Revision:The Exclusion Crisis

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The Exclusion Crisis: 1679-81

• The issue of succession was commonly debated in the late 1670s. Charles was beginning to get older, was in relatively poor health and had no legitimate heir of his own.
• James, Duke of York (Charles’ brother) was the rightful heir to the throne; but had recently converted to Catholicism and married a Catholic princess, Mary of Modena, who was under the influence of the absolute French king, Louis XIV.

Problems with James:

• He was already unpopular due to his authoritarian views: “A man for arbitrary power”.
• By marrying a Catholic princess, he had allied himself with Louis XIV – the symbol of absolute monarchy on the continent.
• Following the atmosphere of fear created during the Popish Plot, the issue of James’ religion and position in line of succession brought the issue into the public eye once again.
• James’ wife was only 20, if she had a son, a Catholic Dynasty could be created. However, Mary had already had four miscarriages and lost three newborn babies – chance of producing a healthy son was reduced.
• He had been implicated in The Popish Plot; accused of working with his secretary Edward Coleman who was communicating with Louis XIV about the possibility of England becoming a Catholic nation once again.

Relations with Parliament:

• The dissolution of the Cavalier Parliament meant that the new political forces which had been aroused by the Popish Plot had an opportunity to influence events.
• James’ opponents tried to take advantage of the anti-Catholic fervour caused by the Popish plot to have him removed from the line of succession.
• The Earl of Shaftesbury believed the prospect of James’ becoming King threatened the country’s political stability. Furthermore, he believed if Charles’ failed to comply with Exclusion, he was showing catholic favour. This was corroborated by the French alliance and Declaration of Indulgence (1672).
• Shaftesbury believed it would be better to alter the line of succession via an act of Parliament, to keep the line Protestant. Henry VIII had already altered the succession in such a way.

Possible ways to solve the problem:

• To accept James as King and hope he died without a male Catholic heir – his protestant daughter Mary would then take the throne.
• Charles II could divorce Catherine of Braganza, remarry and hopefully produce an heir.
• Legitimise one of Charles’ illegitimate children: The Duke of Monmouth was a top choice – military skill.
• Charles suggested that James be allowed to become King but his powers would be limited – separating the King from matters of religion but this could spark a constitutional crisis.

Effects & Events of the Exclusion Crisis:

• Dominated politics between 1679-81
• The country became divided over what should be done.
• Played out in the press due to lapse of the Licensing Act. Via this, the Whigs aimed to pressure Charles into considering Exclusion.
• Two elections were fought as the issue was debated – leading to the formation of two distinct political parties: the Whigs and the Tories.
• Between 1679 & 1681, three Parliaments were called – last at Oxford. At each one, Bills of Exclusion were introduced against James.
• The Commons passed two bills (May 1679 and second in autumn of 1680).Charles dissolved Parliament after the first, and the House of Lords defeated the second.
• Parliament was called in Oxford in an attempt to draw Shaftesbury away from his power base in London. Oxford was a royalist stronghold. However, Shaftesbury turned up with an armed retinue.
• Rumours circulated that Charles would offer regency to cover James – his daughter Mary would rule in his name.
• Charles had no option but to forestall Exclusion by using royal prerogative over the Triennial Act. He dissolved Parliament and refused to call Parliament again after 1681. He ruled alone for the rest of his reign.

Rye House Plot of 1683:

• A plot to assassinate Charles II and James, Duke of York.
• Rye House, a manor house in Hoddesdon in Hertfordshire, was owned by a well-known Republican, Richard Rumbold.
• The plan was to conceal a force of 100 men in the grounds of the house and ambush the King and the Duke on their way back to London from the horse races at Newmarket.
• They were expected to make the journey on 1 April 1683, but there was a great fire in Newmarket on 22 March, which destroyed half the town. The races were cancelled, and the King and the Duke returned to London early. As a result, the planned attack never took place.
• News of the plot leaked and the plot was publicly discovered 12 June 1683; Charles and his supporters were quick to act: a royal declaration of the heinous nature of the plot was issued on 27 July.
• Many well-known members of Parliament and noblemen of the "country party", which opposed the Court party and would soon be known as Whigs, were arrested.
• Although the principal conspirators were minor figures, the Whig leaders William, Lord Russell, a son of the Earl of Bedford, was convicted and executed.
• Algernon Sidney was convicted on weaker evidence by Judge Sir George Jeffreys, brought in as Lord Chief Justice in September and also executed. The Earl of Essex committed suicide in the Tower of London.
• The Duke of Monmouth, Charles' illegitimate son, was also implicated and obliged to retire to the United Provinces.
• Historians have suggested the story of the plot may have been largely manufactured by Charles or his supporters to allow the removal of most of his strongest political opponents.

--Choccielatte 18:54, 1 June 2009 (BST)