1667. The Dutch sailed up the Medway, and burnt several ships; and for some time insulted our coasts. ~Treaty of Breda~, between the English, Dutch, and French (July 21). Lord Clarendon, the king's chief minister from the beginning of the reign, dismissed and banished. The Cabal ministry formed; the chief ministers being Clifford, Arlington, Buckingham, Ashley, and Lauderdale. 1668. ~Triple Alliance~ between England, Holland, and Sweden, to check the aggressive policy of Louis. ~Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle~. 1670. A new act passed against conventicles. Secret treaty concluded between Charles and Louis at Dover. Charles agreed to declare himself a Catholic, to support Louis's foreign policy, to receive a pension, and to be aided by foreign troops in case of a rebellion. But, on account of the temper of the country, he was afraid to carry out the first stipulation. 1672. Charles shut up the exchequer, and thereby ruined a large number of persons whose money was in the hands of the government. He issued a declaration of indulgence to Catholics and Protestant Nonconformists, but it was withdrawn the next year, at the request of parliament. England and France declared war against Holland, and the Dutch were defeated off SOUTHWOLD BAY (May 28). 1673. _Test Act_ passed. The duke of York, being a Catholic, resigned his office of lord high admiral. Sir Thomas Osborne, better known as the earl of Danby, became chief minister. By the Test Act all officers of the Crown were required to take the oath of allegiance and supremacy, to take the sacrament according to the usage of the Church of England, and to declare their disbelief in transubstantiation. 1674. Peace concluded with Holland. 1677. _The statute for burning heretics repealed._ William, prince of Orange, married Mary, daughter of James, duke of York. 1678. =Titus Oates' plot.= He falsely asserted that the Catholics were plotting against the king's life, and several persons were executed for their alleged share in the plot. Impeachment of the earl of Danby; but the proceeding was stayed by the prorogation of the parliament, which was dissolved in 1679. 1679. Charles called a third parliament.[2] A new ministry formed by Sir William Temple, of which the earl of Shaftesbury was president. _HABEAS CORPUS ACT_ passed. [2] _I.e._ if we regard the Convention Parliament as the first. A bill introduced to exclude the duke of York from the throne, but frustrated by the dissolution of parliament. Insurrection in Scotland; the duke of Monmouth, an illegitimate son of the king, defeated the rebels at BOTHWELL BRIDGE (June 22). =Meal Tub Plot=, so called because some documents relative to another plot were placed in a meal tub. The earl of Shaftesbury (Ashley) removed from the presidency of the council, and Sir William Temple and other ministers soon resigned.