* Limited Record-Keeping: Literacy rates weren't systematically tracked in the 17th century.
* Varied Literacy: Literacy rates varied significantly based on factors like:
* Geography: Urban areas generally had higher literacy than rural areas.
* Social Class: Wealthy and elite classes had much higher literacy rates than the poor.
* Gender: Men were generally more literate than women.
* Occupation: Certain professions, like the clergy, required literacy.
* Defining "Literacy": What constitutes "reading English" is also difficult to define. Could someone read only a few words, or did they need to be fluent?
However, we can offer some estimations:
* General European Trend: At this time, most of Europe had literacy rates below 50%. This means that the majority of the population would have been unable to read or write.
* England was relatively more literate: England, especially in urban centers, had somewhat higher literacy rates than other European countries.
In conclusion: It's safe to say that in 1697, a significant majority of the English population would have been unable to read English.