The Exclusion Crisis

In 78, an Anglican presit (Titus) Oates approced London magistrated Sir Edmund Godfrey with a story of a plot organised by Jesuits and French to murder CII and replace him with James. Oates was educated at a Jesuit school in France, his story lacked credibilty. Godfrey was found dead shortly afterwards in a London park and so the plot began to be believed. 

Investigation revealed one person accused by Oates, Edward Coleman, had been in correspondence with Catholics in France. Many of the public believed the story and so Oates was able to accuse anyone he liked in the next year; 35 Catholics were killed in the ensuing of hysteria.

Those suspicious of Charles' growing absolutism, i.e. Shaftesbury, were able to challenge Danby's power and influence. Impeachment proceedings began as evidence emerged that he had been accepting French subsidies, he was sent to the Tower until 84. 

Charles dissolved the Cavalier Parliament in 79 to avoid escalation of the crisin, new elections produced an anti-Danby majority. These MPs were known as the Whigs. 

This was a bill to exclude James from the throne and replace him with Charles' illegitimate Protestant Son James Scott, Duke of Monmouth. Too far for Charles and he attempted to avoid this attack on his divine right, as he felt it. 

• He dissolved P in 79 so he Bill could not be read by the Lords
• Another Bill was presented in 80, defeated by the Lords who were under pressure from the king due to his persoanl appearances at debates. 

• Saw the Bill as a direct attack on his hereditary Divine Right, showed a determination and resolve that contrasted with his apathy in other matters. 

• Charles was able to use his prerogative powers to override P.

• The longer it continued the fewer MPs were prepared to commit their support to the Whig cause. It seemed the Catholic threat was subsiding. 

• The payments from Louis XIV meant he was financially independent and was able to rule without P. He decreed in 81 that P should meet at Oxford rather than Westminister in order to avoid conflict. When the Whigs passed a second Bill he was able to dissolved P and order the arrest of Shafts without being concerned over financial consequences. 

• As well as arresting Whig leaders in P, CII purged Whigs from local gov (mostly in London.)