1681-88: Personal Rule and the Collapse of Royal Power

When did James II come to power?

1685

What were the three causes of the collapse of James II’s reign?

• absolutism

• religion

• actions

What increased fear of Catholicism?

• openly Catholic

• association with France

• policies to promote Catholics

• birth of son

How did James associations with absolutism lead to his downfall?

• France

• Godden v Hales

How did James actions lead to the collapse of monarchy?

foreign and religious policies

Who did James have ties to?

Louis and France

What did Louis issue the year James came to power?

the Edict of Fontainebleau

What did this edict remove?

religious freedoms of Protestants

This heightened?

fear of Catholicism

What did Louis receive from Louis?

money

How much?

£125,000

This was after Louis had told James he had a what?

french heart

Why did his relationship with parliament deteriorate?

began to abuse their goodwill and his powers

What did parliament refuse to cooperate with in 1685?

James attempt to establish religious freedom

In what manner did James respond?

an autocrat

What did he use his personal dispensations to do?

allow Catholics to become army officers

What case occured in 1686?

Godden v Hales

What was Godden v Hales?

court case where Sir Hales was taken to court by coachman for not conforming to Test Act

What was Hales found?

guilty

How had he not conformed to the Test Act?

holding military command without taking communion or oath of allegiance

What did James use the case to obtain?

judicial declaration that he could issue declarations whenever he wanted

It was ruled that only James could do what?

decide if Hales was guilty

What did he use this power to push?

Catholic toleration

What did he then issue?

new Declaration of Indulgence

What did this grant?

Catholics and Protestants freedom of worship

What did he allow Catholics to be appointed as?

magistrates

What did he set up?

an Ecclesiastical Commission

Who was this used to punish?

people being hostile to Catholicism

What positions did he then begin placing Catholics in by allowing them not to take Test Act?

senior positions in army and universities

What portion of royal judges were replaced with Catholics?

half

How many Catholics did he appoint to the Privy Council?

4

Why was there not huge backlash to his policies?

• old age: reign would be short

• would be succeeded by devout protestant daughter Mary

What two things pushed parliament to take action against James?

• 7 bishops trial

• birth of son

In 1688 what did 7 anglican bishops do?

refused to allow declaration of indulgence to be read in churches

What were they put on trial and charged with?

sedition

How did the court rule?

aquitted them all

What was this met with?

widespread public celebration

What did this highlight to parliament?

public would support them over James

What happened in June 1688?

James wife gave birth to a son

Who was James’ wife?

Queen Mary

What did this threaten England with?

permanent long term estalishment of Catholicism

How did James make the situation worse?

announced he wanted the pope to be his sons godfather

What did seven leading politicians do in response?

invited William of Orange Princess Mary’s husband to intervene and protect England

What did James do when William landed in November 1688?

fled to France