rs, whispered through the streets of London, told of secret agreements that Charles had with Louis XIV, of France, to replace the Anglican Church, as the nation's church, with the Catholic Church.
             1678 two events occurred that would heighten suspicion and anger towards Catholics by Protestants.
             James Coleman, James' secretary, was found corresponding with Ferrier and later la Caise, the confessors of Louis XIV. As early as 1674 Coleman had been corresponding with aides of Louis asking for funds to help the cause to promote Catholicism and rid England of Protestantism. Coleman had also tried to make arrangements for Charles to be paid by France to dissolve Parliament. This correspondence became known as "The Coleman Letters."
             These letters strengthened the claim of Titus Oates that a plot was to be carried out by the Jesuits to kill Charles II and overthrow Parliament so that Catholic- influenced James could take the crown. The Popish Plot, as it was named, turned out to be a hoax and Oates was convicted of perjury..
             But the alleged plot still stayed in the public's mind and panic swept through London fed by rumors that Catholics would kill Protestants in their sleep. The Coleman letters only confirmed the rumors of an alliance between the Stuarts and friends of the Pope in the story minds of many. Members of parliament and the general public were growing suspicious of the royal family and the Catholic Church.
             When James II became the king of England he alienated a large portion of public and parliament, Tories and wigs alike. The policies that James employed suggested that his aim was to make England a Catholic country, weaken parliament and local government, and create a central government that had the backing of France. Those who opposed James felt comfort in the fact that James had no heir to assume the throne, and that upon his death one of his Protestant daughters, Ann or Mary would obtain the Crown. These h...