and。'〃
CHAPTER XVII。
The threatened storm bursts。History of Titus Oates and Dr。 Tonge。A dark scheme concocted。The king is warned of danger。 The narrative of a horrid plot laid before the treasurer。 Forged letters。Titus Oates before the council。His blunders。 A mysterious murder。Terror of the citizens。Lord Shaftesbury's schemes。Papists are banished from the capital。Catholic peers committed to the Tower。Oates is encouraged。
The marriage of the Lady Mary； though agreeable to the public mind； by no means served to distract it from the turmoil by which it was beset。 Hatred of catholicism； fear of the Duke of York； and distrust of the king； disturbed the nation to its core。 Rumours were now noised abroad； which were not without foundation； that the monarch and his brother had renewed the treaty with France； by which Louis engaged to send troops into England to support Charles； when the latter saw fit to lay aside duplicity； and proclaim himself a catholic。 And； notwithstanding the rigorous Test Acts； it was believed many high positions at court were held by those who were papists at heart。 Occasion was therefore ripe for the invention of a monstrous fraud； the history of which has been transmitted under the title of the Popish Plot。
The chief contrivers of this imposture were Titus Oates and Dr。 Tonge。 The first of these was son of a ribbon…weaver； who； catching the fanatical spirit of the Cromwellian period； had ranted as an Anabaptist preacher。 Dissent； however； losing favour under the restoration； Oates； floating with the current of the times； resolved to become a clergyman of the Church of England； He therefore took orders at Cambridge； officiated as curate in various parishes； and served as chaplain on board a man…of…war。 The time he laboured as spiritual shepherd to his respective flocks was necessarily brief； for his grossly immoral practices becoming notable； he was in every case ousted from his charge。 The odium attached to his name was moreover increased by the fact； that his evidence in two cases of malicious prosecution had been proved false； for which he had been tried as a perjurer。 Deprived of his chaplaincy for a revolting act of profligacy； driven from congregations he had scandalized； homeless and destitute； he in an evil hour betook himself to Dr。 Ezrael Tonge； to whom he had long been known； and besought compassion and relief。
The Rev； Dr。 Tonge； rector of St。 Michael's； Wood Street； was a confirmed fanatic and political alarmist。 For some years previous to this time； he had published quarterly treatises dealing with such wicked designs of the Jesuits as his heated brain devised。 These he had printed and freely circulated； in order； as he acknowledged； 〃to arouse and awaken his majesty and the parliament〃 to a sense of danger。 He had begun life as a gardener； but left that honest occupation that he might cultivate flowers of rhetoric for the benefit of Cromwell's soldiers。 Like Titus Oates； he had become suddenly converted to orthodox principles on return of the king； and had； through interest； obtained the rectorship of St。 Michael's。 Bishop Burnet considered him 〃a very mean divine； （who） seemed credulous and simple； and was full of projects and notions。〃
Another historian who lived in those days； the Rev。 Laurence Eachard； Archdeacon of Stowe； states Dr。 Tonge was 〃a man of letters； and had a prolific head filled with all the Romish plots and conspiracies since the reformation。〃 According to this author； Tonge took Oates into his house； provided him with lodging； diet； and clothes； and when the latter complained he knew not where to get bread； the rector told him 〃he would put him in a way。〃 After this； finding Oates a man of great ingenuity and cunning； 〃he persuaded him；〃 says Archdeacon Eachard； 〃to insinuate himself among the papists； and get particular acquaintance with them； which being effected； he let him understand that there had been several plots in England to bring in popery； and that if he would go beyond sea among the Jesuits； and strictly observe their ways； it was possible there might be one at present； and if he could make that out； it would be his preferment for ever； but； however； if he could get their names； and some information from the papists； it would be very easy to rouse people with the fears of popery。〃
Hungering for gold； and thirsting for notoriety； Oates quickly agreed to the scheme laid before him。 Accordingly he became acquainted with； and was received into the Catholic Church by； Father Berry； a Jesuit； and in May； 1677； was sent by the Jesuits to study in one of their seminaries； situated in Valladolid； in Spain。 Oates； however； though he had proved himself an excellent actor； could not overcome his evil propensities； and before seven months had passed； he was expelled from the monastery。
