登陆注册
14195800000100

第100章 CHAPTER XVII.(4)

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.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 绝世皇妃本宫要休夫

    绝世皇妃本宫要休夫

    她是轩元国丞相的爱女从小就倾心于轩元国最有机会成为皇帝的他,也如愿以偿的嫁给了他,成为了一国之后,但他不爱她,恨她,是她害的他心爱的女子不能做正室,好!她要做就让她做,她做了他的皇后,却不料惨死在妾室手里,重生归来,她要统领后宫,为孩子与以前的自己复仇,让他们为惹毛本宫而后悔。。。。
  • 永恒之塔之永恒

    永恒之塔之永恒

    这里承载了那些年我们热血激情的记忆,这里承载了那些年我们单纯简单的友谊,这里讲述的一个个激情澎湃的热战。
  • 记忆的空城

    记忆的空城

    这个故事在我的脑海中存在了好久,我终于打算把它写出来。每一个人都曾经深深地折磨着我,他们折磨了我很长时间,他们想要出来,想要被大家了解,想要被大家知晓他们的故事,他们的感情。最后,他们纠缠到一起。然后我发现,我脑海中的那个故事变得庞大无比,爱情,亲情,友情,它们相互缠绵着,让我找不到重点。然后我决定放弃。将这一切归结为自己的失败。现在我想明白了,这并不是我的失败,或许因为我那个理想世界正在丰满起来。也或许,它变得现实起来。但这都没有关系,我想表达的东西没有改变,它就在那里,我有什么可担心的呢?那只美丽的狐狸还在泰山静静地等待,它就趴在那棵梧桐树上,日夜做着那个记不得的梦。
  • 恸天神腕

    恸天神腕

    一向不起眼的姜新生活在向来平静的小城——方城之中,却因为一件意想不到的事情,打破了他原来的生活,蓝色瞳孔的少女,称他为零雾的黑衣男子,一个从未听闻的世界……(本小说非种田文,非爽文。)
  • 白痴管家

    白痴管家

    苏落宁,是一个拥有邪恶后妈,讨厌老弟和科学怪人老爸的存在。直到有一天,科学怪人老爸死了,后妈把落宁赶出来霸占家产了,落宁从一个娇娇公举变成小平民了。嘤嘤嘤,好桑心老爸留给自己的遗产居然是一座待拆小公寓和一台死电脑,还有什么比这个还悲催的么?当然有!这个“电脑”……会说话!我擦勒!落宁都忍不住爆粗口了啊!大半夜的会吓死人的知道不知道!“您好,我,叫,白痴——”
  • 九天之后

    九天之后

    天高九万里,九天之上,为真实一个天人转世的少年再次踏上修真之路,求一眼真实
  • 火影之七夜雪寂

    火影之七夜雪寂

    冷冷的月光停歇在脸上隐藏着益出的泪花风来得突然留下一地的悲伤就像爱来去不声不响既不回头何必不忘最不知红尘情苦今日种种水似无痕奈何这一世人心
  • 萌宠驾到:校草王子求放过

    萌宠驾到:校草王子求放过

    他,一个腹黑的校草;她,一个嚣张的千金。当他们撞在一起,又会蹭出怎样的火花呢?
  • 穿越之废材小姐逆袭记

    穿越之废材小姐逆袭记

    21世纪王牌杀手,却惨遭同伴背叛,穿越到了一个以玄力为王的世界。穿越过来的她是一个人人皆知的废材,人人唾弃。如果这就是命的话,她偏不信。如果说这是上天的安排的话,那么她,便要和天斗!
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)