Hello everyone and welcome back to the history of England, episode 445.

Carnage!

Last time we heard about the arrival of Charles' new favourite and prime ministry,

Thomas Osborne, the Earl of Danby in 1675.

The haughty, unlikeable and proud of Danby might not have had the visionary, charismatic,

hail fellow well-met characteristics of your average success or political leader,

but he did have some killer talents.

He knew no one at all called Ruth, he was good with money money and was single-minded at pursuing a plan.

And he had a good plan to pursue, which chimed with the majority of the English people.

He would base Charles's regime on supporting the Anglican Church against all its enemies,

whether they be Catholic or Presbyterian or Anna-Baptist or indeed,

even if old Uncle Tom Copley and all his chumps joined in.

The church is in danger!

He would cry and mount his steed of righteousness at the sound of any trouble,

or the mere mention of a French absolutist, or, better, and just as good,

splash the cash on likely lads who would sign up to his court and spark party.

Plus, and probably just as important as anything, he had the confidence of the king,

or he did for now anyway. Still, as we have heard,

he had met with variable success in 1675 and Parliament had proved stubbornly unhelpful,

despite all the outlays of cash and demoluments. So much so, that his Louis-loving king paroched Parliament for an unfashionably long

15 months and accepted a bribe from Louis for doing so. Hold on to your hats, everyone,

for the story of the next couple of years. They are the story of how Danby tried to persuade

...