royalty restored-第47章
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ry of the plot。 When asked if the document he had given his majesty was the original of the deponent； Tonge admitted it was in his own handwriting。 On this； Lord Danby expressed a desire to see the original； and likewise become acquainted with its author。 Nothing abashed； the rector replied the manuscript was in his house； and accounted for its possession by stating that； singularly enough； it had been thrust under his doorhe did not know by whom； but fancied it must be by one who； some time before； had discussed with him on the subject of this conspiracy。 Whereon his lordship asked him if he knew the man； and was answered he did not； but he had seen him lately two or three times in the streets； and it was likely he should see him soon again。
Being next questioned as to whether he had any knowledge of Honest William； or Pickering； the villains who sought the king's life； he answered he had not。 Immediately； however； he remembered it was their habit to walk in St。 James's Park； and said； if any man was appointed to keep him company； he was almost certain he would have opportunities of letting that person see these abominable wretches。 Finally； Lord Danby asked him if he knew where they dwelt； for it was his duty to have them arrested at once； but of their abode Tonge was completely ignorant； though he was hopeful he should speedily be able to obtain the required information。
He was therefore dismissed； somewhat to his satisfaction； being unprepared for such particular examination； but in a couple of days he returned to the charge； determined his tale should not be discredited for lack of effrontery； On this occasion he said he had met the man he suspected of being author of the document； who owned himself as such； and stated that his name was Titus Oates； but requested Tonge would keep it a strict secret； 〃because the papists would murder him if they knew what he was doing。〃 Moreover； Oates had given him a second paper full of fresh horrors concerning this most foul plot。 Taking this with him； the lord treasurer hastened to Windsor； that he might consult the king； having first left a servant with Tonge； in hopes the latter might catch sight of Honest William and Pickering in their daily walk through the park； and have them arrested。 On Danby recounting Tonge's statements to the king； his majesty was more convinced than before the narrative was wholly without foundation； and refused to make it known to his council or the Duke of York。 Therefore the lord…treasurer； on conclusion of a brief visit； left Windsor for his country residence； situated at Wimbledon。
For some days no fresh disclosure was made concerning this horrid plot； until late one night； when Dr。 Tonge arrived in great haste at Lord Danby's house； and informed him some of the intended regicides had resolved on journeying to Windsor next morning； determined to assassinate the king。 He added； it was in his power to arrange that the earl's servant should ride with them in their coach； or at least accompany them on horseback； and so give due notice of their arrival； in order that they might be timely arrested。 Alarmed by this intelligence； Danby at once hastened to Windsor； and informed the king of what had come to his knowledge。 Both endured great suspense that night； and next day their excitement was raised to an inordinate pitch by seeing the earl's servant ride towards the castle with all possible speed。 When； however； the man was brought into his majesty's presence； he merely delivered a message from Dr。 Tonge； stating the villains 〃had been prevented from taking their intended journey that day； but they proposed riding to Windsor next day； or within two days at farthest。〃 Before that time had arrived； another message came to say； 〃one of their horses being slipped in the shoulder； their trip to Windsor was postponed。〃
Taking these foolish excuses； as well as Dr。 Tonge's prevaricating answers and mysterious statements； into consideration； the king was now convinced the 〃Narrative of a Horrid Plot〃 was an invention of a fanatic or a rogue。 He was； therefore； desirous of letting the subject drop into obscurity； but Lord Danby； foreseeing in the sensation which its avowal would create； a welcome cloud to screen the defects of his policy； which parliament intended to denounce； urged his majesty to lay the matter before his privy council。 This advice the king refused to accept； saying； 〃he should alarm all England； and put thoughts of killing him into people's heads； who had no such ideas before。〃 Somewhat disappointed； the lord treasurer returned once more to Wimbledon； the king remaining at Windsor； and no further news of the plot disturbed the even tenour of their lives for three days。
At the end of that time Dr。 Tonge； now conscious of the false steps he had taken； conceived a fresh scheme by which his story might obtain credence； and he gain wealth and fame。 Accordingly he wrote to Danby； informing him a packet of letters； written by the Jesuits and concerning the plot； would； on a certain date； be sent to Mr。 Bedingfield； chaplain to the Duchess of York。 Such information was most acceptable to Danby at the moment； he at once started for Windsor； and laid this fresh information before the king。 To his lordship's intense surprise； his majesty handed him the letters。 These； five in number； containing treasonable expressions and references to the plot； had been some hours before handed by Mr。 Bedingfield to the Duke of York； saying； he 〃feared some ill was intended him by the same packet； because the letters therein seemed to be of a dangerous nature； and that he was sure they were not the handwriting of the persons whose names were subscribed to the letters。〃 On examination； they were proved to be most flagrant forgeries。 Written in a feigned hand； and signed by different names； they were evidently the production of one man； the same want of punctuation； style of expression； and peculiarities of spelling being notable in all。 The Duke of York； foreseeing malice was meant by them； forcibly persuaded the king to place the epistles before the privy council。 Accordingly； they were handed to Sir William Jones； attorney general； and Sir Robert Southwell； who stated； upon comparing them with Dr。 Tonge's narrative； they were convinced both were written by the same hand。
