royalty restored-第58节
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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。 Oates said he was tall； lean； and black； whereas the monarch knew him to be small； stout； and fair。 And on another occasion； when asked where he had heard the French king's confessor hire an assassin to shoot Charles； he replied； 〃At the Jesuits' monastery close by the Louvre；〃 at which the king； losing patience with the impostor； cried out； 〃Tush； man！ the Jesuits have no house within a mile of the Louvre！〃 Presently Oates named two catholic peers； Lord Arundel of Wardour and Lord Bellasis； as being concerned in the plot； when the king again spoke to him； saying these lords had served his father faithfully； and fought his wars bravely； and unless proof were clear against them； he would not credit they sought him ill。 Then Oates； seeing he had gone too far； said they did not know of the conspiracy； but it had been intended to acquaint them with it in good time。 Later on he swore falsely against them。
Meanwhile the wildest sensation was caused by the revelations of this 〃hellish plot and attempt to murder the king。〃 The public mind； long filled with hatred of papacy； was now inflamed to a degree of fury which could only be quenched by the blood of many victims。 To the general sensation which obtained； a new terror was promptly added by the occurrence of a supposed horrible and mysterious murder。
On the evening of Saturday； the 12th of October； Sir Edmondbury Godfrey was missing from his home in the parish of St。 Martin's。 The worthy magistrate was an easy going bachelor of portly appearance； much given to quote legal opinions in his discourse； and to assert the majesty of the law as represented in his person。 He was alike respected for his zeal by the protestants； and esteemed for his lenity by the catholics。 Bishop Burnet records the worthy knight 〃was not apt to search for priests or mass…houses；〃 and Archdeacon Eachard affirms 〃he was well known to be a favourer rather than a prosecutor of the papists。〃 Accordingly； his disappearance at first begot no evil suspicions； but as he did not return on Monday； his servants became alarmed at the absence of a master whose regularity was proverbial。 His brothers were of opinion he was in debt； and sought escape from his creditors； whilst his friends； after their kind； were ready to name certain houses of doubtful repute in which they were certain he had taken temporary lodgings。 On his papers being examined； it was found he had set his affairs in order； paid all his debts； and destroyed a quantity of his letters and documents。 It was then remembered he had been occasionally susceptible to melancholiaa disease he inherited from his father； who had perished by his own hand。 It was noted some days before that on which he was missed； he had appeared listless and depressed。 It was known the imprisonment of his friend Coleman had weighed heavily on his spirits。 A terrible fear now taking possession of his relatives and friends； thorough search was made for him； which proved vain until the Thursday following his disappearance； when he was accidentally discovered lying in a ditch； a cloth knotted round his neck； and a sword passed through his body； 〃at or near a place called Primrose Hill； in the midway between London and Hampstead。〃
If he had been murdered； no motive appeared to account for the deed； neither robbery nor revenge could have prompted it。 His rings and money； gloves and cane； were found on and near his body； and it was known he had lived in peace with all men。 Nor did an inquest lasting two days throw any light upon the mystery。 If it were proved he had died by his own hand； the law of that day would not permit his brothers to inherit his property； which was found to be considerable。 It was therefore their interest to ignore the fact that strangulation pointed to FELO DE SE； and to assume he had been murdered。 Accordingly they prohibited the surgeons from opening the body； lest examination should falsify conclusions at which they desired to arrive。 A verdict was ultimately returned 〃that he was murdered by certain persons unknown to the jurors； and that his death proceeded from suffocation and strangling by a certain piece of linen cloth of no value。〃
Occurring at such a moment； his death was at once attributed to the papists； who； it was said； being incensed that the magistrate had received the sworn testimonies of Oates； had sought this bloody revenge。 Fear now succeeded bewilderment； desires of vengeance sprang from depths of horror。 For two days the mangled remains of the poor knight were exposed to public view； 〃and all that saw them went away inflamed。〃 They were then interred with all the pomp and state befitting one who had fallen a victim to catholicism； a martyr to protestantism。 The funeral procession； which took its sad way through the principal thoroughfares from Bridewell to St。 Martin's…in…the…Fields； numbered seventy…two divines； and over twelve hundred persons of quality and consideration。 Arriving at the church； Dr。 Lloyd； a
