Page "Anthony Ashley Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury" Paragraph 87

In the session of the Cavalier Parliament that began on 7 January 1674, Shaftesbury led the charge to keep England free from popery.

He coordinated his efforts with a group of other peers who were displeased with the possibility of a Catholic succession ; this group met at the home of Denzil Holles, 1st Baron Holles, and included Charles Howard, 1st Earl of Carlisle, Thomas Belasyse, 2nd Viscount Fauconberg, James Cecil, 3rd Earl of Salisbury, George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham, and George Savile, 1st Viscount Halifax.

On 8 January 1674, Shaftesbury gave a speech in the House of Lords warning that the 16, 000 Catholics living in London were on the verge of rebellion, which caused the Lords to pass an address expelling all Catholics from within 10 miles of London.

On 12 January, he introduced a measure that would require every peer, including the Duke of York, to take the Oath of Allegiance renouncing the pope and recognising the royal supremacy in the church ( the oath was first required by the Popish Recusants Act of 1605 ).

On 24 January, the Earl of Salisbury introduced a bill requiring that any children of the Duke of York should be raised as Protestants.

His proposed legislation further provided that neither the king nor any prince of the blood could marry a Catholic without parliamentary consent, on pain of being excluded from the royal succession.

Shaftesbury spoke forcefully in favour of Salisbury's proposal ; he was opposed by the bishops and Lord Finch.

By February, the opposition lords were considering accusing the Duke of York of high treason, which resulted in the king proroguing parliament on 24 February in order to protect his brother.