Restoration England - The Catholic Question Flashcards
1
Q
why was Israel Tongue’s revelation taken very seriously?
A
- religious division had caused great upheaval since the reign of Henry VIII and Parliament wanted stability
- fear of catholic conspiracies did not disappear and there was even concern, raised by Charles’s allegiance with the French, that the king himself might want to return the country to the old religion
2
Q
what was the Popish Plot?
A
- On 16th August 1678, while Charles was out walking, he was approached by a man named Kirby who told him of a murderous plot
- when Charles demanded proof, Kirby named Israel Tongue
- Tongue appeared before Lord Danby and told him of a conspiracy involving over 100 Jesuits
- the plot was to kill the king either by shooting or by poisoning
- he produced a document as evidence but said he did not know who had written it
3
Q
how did the King react to Tongue’s revelations?
A
- after hearing Tongue’s evidence about a plot to kill him, the king was dismissive.
- He decided that there was no threat and ordered that it be kept secret to avoid inspiring similar ideas
4
Q
how did Charles’s brother react to Tongue’s revelations?
A
- when James heard about the plot he called for an investigation
- the name Titus Oates soon came up; when Oates was questioned, he gave an account of secret Catholic meetings and conspiracies
- the evidence he gave was so detailed that it had to be taken seriously
5
Q
where did Oates appear in September?
A
- in September 1678 Oates appeared before the Privy Council where he made 43 allegations against Catholic groups or individuals, including some in very senior positions such as the queen’s doctor
- he also claimed that the plotters had been in contact with the French royal court, producing letters that supported what he was saying
- under Oates’s direction, arrests were made
6
Q
what was discovered on the 17th of October?
A
- the Protestant MP Sir Edmund Godfrey’s mutilated body was discovered
- this was taken down as Oates’s evidence
- it seemed clear that Catholics were involved and when Oates accused five lords the country became hysterical
7
Q
how did the popish plot unravel?
A
- the document and the letters that had been his primary evidence turned out to be forgeries
- it emerged that the accusations that he had made had no substance whatsoever
- Oates was eventually arrested and imprisoned, but 22 innocent people were executed
8
Q
what were the consequences of the Popish Plot?
A
- it showed that anti-Catholic feelings had been present all along and, despite being proved false, it led to much less tolerance from Parliament -> Lord Shaftesbury in particular was keen to introduce more and more anti-Catholic measures
- the events led directly to the passing of the Test Act, which made it impossible for Catholics to serve in positions of authority, and the Jesuits in particular faced violence and persecution
- it set off the Exclusion Crisis, and the argument for exclusion gave much more support
9
Q
what is a ‘legitimate heir’?
A
- someone who has the right to inherit a person’s money, property, or title when that person dies
10
Q
why was James the heir to the throne?
A
- Charles II had at least 20 children outside of his marriage but only a legitimate child could succeed him on the throne
- the king and queen had no children of their own and, without an heir, the next in line was Charles’s brother, James
11
Q
what was the problem with James?
A
- in 1673 it was revealed that James had secretly converted to Catholicism in 1668
- he had still attended Anglican services and kept his beliefs private but it was the Test Act that had forced him to reveal his religion
- he chose to give up his role as Lord High Admiral rather than give up his faith
12
Q
when was the first exclusion bill?
A
- 16 May 1679
13
Q
what was the first exclusion bill?
A
- a bill was introduced to Parliament that would exclude the Duke of York from the line of succession
14
Q
what were the results of the first exclusion bill?
A
- the parliament’s relations with Charles were problematic, but Charles believed that he had enough support for the bill to fail
- he was wrong. the bill passed its initial votes and was on verge of becoming law in 1679
15
Q
how did Charles react to the results of the first exclusion bill?
A
- He immediately brought Parliament to a halt (prorogued it) and then dissolved it on 3 july
- However, both Shaftesbury and Charles’s eldest illegitimate son, the Duke of Monmouth, were members of the Privy Council and so still held influence
- Monmouth supported exclusion as he felt that would have a strong claim to succeed his father
- Recognising him as a threat, Charles sent Monmouth into exile and forced Shaftesbury to leave the Privy Council
- Aware of the public opinion, Charles sent James into exile too, first to Flanders and then to Scotland
