Censorship

Question 1

When was Aeropagitica published?

Answer 1

1644

Question 2

Which 1644 pamphlet by William Walwyn argued that censorship had been misapplied?

Answer 2

The Compassionate Samaritan

Question 3

Which character in Jonson’s Poetaster (1601) is a parody of officious magistrates?

Answer 3

Asinius Lupus

Question 4

Which play was published by Jonson in 1601?

Answer 4

Poetaster

Question 5

Which individual was responsible for Jonson’s arrest over the publication of Sejanus (1603) following Jonson’s arguments with one of his servants?

Answer 5

Earl of Northampton

Question 6

Which play did Jonson publish in 1603?

Answer 6

Sejanus

Question 7

Which 1613 play by Wentworth Smith openly mocked censorship in its prologue and gave a close analogy of events involving the elector Palatine?

Answer 7

The Hector of Germany

Question 8

Which lost play from 1597 prompted a ban on all theatre that was soon repealed which the offending company given special privileges six months later?

Answer 8

Isle of Dogs

Question 9

How long after the publication of the Isle of Dogs (1597) was the offending company given special privileges by the Privy Council?

Answer 9

six months

Question 10

Which 1590 play had passages about popular rebellion removed prior to publication (including by a young William Shakespeare)?

Answer 10

Sir Thomas More

Question 11

Which 1593 play protrayed popular rebellion during an economic down turn without apparent issue?

Answer 11

The Life and Death of Jack Straw

Question 12

Which 1631 play was forced to change its setting from Spain to Carthage due to diplomatic tendencies?

Answer 12

Believe as you List

Question 13

Which anti-Spanish play was allowed to go ahead unimpeded in 1631?

Answer 13

Fair Maid of the West

Question 14

Which 1605 Jonson play was objected to by Sir James Murray, a Scottish favourite of James I, resulting in Jonson and Chapman’s imprisonment for two months?

Answer 14

Eastward Ho!

Question 15

Which Scottish favourite objected to Jonson’s play Eastward Ho! (1605)?

Answer 15

Sir James Murray

Question 16

In which year did Elizabeth I and Sir Robert Cecil organise anti-Spanish pageants to make a point to the ambassador?

Answer 16

1559

Question 17

Which 1624 play by Thomas Middleton was shut down after complaints from the Spanish ambassador?

Answer 17

A Game at Chess

Question 18

Which 1625 play by Ben Jonson had anti-Spanish elements removed following pressure from the Spanish ambassador?

Answer 18

The Fortunate Isles

Question 19

Which 1604 play by Samuel David resulted in the author being questioned (the following year) about parallels to the Essex rebellion but claimed that he’d written it prior to the 1601 revolt?

Answer 19

Philotas

Question 20

Which Shakespeare play, written in 1595, had a deposition scene added in for the 1608 edition?

Answer 20

Richard II

Question 21

Which 1599 book by John Hayward was dedicated to the Earl of Essex and resulted in the author being questioned before the Privy Council?

Answer 21

The Life of Henry IIII

Question 22

Which 1593 masque by Philip Sidney urged Robert Cecil to succeed to his father’s political position?

Answer 22

The Lady of May

Question 23

Which 1638 Philip Massinger play did Charles I personally read through, noting that “this is too insolent, and to be changed”?

Answer 23

The King and the Subject

Question 24

Which early 1620s Massinger play closely allegorised and mocked British foreign policy toward the Elector Palatine?

Answer 24

The Maid of Honour

Question 25

In which year was pre-publication censorship instituted by the High Commission?

Answer 25

1559

Question 26

In which year did the Stationers Company receive a royal charter giving them the powers of search and seizure needed to enforce their monopoly over print material?

Answer 26

1557

Question 27

Between which years did a series of acts undermine the ability of foreign printers to operate in England thus giving the Stationers Company and University Presses a monopoly?

Answer 27

1515-1534

Question 28

In which year did a Star Chamber edict unify the registration systems of the Stationers Company and High Comission as well as giving the latter expanded powers?

Answer 28

1586

Question 29

Which Archbishop attempted to strictly enforce censorship legislation during the 1590s?

Answer 29

Archbishop Whitgift

Question 30

In what year did the Bishops Ban outlaw the production of English History plays and “bitinge satyres”?

Answer 30

1599

Question 31

In what year did the abolition of the Star Chamber lead to the collapse of censorship?

Answer 31

1640

Question 32

What piece of legislation passed by the long parliament reinstituted pre-publication censorship?

Answer 32

Licensing Order (1643)

Question 33

Between 1550 and 1640, what proportion of print material went unregistered?

Answer 33

35%

Question 34

Under Elizabeth I’s reign, the registration levels of print material never rose above what level?

Answer 34

50%

Question 35

In what year did James I issue a proclamation ratifying the powers of the Star Chamber and High Commission to censor and increased their power to punish?

Answer 35

1624