Cockpit (Anne's Whitehall home) and, in response, Anne flounced off to Syon House. Mary visited Anne after the death of her son George, but it didn't do much to help. Sarah claims that Mary didn't even ask how Anne was. Rather, Mary apparently told Anne that since she had made 'the first step' by visiting, Anne should take the second by dismissing Sarah. Anne protested that she had never disobeyed Mary except in this matter, and Mary left abruptly. Anne remained resolute: 'Nothing but death can ever make me part with you,' she told Sarah. Anne was subjected to various signs of royal displeasure - her guards were removed, it was ordered that she should be given no public honours, and courtiers were told not to visit her. None of this did much to help Anne's depression: she worried for her son, the Duke of Gloucester, and had various physical ailments. Many pregnancies had made her gain weight, she was crippled by rheumatism and suffering from a recurring eye problem.
Nevertheless the feud with her sister rumbled on, both of them too stubborn to put a stop to it. Mary, now that she was a queen, was determined to be obeyed, especially by her little sister, but Anne was equally determined not to part with her precious 'Mrs Freeman'.

Answer: Smallpox

Towards Christmas 1694, Mary began to complain of feeling sick. Once the doctors diagnosed smallpox, it was clear that the Queen was dying. Even those closest to William were shocked by the extent of his grief. He had a bed made for him in Mary's room, and spent as much time as he could with her, desperately suppressing his cough in case it irritated her. On 27 December, the Queen calmly made her will and bade farewell to her husband. She died on 28 December. She was widely mourned in England, remembered for her piety, honesty and sweet nature. No one (except the acerbic Sarah) had a bad word to say about the woman who had been a good queen, but had never wanted to be more than a good wife. Some days later, William broke down in front of parliament and wept. He ended his affair with Elizabeth Villiers, and refused all suggestions that he remarry.
Mary's death brought about a reconciliation between William and his sister-in-law Anne, at least in public. Since she was now heir to the throne, he gave her St James' Palace as a residence and made her son a knight of the Garter in January (the same month, Anne had another stillbirth, a year after her last). Personal relations between Anne and William, however, were still bad. William once said that had he married Anne, he would be the most miserable man on earth. Any time he was abroad, he made sure that neither Anne nor George had any share in the regency. Anne was furious when William gave James II's Irish estates to Elizabeth as a parting gift, and relations between them remained sour.
Anne was not an inspiring figure as heir to the throne. A popular rhyme during William and Mary's joint reign had said:
'King William thinks all,
Queen Mary talks all,
Prince George drinks all
And Princess Anne eats all.'
It was true that she had inherited her mother's tendency towards obesity, and her frequent pregnancies didn't help her figure. Though she did have some sterling qualities - she was devout, usually good hearted and always dutiful - they were eclipsed in the public eye by her tedious nature, plain looks and lack of charisma. She never attracted the same popular acclaim that Mary did.

Answer: Governor of the Duke of Gloucester

Unfortunately, it was not to be a position he held for long. Gloucester, Anne's only surviving child (she had four miscarriages, one of twins, in four years, from 1696-1700) was a lively boy, but always delicate. He apparently suffered from water on the brain. King William was quite fond of him, and his eleventh birthday in 1700 was celebrated with fireworks and a banquet.

The next day he awoke feeling ill, and four days later he was dead. The was a huge blow not only to Anne herself, utterly distraught, but to all those who hoped for a Protestant Stuart succession. Anne was now thirty-five, and had had borne eighteen children, including miscarriages, and now she did not have a single living child to show for it.

She fell into another period of depression, convinced that the deaths of her children were her punishment for betraying her father, James II. William, distressed as he was, had to look at the political implications of the death. On 12 June 1701, parliament passed the Act of Settlement, which declared that after Anne, the next heir to the throne was Sophie of Hanover, granddaughter of the Winter Queen.

It excluded all Catholics from the throne, including King James and his son, the Prince of Wales, and the descendants of Minette (her younger daughter Anne-Marie was alive and well and was now Duchess of Savoy). Also excluded were Elizabeth of Bohemia's Catholic descendants - Charles Louis's daughter Liselotte and her children, Louise Hollandine and Edward's surviving daughters Anne (now Princess of Conde) and Benedicte-Henriette (now Duchess of Brunswick - her husband was Sophie's brother-in-law).

Answer: King James II and King William III

King James, still in exile in France, turned sixty-seven in October 1700. He was not to see another full year. Since his exile, he had reformed his former philandering ways and was now a devout, pious man. He died of a brain hemorrhage on 16 September 1701, having lived quite long for a Stuart. On his death bed, he urged his son, the Prince of Wales (now aged thirteen) to always be true to the Catholic faith) and told his wife that he forgave his three worst enemies - the Emperor Leopold I, the Prince of Orange (William III) and his own daughter, Princess Anne of Denmark. He designated Mary Beatrice regent for their son. King James was buried in the Saint Edmund Chapel, Paris. His tomb was broken into during the French Revolution, whereupon the astonished revolutionaries found his body perfectly preserved. It was put on public exhibition until George IV heard of it and ordered it to be buried in St Germain-en-Laye.
Upon James' death, Louis XIV provocatively declared the Prince of Wales 'King James III of England and VIII of Scotland', much to William's annoyance. Mary Beatrice wrote to her estranged stepdaughter, saying 'He [James II] bid me find means to let you know that he forgave you from the bottom of his heart . . . that he gave you his last blessing and prayed to God to convert your heart and to confirm you in the resolution of repairing to his son the wrongs that were done to himself.' The Prince of Wales was recognised as King of Great Britain by France, Spain, the Papal States and Modena, but not, of course, by William or Anne. As a result of this, England declared war on France in December 1701.
Before long, however, another surviving player of the Glorious Revolution Drama of 1688 was about to depart the stage. In February 1702, William's horse stumbled on a molehill and William broke his collar bone. For anyone else, it wouldn't have been serious, but William had never been healthy, and at fifty-two was prematurely aged and exhausted from over work. Pneumonia set in, and on 8 March 1702, he died. He had never been popular in England (or in Scotland, or in Ireland come to think of it) but he wasn't the type of man who courted popularity. Portrayed as a callous figure by Jacobite propaganda, his reputation hasn't been helped by Anne and Sarah's constant insulting of him. He had been, in fact, a very successful king, and a not entirely unsympathetic man - unpretentious, tolerant and patient.

Answer: yes

She wore it for both her brother-in-law and for her father. Anne was now thirty-seven, crippled by gout and rheumatism, grossly overweight and childless. Many doubted that she would make a good queen, especially since she had had no training in it, William keeping her firmly away from affairs of state.

As always, however, she was determined to do her duty for her country. Her reign, as it turned out, was not a disaster, and by her death she had proved herself if not dynamic, then certainly conscientious.

But that's for another quiz!