Meanwhile； Tonge and Oates； aware of the coldness and doubt with which his majesty had received the 〃Narrative of the Horrid Plot；〃 and ignorant of the fact he had placed the letters before his privy council； resolved to make their story public to the world。 It therefore happened on the 6th of September they presented themselves before Sir Edmondbury Godfrey； a justice of the peace； in the parish of St。 Martin's； who； not without considerable persuasion； consented to receive a sworn testimony from Titus Oates regarding the truth of his narrative； which had now grown from forty…three to eighty…one articles。 This action prevented further secrecy concerning the so…called plot。
A few days later the court returned to town for the winter； when the Duke of York besought the privy council to investigate the strange charges made in the declaration。 Accordingly； on the 28th of the month； Tonge and Oates were summoned before it； when the latter； making many additions to his narrative； solemnly affirmed its truth。 Aghast at so horrible a relation； the council knew not what to credit。 The evil reputation Oates had borne； the baseness of character he revealed in detailing his actions as a spy； the mysterious manner in which the fanatical Tonge accounted for his possession of the document； tended to make many doubt； whilst others； believing no man would have the hardihood to bring forward such charges without being able to sustain them by proof； contended it was their duty to sift them to the end。 Believing if he had been entrusted with secret letters and documents of importance； he would naturally retain some of them in order to prove his intended charges； the council asked Oates to produce them； but of these he had not one to show。 Nor； he confessed； could he then furnish proof of his words； but promised if he were provided with a guard； and given officers and warrants； he would arrest certain persons concerned in the plot； and seize secret documents such as none could dispute。 These being granted him； he immediately caused eight Jesuits to be apprehended and imprisoned。 Then he commenced a search for treasonable letters； not only in their houses； but in the homes of such catholics as were noted for their zeal。 His investigations were awaited with impatience； nor were they without furnishing some pretext for his accusations。
One of the first dwellings which Titus Oates investigated was that of Edward Coleman。 This gentleman； the son of an English divine； had early in life embraced catholicity； for the propagation of which he thenceforth became most zealous。 Coming under notice of the court； he became the confidant of the Duke of York； and by him was made secretary to the duchess。 A man of great mental activity； religious fervour； and considerable ambition； he had； about four years previous to this time； entered into a correspondence with the confessor of the French king and other Jesuits； regarding the hopes he entertained of Charles II。 professing catholicity。 Knowing him to be bold in his designs and incautious in his actions； the duke had discharged him from his post as secretary to the duchess； but had retained him in his dependence。 This latter circumstance； together with a suspicion of the confidence which had existed between him and his royal highness； prompted Oates to have him arrested； and his house searched。 Coleman； having received notice of this design； fled from his home； incautiously leaving behind him some old letters and copies of communications which had passed between him and the Jesuits。 These were at once seized； and though not containing one expression which could be construed as treasonable； were； from expectations they set forth of seeing catholicity re… established in England； considered by undiscerning judges； proofs of the statements made by Oates。
On the strength of his discovery； Oates hastened to Sir Edmondbury Godfrey； and swore false informations； becoming aware of which； Coleman； conscious of his innocence； delivered himself up； in hopes of meeting a justice never vouchsafed him。
The Privy council now sat morning and evening； in order to examine Oates； whose evidence proved untrustworthy and contradictory to a bewildering degree。 When it was pointed out to him the five letters； supposed to come from men of education； contained ill…spelling； bad grammar； and other faults； he； with much effrontery； declared it was a common artifice among the Jesuits to write in that manner； in order to avoid recognition； but inasmuch as real names were attached to the epistles； that argument was not considered just。 The subject was not mentioned again。 When an agent for these wicked men in Spain； he related； he had been admitted into the presence of Don John； and had seen him counting out large sums of money； with which he intended to reward Sir George Wakeham when he had poisoned the king。 Hearing this； his majesty inquired what kind of person Don John was
