His
enemies became more wrathful at this reply, more suspicious of
popery, and more fearful of his influence with the king, They
therefore sought to have him removed from his majesty's councils
and presence by act of parliament.
Consequently, when both Houses assembled on the 7th of January,
1674, the lords presented an address to the monarch, praying he
would graciously issue a proclamation, requiring all papists, or
reputed papists, within five miles of London, Westminster, or
Southwark, to depart ten miles from these respective cities, and
not return during this session of Parliament. A few days
afterwards an act was introduced into the House of Commons
proposing a second test, impossible for catholics to accept, the
refusal of which would not only render them incapable of holding
any office, civil or military, or of sitting in either House of
Parliament, but "of coming within five miles of the court." This
unjust bill, to which, if it passed both houses, Charles dared
not refuse assent, threw the court and country into a state of
renewed excitement. Knowing it was a blow levelled at the duke,
his friends gathered round him, determined to oppose it by might
and main; and after great exertions caused a clause to be
inserted excepting his royal highness from the test. This was
ultimately carried by a majority of two votes, which, says
Clarke, "put the little Earl of Shaftesbury so out of humour,
that he said he did not care what became of the bill, having that
proviso in it.
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