Returning to England； he sought out Dr。 Tonge； to whom he was unable to recount the secret of a single plot。 Confident； however； that wicked schemes against the lives and properties of innocent protestants were being concocted by wily Jesuits； the fanatical divine urged Oates to present himself once more before them； bewail his misconduct； promise amendment； and seek readmission to their midst。 Following his advice； Oates was again received by the Jesuits； and sent to their famous seminary at St。 Omer's； where； though he had reached the age of thirty years； he was entered among the junior students。 For six months he remained here； until his vices becoming noted； he was turned away in disgrace。 Again he presented himself before the rector of St。 Michael's； knowing as little of popish plots as he did on his previous return。 But Tonge； though disappointed； was not disheartened； if no scheme existed； he would invent one which should startle the public； and save the nation。 Such proposals as he made towards the accomplishment of this end were readily assented to by Oates； in whose breast wounded pride and bitter hate rankled deep。 Therefore； after many consultations they resolved to draw up a 〃Narrative of a Horrid Plot。〃 This was repeatedly changed and enlarged； until eventually it assumed the definite shape of a deposition； consisting of forty…three distinct articles； written with great formality and care； and embodying many shocking and criminal charges。
The narrative declared that in April； 1677； the deponent was employed to carry letters from the Jesuits in London to members of their order in Spain； these he broke open on the journey； and discovered that certain Jesuits had been sent into Scotland to encourage the presbyterians to rebel。 Arrived in Valladolid； he heard one Armstrong； in a sermon delivered to students； charge his majesty with most foul and black…mouthed scandals； and use such irreverent； base expressions as no good subjects could repeat without horror。 He then returned to England； and was soon after sent to St。 Omer with fresh letters； in which was mentioned a design to stab or poison his majestyPere la Chaise； the French king's confessor； having placed ten thousand pounds at the disposal of the Jesuits that they might； by laying out such a sum； the more successfully accomplish this deed。 While abroad the deponent had read many letters； relating to the execution of Charles II。； the subverting of the present government； and the establishment of the Romish religion。 Returning again to England； he became privy to a treaty with Sir George Wakeham； the queen's physician； to poison the king； and likewise with an agreement to shoot him； made between the Jesuits and two men； named Honest William and Pickering。 He had heard a Jesuit preach a sermon to twelve persons of quality in disguise； in which he asserted 〃that protestants and other heretical princes were IPSO FACTO deposed because such； and that it was as lawful to destroy them as Oliver Cromwell or any other usurper。〃 He also became aware that the dreadful fire had been managed by Strange； the provincial of the Jesuits； who employed eighty…six men in distributing seven hundred fire…balls to destroy the city； and that notwithstanding his vast expenses； he gained fourteen thousand pounds by plunder carried on during the general confusion； a box of jewels； consisting of a thousand carat weight of diamonds； being included in the robbery。
The document containing these remarkable statements was finished in August； 1678。 It now remained to have it brought before the king or the council。 Tonge was resolved this should he done in a manner best calculated to heighten the effect of their narrative； at the same time he was careful to guard the fact that he and Oates had an intimate knowledge of each other。 Not knowing any one of interest at court； he sought out Christopher Kirby； a man employed in the king's laboratory； of whom he had some slight knowledge； and； pledging him to the strictest secrecy； showed him the 〃Narrative of the Horrid Plot；〃 and besought his help in bringing it under the notice of his majesty in as private a manner as possible。
This aid was freely promised； and next day； the date being the 13th of August； when the monarch was about to take his usual airing in the park； Kirby drew near； and in a mysterious tone bade his majesty take care； for his enemies had a des