cution of those he knew in his heart to be most innocent。〃 Now； however； when foul charges were made against the queen； calculated not merely to ruin her honour but destroy her life； he resolved to interfere。 He therefore requested she would return to Whitehall； where she should be safe under his protection； and feeling assured Oates had received instructions from others more villainous than their tool； he ordered a strict guard to be kept upon him。 This he was； however； obliged to remove next day at request of the Commons。
On the examination before the House of Lords of Oates and Bedlow； their evidence proved so vague and contradictory that it was rejected even by the most credulous。 When Bedlow was asked 〃why be had not disclosed such a perilous matter in conjunction with his previous information touching the murder of Sir Edmondbury Godfrey；〃 he coolly replied； 〃it had escaped his memory。〃 On Oates being sent to point out the apartment in which he had seen her majesty and the Jesuits； he first selected the guard…room； and afterwards the privy chamber； places in which it would have been impossible to have held secret consultation。 Aware that the king was resolved to protect her majesty； and conscious the evidence of her accusers was more wildly improbable than usual； the Lords refused to second the address of the Commons； when the charge against this hapless woman was abandoned； to the great vexation of my Lord Shaftesbury。
Though the queen happily escaped the toils of her enemies； the reign of terror was by no means at an end。 At request of the king； the Duke of York left England and took refuge in Brussels； the catholic peers imprisoned in the Tower were impeached with high treason； Hill； Green； and Berry； servants of her majesty； charged with the murder of Sir Edmondbury Godfrey； were； without a shadow of evidence； hurried to the scaffold； as were soon after Whitebread； Fenwick； Harcourt； Gavan and Turner； Jesuits all； and Langhorn； a catholic lawyer； for conspiring to murder the king。 On the morning when these unfortunate men stood ignominiously bound to the gallows at Tyburn； the instruments of death before their eyes； the angry murmurs of the surging mob ringing in their ears； suddenly the sound of a voice crying aloud； 〃A pardon！ a pardon！〃 was heard afar off； and presently a horseman appeared riding at full speed。 The soldiers with some difficulty making way for him through a line of excited people； he advanced to the foot of the scaffold； and handed a roll of paper bearing the king's seal to the sheriff； who； opening it； read a promise of pardon to those now standing face to face with death； provided 〃they should acknowledge the conspiracy； and lay open what they knew thereof。〃 To this they replied they knew of no plot； and had never desired harm to the king； and； praying for those who had sought their lives； they died。
The firmness and patience with which the victims of judicial murder had one and all met death； refusing bribes； and resisting persuasions to own themselves guilty； could not fail in producing some effect upon the public mind； and towards the middle of the year 1679 the first signs of reaction became visible； when three Benedictine monks and the queen's physician were tried for conspiracy 〃to poison the king； subvert the government； and introduce popery。〃 During the examination； Evelyn tells us； 〃the bench was crowded with the judges； lord mayor； justices； and innumerable spectators。〃 After a tedious trial of nine hours； the jury brought the prisoners in not guilty； 〃without；〃 says Evelyn； 〃sufficient disadvantage and reflection on witnesses； especially on Oates and Bedlow。〃
As my Lord Shaftesbury had not yet succeeded in his desired project of excluding the Duke of York from succession； the symptoms of change in public opinion were thoroughly distasteful to him。 He therefore resolved to check them immediately； and stimulate the agitation and fear that had for many months reigned paramount through out the nation。 For this purpose he had recourse to his former method of circulating wild and baseless reports。 Accordingly a rumour was soon brought before the House of Commons of a horrible plot hatched by the papists to burn London to the ground。 This； it was alleged； would be effected by a servant…maid setting a clothes…press on fire in the house of her master； situated in Fetter Lane。 Two vile Irishmen were to feed the flames； and meanwhile the catholics would rise in rebellion； and； assisted by an army of sixty thousand French soldiers； kill the king； and put all protestants to the sword。 