In 1678, an Anglican priest named Titus Oates approached the London magistrate Sir Edmund Berry Godfrey with a story of a plot organised by the Jesuits and French to murder Charles II and replace him with his Catholic brother, James.
Oates had been educated at a Jesuit school in France, and his story lacked credibility. Shortly afterwards, Godfrey was found dead in a London park and the plot began to be believed.
Investigations revealed that one of those accused by Oates, Edward Coleman, had been in correspondence with Catholics in France.
As many of the public now believed his story, Oates was able to accuse anyone he liked for the next year and 35 Catholics were killed in the ensuing hysteria.
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The fall of Danby
Those who were suspicious of Charles's growing absolutism, such as the Earl of Shaftesbury, were now able to challenge Danby's influence.
Impeachment proceeding began against Danby as evidence emerged that he had been accepting French subsidies, and he was sent to the Tower of London where he remained until 1684.
Charles dissolved the Cavalier Parliament in 1679 to avoid an escalation of the crisis and new elections produced an anti-Danby majority.
Whigs and Tories emerged.
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The Exclusion Bill
Bill to exclude James from the throne and replace him with Charles's illegitimate Protestant son, James Scott, the Duke of Monmouth.
This was a step too far for Charles and he attempted to avoid what he saw as an attack on hereditary Divine Right.
He dissolved Parliament in 1679 so the Exclusion Bill could not be read by the Lords.
Another Exclusion Bill was presented in 1680 and this was defeated by the Lords, who were under pressure from Charles as a result of his personal appearances at debates.
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Why did Charles survive the Exclusion Crisis?
Charles saw the bill as a direct attack on hereditary Divine Right monarchy, he showed a determination and resolve that contrasted with his apathy in many other matters.
Charles was able to use his prerogative powers to override Parliament, especially his ability to delay legislation and dissolve Parliament.
The longer the crisis continued, the fewer MPs were prepared to commit their wholehearted support to the Whig cause. This was because it seemed that the Catholic threat was subsiding.
The first payment of £100,000 from Louis XIV reached Charles in 1681, he was financially independent and was able to work without the need to consult Parliament.
He decreed that Parliament should meet in Oxford instead of Westminister in order to avoid conflict.
When the Whigs passed another Exclusion Bill, he was able to dissolve Parliament and arrest Shaftesbury without concerning himself with the financial consequences.
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