Stuarts 1685-1688

what was the state of the monarchy when James inherited the throne?

strong, stable, monarchy both politically and financially

James' successful start to reign

cooperative accession, parl provided generous financial settlement extending customs duties for life - greater independence

Monmouth's failed rebellion June 1685

to take crown from his Uncle - received little support, reflecting general respect for the king's hereditary right and fear of upheaval

Bloody Assizes - Monmouth captured and beheaded on JII's orders

Removal of persecution of dissenters

1685 - JII asked parl to repeal Test and Corporation Acts

1686 - JII set up licensing office dismisses dissenters from Clarendon Code

1687 - 1st Declaration of Indulgence - announced suspension of Test and Corporation Acts

James view on church

personal commitment to toleration - friends w Quaker William Penn

position of dissenters 1685-1688

dissenters flourished, quickly re-emerged and worshiped openly

public opinion shifted away from desire for uniformity, gradual change in perception of church, religion and dissent, helped by:

good behaviour of dissenters, growing fear of old enemy - Catholicism

what were the reasons for dissenter survival in the 1680s?

Mistakes by enemies, commitment, lvel of support, shared fear of Catholicism

Mistakes by enemies

1662 Act of Uniformity to narrow church, so increasing range and no. of dissenters

Commitment to those who left church

peaceful approach showed dissenters were peaceful, posed no threat

Level of support from sympathisers

first through individuals, then societal and political level, including some men in power ie Whigs, CII intermittently

shared fear of Catholicism

Anglicans and dissenters shared biggest fear of Catholics, embodied in JII

Reasons for James' fall from power

Legacy of English Reformation - JII aggressive Catholic policy represented direct threat

Legacy of Parliamentary rule - commitment to parl privilege and balance of power b/n parl and monarchy v powerful, JII's absolutism direct threat

Legacy of Civil War - king relied on fear of repetition of Civil War and desire for stability - 1688 JII's desire to avoid same fate as father caused hesitation and Glorious Rev

Godden vs Hales 1686

86 used Godden vs Hales case to allow him to issue dispensations from Test/Corporations Acts

New Court of Ecclesiastical Commission 1686

forbid Bs preaching anti-Catholic sermons

declared to have jurisdiction over the governance of the Church of England also empowered to try all offences punishable under ecclesiastical law

2nd Declaration of Indulgence

further toleration for Catholics, 7 bishops refused to obey order - although fine w toleration for dissenters, not under JII's power - arrested

How did LXIV lead to distrust of James?

most believed James was aiming for autocratic Catholic superiority

LXIV (JII's cousin) revoked Edict of Nantes 1685 so ending Prot toleration, immigrants told stories of Catholic persecution -> JII appeared to be copying persecution

Scottish Declaration of Indulgence 1687

protected Catholic rights to worship and access office - based it on his 'absolute' power

James' Irish pro-Catholic policies

Earl of Tyrconell who purged army of Protestants 86, became Lord Lieutenant 87

already by 1686, 40% officers and 67% rank were Catholic

what was the final straw of James' reign?

Catholic son with Mary of Modena - no hope of succession by 2 Protestant daughters, now had to act

Letter to William of Orange

1688 - signed by 7 leading pol figures asking him to intervene in Eng w an armed force - not invitation to take crown, only correct faults by JII

William of Orange accepts

7 names rep all interests of pol elite, and secures survival of Dutch Republic in struggle vs LXIV who waged campaign to destroy it 1667-

successful invasion by William

JII had effective army but hesitated to call support, so any who could have helped deserted him

-when WofO reached London JII fled into exile – brought back to London but escaped before WofO arrived

JII escape: good for him and opponents – no high court trial/execution – no new martyr