Hello everyone, and welcome back to the History of England, episode 447, the exclusion brouhaha.

Now then, last time you heard about how the likes and fables of Titus Oates and his Popish plot,

combined with the conversion to Catholicism of the heir to the throne,

and a deep and wide mistrust of the court had pushed England into what might be described as hysteria.

There is no evidence that he or his supporters made up and created the Popish plot,

but on the waves, or indeed flames, of that hysteria,

rode the diminutive silver surfer, the Earl of Shaftesbury,

pursuing his cause of English liberty from the threat of tyranny and absolutism

to win an elective monarchy by excluding James from the throne.

We are now, ladies and gentlemen, and people of all other persuasions,

in the grips of what has been called the exclusion crisis.

Though there are objections by some historians to the assumption that this was a real

existential crisis and that Charles was never really properly threatened by it.

But look, it seems to qualify for the word to me, but in deference to such opinions,

I shall call it the exclusion brouhaha. Partly because the word is sadly underused and I would urge

its rehabilitation and wider adoption. That's brouhaha rather than exclusion, which is widely used.

We heard about how Shafts were his first political victim had been Danbury, but how the trial of

George Wakeman had suggested

that the tide of hysteria might just be turning, and maybe a new election might bring a

more compliant, less hysterical Parliament.

A wondrous tale, I will relate, the like was never told you of Englishmen, that England hate, the town of Bucks have sold you.

Thus Buckingham hath led the way to popery and sorrow.

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