Chapter 20: Exclusion and absolutism

• When did the Duke of York’s Catholicism become public knowledge?

  1669
• How was the Duke of York’s Catholicism made clear?

  1673, refused to swear loyalty to the Church of England under the Test Act. 
• Why was James’ Catholicism an issue?


  since Charles II had no legitimate children, he was the heir to the throne
• What was the Popish Plot (1678)?


  based on Titus Oates’ fabrications of a Jesuit plan to assassinate Charles II so that he could be replaced by his brother, James. 
• What was the significance of the Popish Plot?

  caused an increase in the concerns surrounding James’s Catholicism and the growing power of the Crown. 
• Consequences of the Popish Plot

  • Edward Coleman, James’ ex-secretary, was executed alongside 3 others
  • Five Catholic Peers were set to be impeached
• Test Act 1678: Charles was forced to accept this; excluded Catholics from Parliament
• An exemption to the 1678 Test Act for James was passed by only 2 votes. 
• When and why did the First Exclusion Parliament meet?

  met March 1679 because Charles needed money from them.
• Why was the First Exclusion Parliament so different from the Cavalier Parliament?


  the heightened fear of Catholicism and absolutism from the rumours of the Popish Plot.
• What was the aim of the First Exclusion Parliament?


  took measures to try to secure its freedom and rights in the event of a Catholic succession, rather than directly exclude James from the throne. 
• What measures did the First Exclusion Parliament secure?

  • Granted £200,000 to disband Charles II’s standing army during peace time
  • Secured the Habeas Corpus Amendment Act (May 1679) - reinforced the common law right where (excluding treason), the cause of imprisonment had to be stated and a case brought to trial, normally within three days.
• How much did the ‘court’ outnumber those who supported Exclusion by?

  two to one
• Why did Charles send James to Brussels?


  to try and diffuse some of the tension before Parliament met. 
• 27th April 1678: some of Edward Coleman’s leaked correspondence revealed James had been negotiating with both France and the Pope. 
• What limitations did Charles II promise would be placed on a Catholic monarch 30th April 1678?

  • no church patronage
  • Parliament to have power of appointment over civil, legal and military offices.
• 11th May 1679: one MP called for James’ impeachment on charges of high treason. 
• 15th May 1679: reading of the Exclusion Bill, pushed by the leading Whig exclusionist, Shaftesbury. 
• How much did the second reading of the Exclusion Bill pass by on the 21st May?

  207-128
• What did 207-128 out of 509 MPs suggest? 

  that there was a group of MPs that had made the conscious decision not to vote —> group for Charles to exploit. 
• How did Charles intervene after the Exclusion Parliament passed its second reading?

  prorogued Parliament on 27th May 1679.
• Why did Charles II dissolve the First Exclusion Parliament (July 1679)?


  he was wary of the Duke of Monmouth’s growing popularity as a candidate for the throne. 
• What did Charles II becoming seriously ill in August 1679 cause?

  made calls for Exclusion more heated. 
• What did Charles II do to calm the political atmosphere in 1679?

  • temporarily exiled the Duke of Monmouth to the Netherlands in September 1679
  • the Duke of York was sent to Scotland to re-establish order.
• Whig methods for supporting Exclusion

  • Petitions - numerous petitions but Charles ignored them, claiming they had no validity
  • Pamphlets and booklets
  • 1662 Licensing Act lapsed in 1679; more freedom of speech in pamphlets
  • Whig philosopher John Locke's ‘Two Treatises of Government’ (not published until after 1688 therefore Henry Neville’s ‘Plato Redivivius’ (1681) was more relevant)
  • Processions - November procession celebrating Elizabeth I and failure of Gunpowder Plot focused on anti-Catholicism
  • Plots - Popish Plot (1678)
  • Prosecutions
• What did the Whig petition and apparent radicalism 1680-81 cause?


  a reaction in Charles’ favour by moderates (not aligned with Whigs or Tories)
• What was the Abhorrence Movement of 1682?


  stated abhorrence at Shaftesbury’s organisation of non-parliamentary pressure for Exclusion
• What arguments did Tory ideology support?

  • divine right
  • royal prerogative
  • the rule of law
  • passive obedience
• Tory methods for opposing Exclusion

  • Petitions, pamphlets and books -
  • Newspapers and government publications
  • Most influential newspaper was L’Estrange’s *‘*Observator’ - published regularly 1681-87
  • Government controlled newspaper called London Gazette
  • Charles II produced a declaration April 1681 attacking Whigs for pushing for Exclusion
  • Others
  • Poems and even playing cards were produced to support the Tory cause
  • Made use of the pulpit, as well as the playhouse
• Why was the opening of the Second Exclusion Parliament delayed?

  Charles used seven prorogations to delay it until October 1680, a year after it should have opened. 
• When did the Second Exclusion Parliament first meet?

  21st October 1680
• Why did Charles intervene in the Lords’ November session?


  another Exclusion Bill had passed three readings in the Commons and was with the Lords by December
• What was the outcome of the Second Exclusion Bill?


  the Lords rejected the bill after Charles showed his visible support for James
• What did the Commons do in response to the Lords rejecting the Exclusion Bill?


  offered Charles £600,000 for Exclusion, then reinforced this by stating that Charles would not get anymore until Exclusion was granted. 
• When did Charles dissolve the Second Exclusion Parliament?

  18th January 1681
• Why did Charles want the March 1681 Parliament to sit in Oxford?


  because it was a loyalist area he could take advantage of the reaction of moderates against the radicalism of Exclusion
• 1681 - turning point when Charles defeated Exclusion and emerged in a strong position based on Tory Anglican support.
• What did Charles offer in the Oxford Parliament?

  William and Mary would be regents for James
• 26th March 1681: the Commons decided that another Exclusion Bill should be introduced
• What did Charles secure in his secret treaty with Louis XIV March 1681?

  • Managed to secure £40,000 immediately and £115,000 annually for three years
  • In exchange for the money, Charles promised not to call another parliament for three years.