Chapter The Dutch Wars of Donne to Dryden: The Historical Background by History

could not pay for and fighting against his own nephew. The situation was compounded by the emergence of a political crisis over an 'international popish conspiracy'. The War, the Treaty of Dover, and the King's Declaration of Indulgence were opposed as the beginnings of an attempt by the Crown to stimulate Catholicism in England. The Test Act purged the armed forces of Catholics, including the Duke of York, who would not take Protestant oaths. The War continued to go badly for England and the political situation was exacerbated by the planned marriage of the Duke of York to the Italian Catholic Mary of Modena (traditional allies of France). In Parliament the King faced firm opposition, and two CABAL ministers, Buckingham and Arlington were dismissed. Charles decided to pull out of the War and agreed the Treaty of Westminster in 1674, taking the unusual step of consulting Parliament as to the terms of the treaty beforehand.