31 May – the
Godiva Procession, a commemoration held in honour of
Lady Godiva's legendary 11th century naked horseback ride through the streets of
Coventry in protest against her husband's treatment of the citizens, begins.
6 September –
Titus Oates first presents sworn allegations of the "
Popish Plot", a supposed
Catholic conspiracy to assassinate King
Charles II.[2] On 28 September before the
Privy Council he makes allegations against numerous
Jesuits and Catholic nobles. Oates applies the term
Tory to those who disbelieve his allegations.
25 October – five Catholic peers accused of involvement in the "Popish Plot" are arrested at the instance of the
House of Commons and committed to the
Tower of London. On 1 November, impeachment proceedings begin.
26 November – William Staley, a Catholic banker, becomes the first person to be executed in connection with the "Popish Plot".
3 December – the
Test Act provides that members of both the
House of Lords and House of Commons must swear an
anti-Catholic oath before taking office.