In 1673 James, Duke of York, was forced to resign as Lord High Admiral. Since James was in line to the throne, and would indeed become King James II, this was a fairly dramatic move. But James was a Catholic, and to hold any civil or military office he would have to take the newly introduced oath: “I, N, do declare that I do believe that there is not any transubstantiation in the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, or in the elements of the bread and wine, at or after the consecration thereof by any person whatsoever.”