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Growing suspicions
In 1662 Charles attempted to suspend the Act of Uniformity (it required all clergymen to accept Anglican doctrines). It would benefit non-conformists, however in long term a more tolerant atmosphere would help English Catholics as well.
However it was Charles’ pro-French policy that caused biggest alarm within MPs. As Charles embarked on Second Anglo-Dutch war in 1665 to support French MPs became more suspicious. -
Rumours
Unfortunately for Charles the Second Dutch war was badly managed. Despite some victories Dutch were able to break the chain that blocked Meadway river and destroy English ships on the anchor.
The political impact of this humiliating defeat was increased by outbreak of Great Plague in 1665 and the Great Fire in London in 1666.
Rumours sparked that this series of misfortunes were work of Papists who plotted to seize power. -
Fall of Clarendon (dominated politics in early 1660s) and emergence of Cabal (active in 1668-74)
Charles was able to deflect some criticism by allowing parliament to blame Edward Hyde, Earl of Clarendon and then replacing him in 1667 by the group of advisers known as Cabal which included two Catholics.
On top of this, Charles’ brother James, duke of York announced his conversion to catholicism in 1668.
And when Charles signed treaty of Dover with France in which he agreed to join France in any future war with Dutch, his Catholic leanings were confirmed. -
Treaty of Dover
MPs were unaware of secret clause of the treaty committing Charles to announce his conversion into Catholicism at appropriate time and that a French subsidy that accompanied treaty was designed to free Charles from dependence on parliaments -
The Third Dutch War 1672-74
Charles started a Third Dutch War in 1672. The war was very unpopular within MPs. They were suspicious of Charles’ relationship with the absolutist and Catholic French monarch and most sympathized with the Protestant Dutch.
Their anger only increased with introduction of Declaration of Indulgence in 1672. The declaration granted a substantial measure of religious freedom to non-conformists and included Catholics (which many suspected to be its main purpose). -
Declaration of Indulgence.
As long as parliament was not in session the declaration could be maintained, however in 1673 financial difficulties forced Charles to recall parliament.
MPs demanded him to withdrew the declaration and passed Test Act which required all office holders to declare their opposition to Catholic religious doctrines. This led immediately to James, duke of York resignation as Lord Admiral and Lord Clifford resignation as Lord Treasurer. -
Rise of Thomas Osborne, Earl Danby
Unlike his father Charles was capable of recognizing when he had overstepped his powers, so he accepted political reality by appointing as Treasurer Earl of Danby who had reputation of an orthodox Anglican.
Danby favoured pro-Dutch policy, it was sealed in 1677 by marriage of protestant daughter of James, duke of York and William of Orange. -
Popish Plot
In 1678 a number of allegations were made against Catholic nobles and even Lord Treasurer Danby who was Protestant (his enemies used as evidence fact that he had accepted French subsidies) that they were planning to murder the king and replace him with duke of York.
The religious fears that Charles (and his brother’s conversion) had created reappeared with the the emergence of “Popish Plot” and it gave parliament opportunity to denounce king’s ministers. -
Dissolution of Cavalier parliament and Whigs
Charles attempted to protect Danby from impeachment by dissolving Cavalier parliament in 1679. However new elections only produced greater anti-Danby majority.
Those MPs became known as Whigs - they claimed that toleration of Catholics would cause a drift towards royal absolutism, on the French model. They later supported exclusion of James, duke of York from succession to the throne. -
Tories
The Tories were group of MPs who were strong believers in the power of monarchy and respect for authority. They opposed exclusion of James and attacked Whigs as republicans whose beliefs could destabilize the country and possibly lead to another civil war. -
Exclusion Crisis
Charles remained childless and fears rose that once his brother inherits the throne he would adopt pro-Catholic policies and impose them by force. Two Exclusion parliaments met in London between 1679 and 1680.
However Charles did not tolerate attack on hereditary divine right of monarchy. Earlier in 1675 he made secret agreement with Louis XIV that if parliament showed hostility towards France he would suspend it in return for subsidies. -
Exclusion crisis cont.
The first payment of £100.000 reached Charles in 1681 making him financially independent from parliament. In addition he decreed that the 1681 parliament would meet in Oxford away of Whig stronghold London and any possible interventions of London mob,
Thus Charles was able to refuse all parliament’s demands dissolving it just after a few weeks. -
Rye house plot
The Whig leader, Shaftesbury, found himself facing new charges and was forced into exile in November 1682. In desperation a group of old Cromwellian officers created plot to kill Charles at Rye house.
The plot was a mistake as it discredited Whigs and gave Charles an opportunity to arrest leading Whigs and further weaken his opposition.
In direct contravention of Triennial act (revised in 1664) Charles avoided calling parliament for the rest of his reign. -
Charles death
Charles II died in February 1685, but it was continued by James who succeeded his brother without opposition.