Though this tale was in due time discredited； yet it served its purpose in the present。 The violent alarm it caused had not subsided when another terrible story； started on the excellent authority of Lord Shaftesbury's cook； added a new terror。 This stated the Duke of York had placed himself at the head of the French troops； with intention of landing in England； murdering the king and forcing papacy on his subjects。 The scare was sufficiently effectual to cause Parliament to petition his majesty that he might revoke all licenses recently granted catholic householders to reside in the capital； and order the execution of all priests who administered sacraments or celebrated mass within the kingdom。 Soon after this address； Lord Russell was sent by the Commons to the Peers； requesting their concurrence in the statement that 〃the Duke of York's being a papist； the hope of his coming to the crown had given the greatest countenance and encouragement to the conspiracies and designs of the papists。〃 And now； in May； 1679； the condition of popular feeling promising well for its success。 the Bill of Exclusion was introduced； ordaining that 〃James； Duke of York should be incapable of inheriting the crowns of England and Ireland； that on the demise of his majesty without heirs of his body； his dominions should devolve； as if the Duke of York were also dead； on that person next in succession who had always professed the protestant religion established by law。〃 This passed the House of Commons by a majority of seventy…nine votes。
Alarmed by this bill； Charles resolved to show signs of resentment； and at the same time check the increasing power of the Commons； by a sudden and decisive movement。 Therefore； without previously hinting at his intentions； he prorogued parliament before the bill was sent to the House of Lords。 This was a keen surprise to all； and a bitter disappointment to Shaftesbury； who vowed those who advised the king to this measure should answer for it with their heads。 Owing to various delays； the Bill of Exclusion was not brought before the Peers until eighteen months later。 Its introduction was followed by a debate lasting six hours； in which Shaftesbury distinguished himself by his force and bitterness。 At nine o'clock at night the House divided； when the measure was rejected by a majority of thirty… three votes； amongst which were those of the fourteen bishops present。
Mortified by this unexpected decision； the violent passions of the defeated party hurried them on to seek the blood of those peers lodged in the Tower。 Of the five； William Howard； Viscount Staffordyoungest son of the Earl of Arran； and nephew of the Duke of Norfolkwas selected to be first put upon his trial； inasmuch as； being over sixty years； and a sufferer from many infirmities； it was judged he would be the least capable of making a vigorous defence。 Three perjured witnesses swore he had plotted against the king's life； but no proof was forthcoming to support their evidence。 Notwithstanding this was 〃bespattered and falsified in almost every point；〃 it was received as authentic by the judges； who made a national cause of his prosecution； and considered no punishment too severe for a papist。 After a trial of five days sentence of death was pronounced upon him； and on the 29th of December； 1680； he was beheaded on Tower Hill。
Like those who had suffered from similar charges； he protested his innocence to the last； but his words met with a reception different from theirs。 Their dying speeches had been greeted by groans； hisses； and signs of insatiable fury； but his declarations fell upon silent and sympathizing hearts。 When he had made denial of the crimes of which he was accused； a great cry rose from the mob； 〃We believe youwe believe you； my lord；〃 and then a single voice calling out 〃God bless you！〃 the words were taken up and repeated by a vast throng； so that the last sounds he heard on earth were those of prayer。 He died with a firmness worthy of his caste。 Having laid his head upon the block； the executioner brandished his axe in the air； and then set it quietly down at his feet。 Raising his head； Lord Stafford inquired the cause of delay； the executioner replied he awaited a sign。 〃Take your time；〃 said he who stood at the verge of eternity； 〃I shall make no sign。〃 He who held the axe in his hand hesitated a second； and then said in a low and troubled voice； 〃Do you forgive me； sir？〃 To which Lord Stafford made brief answer； 〃I do。〃 Then he laid his head again upon the blood…stained block。 Once more the glitter of steel flashed through the air； a groan arose from the crowd； and Lord