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Subject: [DNA-R1B1C7] Plot-o-Mania: anti-Catholic legislation (the Test Act).
Date: Sun, 23 Sep 2007 07:01:33 EDT



c. 1662 Rumor concerning possible legitimation and insinuation into the
royal succession of Charles II’s illegitimate son, James Scott, Duke of Monmouth
(1649-85). Monmouth is Absalom in Dryden’s poem.
1670 Treaty of Dover between Charles II and Louis XIV of France; a secret
clause binds Charles to declare his Catholicism at an appropriate time, in
return for which Louis agrees to pay a subsidy to the English monarch. (Charles
never publicly fulfilled the terms of the clause.)
1673 Anthony Ashley Cooper, Earl of Shaftesbury (1621-83), dismissed from
Charles II’s government for supporting anti-Catholic legislation (the Test
Act). Shaftesbury is Achitophel is Dryden’s poem.
1677-78 Shaftesbury imprisoned after attempting to force the dissolution of
Parliament
1678 Popish Plot: "A fictitious Jesuit plot to assassinate Charles II,
massacre Protestants, and place the Roman Catholic James, duke of York, on the
throne" (J. P. Kenyon, Stuart England). Invented by Titus Oates and Israel
Tonge, caused widespread panic and resulted in executions of 35 Catholics.
1678-81 Exclusion Crisis; bills introduced in 1679, 1680, and 1681 to
exclude James from throne. Charles dissolved Parliament in 1679 and 1681.
Shaftesbury a relentless agitator in the House of Commons and elsewhere
1681
2 July: Shaftesbury, having asked Charles II to legitimate Monmouth, is
arrested for treason
17 November: Absalom and Achitophel published, perhaps at behest of Charles
II
24 November: Shaftesbury tried. The case is dismissed by a packed jury (see
Dryden, The Medall). Shaftesbury flees to Holland after unsuccessfully
attempting to instigate a rebellion; dies there in 1683.
1683 Rye House Plot: "[A] conspiracy to assassinate Charles II and ...
James, duke of York.... The plot proved abortive but was betrayed to the
government. Monmouth, Algernon Sidney, and several prominent Whigs were implicated"
(Kenyon, Dictionary of British History). Monmouth spared but exiled.
1685
Death of Charles II
Coronation of James II
Monmouth Rebellion: "A short-lived uprising against James II led by the duke
of Monmouth[, who] landed ... with about 150 men and denounced James as a
usurper.... [T]he king’s army cornered him at Bridgewater and ... Monmouth’s
untrained troops were slaughtered. Survivors were punished by Judge Jeffreys
at the bloody assizes" (Kenyon, Dictionary of British History). Monmouth,



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