Talk:Rye House Plot

James II
The information regarding James II is somewhat inaccurate. James had converted to Roman Catholicism sometime during the 1660s, but this information was not public knowledge. It became an issue when Parliament passed the Test Act, which required government office-holders to belong to the Anglican communion. As head of the Royal Navy at the time, James was put in a bind; he eventually resigned and retired briefly to Scotland.

Looking for support
Hi, I've choosen these theme for a writing competition of the german wikipedia. Perhaps somebody is interessing to develop this article? My german account is jlorenz1@web.de. This is my email too. Thanks in advance -- Jlorenz1 02:15, 5 March 2007 (UTC)

Whig Party?
Should it not be mentioned in the article that the conspirators were radical members of the English Whig Party.-Chris141496 (talk) 21:15, 23 April 2010 (UTC)
 * I think that the matter is adequately dealt with in the text, identifying the conspirators as members of the "country party" who became Whigs. However the second paragraph dealing with the context for the plot is very poor and needs re-writing.  Peterkingiron (talk) 13:46, 8 May 2010 (UTC)


 * Ronald Hutton in Charles II, discussing various political machinations of 1680 (including the "Irish Plot") already refers to the Whigs and their actions. Later, in describing the Rye House Plot, he writes: "It soon became obvious that two plots had been discovered, the murder project, discussed by former Cromwellians from London of insignificant social and political rank, and a scheme to overpower the Guards and seize custody of the King, mooted by leading Whigs." Also: "The arrests and trials [resulting from the discovery of the Rye House Plot] broke the Whig party." As well, the article on the Whig party cites its foundation date as 1678. What evidence is there that the conspirators were country party and not Whigs? SkookumDog (talk) 18:14, 17 October 2013 (UTC)
 * It needs to be born in mind that there were no organised political parties in this period. The terms "Whig" and "Tory" were terms of abuse used applied to adherents by their opponents.  Peterkingiron (talk) 15:38, 24 October 2013 (UTC)
 * Thank you for your response. However, it does not address my question in that it fails to present evidence that the conspirators were known as members of a "country party" rather than as "Whigs." I cited a respected historian's work which describes them as Whigs, and would like to see something at least that substantial to support the view that they were not Whigs, but members of a "country party." SkookumDog (talk) 17:40, 25 October 2013 (UTC)

Archibald Campbell issue
The composite image has an Archibald Campbell, and the National Portrait Gallery says Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll. The old DNB at Savage, John (fl.1690-1700) (DNB00) says Duke. It must though be Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll, son of the Marquess (see other engravings). Even without the context in the article, i.e. the clear political thrust, the wig alone should suggest that it isn't the Marquess, who died in 1661. Charles Matthews (talk) 10:41, 6 March 2012 (UTC)

I have found another copy of the image, less tatty and more legible, and the caption on the middle left portrait is legible as the 9th Earl. Settles it, therefore. Charles Matthews (talk) 15:36, 6 March 2012 (UTC)