Chapter I: Preface

When I first undertook the study of the Popish Plot the late Lord Acton wrote to me: “There are three quite unravelled mysteries;—what was going on between Coleman and Père la Chaize; how Oates got hold of the wrong story; and who killed Godfrey.” The following book is an attempt to answer these questions and to elucidate points of obscurity connected with them.

In the course of the work I have received much kind help from Dr. Jackson and Mr. Stanley Leathes of this college, from the Rev. J. N. Figgis of St. Catharine’s College, and from my father; and Mr. C. H. Firth of All Souls’ College has been exceedingly generous in giving the assistance of his invaluable learning and experience to a novice attacking problems which have been left too long untouched by those better fitted for the task.

It is only as a mark of the deep gratitude I bear him that I have ventured to dedicate this book to the memory of the illustrious man whose death has deprived it of its sternest critic. Few can know so well as myself how far its attainment falls short of the standard which he set up. With that standard before me I can justify myself only by the thought that I have tried to follow strictly the injunction: Nothing extenuate, nor set down aught in malice. J. P.

TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE, 1903.

CONTENTS

PAGE

TABLE OF SOME EVENTS OCCURRING IN THE HISTORY OF THE
POPISH PLOT xiii

I. DESIGNS OF THE ROMAN CATHOLICS

CHAPTER I
TITUS OATES 3
CHAPTER II
THE NATURE OF THE DESIGNS 15
CHAPTER III
OATES AGAIN 70

II. SIR EDMUND BERRY GODFREY

CHAPTER I
GODFREY 83
CHAPTER II
BEDLOE AND ATKINS 106
CHAPTER III
BEDLOE AND PRANCE 117
CHAPTER IV
PRANCE AND BEDLOE 132
CHAPTER V
THE SECRET 149

III. POLITICS OF THE PLOT

CHAPTER I
THE GOVERNMENT 169
CHAPTER II
THE CATHOLICS 196
CHAPTER III
SHAFTESBURY AND CHARLES 222

IV. TRIALS FOR TREASON

CHAPTER I
MAGISTRATES AND JUDGES 265
CHAPTER II
CRIMINAL PROCEDURE 288