After the Oxford Parliament the Catholic question gradually dropped out of politics until it re-emerged late in 1684. Whig propaganda concentrated less on anti-Catholicism than on abusing the Tories. There were incidents of violence which were expressions of anger and frustration. In November 1681 the queen's lacemaker lit a small bonfire to celebrate her birthday; a crowd put it out, saying that it was a Popish fire, and smashed his windows. Several violent affrays, mostly against Tories, followed the ignoramus verdict in Shaftesbury's case. Huguenots in Norwich were attacked, apparently because they were thought to be Papists. But the government soon got the upper hand, banning pope-burnings and even bonfires in London. Charles at last undertook an Anglican, authoritarian policy of the kind Danby had advocated. He appealed to ‘gentlemen who go on the Church of England and the old Cavalier principles, which. … are the only principles that are safe for the government and comfortable to the conscience’. This policy was very successful. The Exclusion Crisis had reopened divisions in the political nation similar to those left by the Civil War, which had been slurred over by fears of James and the court and by the Popish Plot. The Tories had rallied to the king; now they were to have their reward, in the form of a monopoly of places and the persecution of Dissenters and Whigs. Meanwhile, to prevent mistrust, no open favour was to be shown to Catholics.