e in English history, it also gave him the
command of a standing army of five thousand men,--thus, in one way,
making him more powerful than ever before (S467).

[3] See Militia Bill, S19 of this Summary.

On the other hand, Parliament revived the practice of limiting its
appropriations of money to specific purposes.[4] It furthermore began
to require an exact account of how the King spent the money,--a most
embarrassing question for a man like Charles II to answer. Again,
Parliament did not hesitate to impeach and remove the King's ministers
whenever they forfeited the confidence of that body.[1]

[4] See S13 of this Summary.
[1] See S13 of this Summary (Impeachment).

The religious legislation of this period marks the strong reaction
from Puritanism which had set in. (1) The Corporation Act (1661)
excluded all persons who did not renounce the Puritan Covenant and
partake of the Sacrament according to the Church of England, from
holding municipal or other corporate offices (S472). (2) The Fourth
Act of Uniformity (1662)[2] required all clergymen to accept the Book
of Common Prayer of the Church of England (S472). The result of this
law was that no less than two thousand Puritan ministers were driven
from their pulpits in a single day. (3) The Conventicle Act (S472)
followed (1664). It forbade the preaching or hearing of Puritan
doctrines, under severe penalties. (4) The Five-Mile Act (1665) (S472)
[3] prohibited non-conforming clergymen from teaching, or from coming
within five miles of any corporate town (except when traveling).

[2] The First and Second Acts of Uniformity date from Edward VI (1549,
1552), the Third from Elizabeth (1559) (SS362, 382, 472).
[3] The Five-Mile Act (1665) excepted those clergymen who took the
oath of nonresistance to the King, and who swore not to attempt to
alter the constitution of Church or State. See Hallam's
"Constitutional History of England."

21. Charles II's Cabinet; the Secret Treaty of Dover; the Test Act;
the Habeas Corpus Act; Rise of Cabinet Government.

Charles II made a great and most important change with respect to the
Privy Council. Instead of consulting the entire Council on matters of
state, he established the custom of inviting only a few to meet with
him in his cabinet, or private room. This limited body of
confidential advisers was called the "Cabal," or secret council
(S476).

Charles's great ambition was to increase his standing army, to rule