royalty restored-第69章
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long scarf； a broad hat with satin band and rose； and called himself a doctor of divinity。 No man dared contradict or oppose him； lest he should be denounced as a conniver of the plot； and arrested as a traitor。 〃Whoever he pointed at was taken up and committed；〃 says North。 〃So that many people got out of his way as from a blast； and glad they could prove their last two years' conversation。 The very breath of him was pestilential； and if it brought not imprisonment； it surely poisoned reputation。〃 Sir John； speaking of him at the bishop's dinner…table； says 〃he was blown up with the hopes of running down the Duke of York； and spoke of him and his family after a manner which showed himself both a fool and a knave。 He reflected not only on him personally； but upon her majesty； nobody daring to contradict him； for fear of being made a party to the plot。 I at least did not undertake to do it； when he left the room in some heat。 The bishop told me this was his usual discourse； and that he had checked him formerly for taking so indecent a liberty； but he found it was to no purpose。〃
The impostor's conversation on this occasion furnishes the key… note of a vile plot now contrived to intercept the lawful succession； either by effectually removing the queen； and thereby enabling the king to marry again； or otherwise excluding the Duke of York by act of parliament from lawful right to the crown。 Though Shaftesbury's hand was not plainly seen； there can be no doubt it was busily employed in working out his favourite design。
The blow was first aimed at her majesty by Bedlow； who； on the 25th of November； accused her of conspiring to kill her husband。 About eighteen months previously； he said； there had been a consultation in the chapel gallery at Somerset House； which had been attended by Lord Bellasis； Mr。 Coleman； La Faire； Pritchard； Latham； and Sheldon； four Jesuits； and two Frenchmen whom he took to be abbots； two persons of quality whose faces he did not see； and lastly by her majesty。 The Jesuits afterwards confided in him as a person of trust； that the queen wept at a proposal to murder the king which had been made； but subsequently yielding to arguments of the French abbots； had consented to the design。 Indeed； Bedlow； who was in the sacristy when her majesty passed through at the termination of this meeting； noticed her face had much changed。 Here his story ended； but； as was now usual； it was taken up and concluded by Oates。
Appearing at the Bar of the House of Commons； this vile impostor cried out； 〃Aye； Taitus Oates； accause Caatharine； Quean of England； of haigh traison。〃 Then followed his audacious evidence。 In the previous July； Sir George Wakeham； in writing to a Jesuit named Ashby； stated her majesty would aid in poisoning the king。 A few days afterwards； Harcourt and four other Jesuits having been sent for； attended the queen at Somerset House。 On that occasion Oates waited on them； they went into a chamber； he stayed without。 Whilst there he heard a woman's voice say she would endure her wrongs no longer； but should assist Sir George Wakeham in poisoning the king。 He was afterwards admitted to the chamber； and saw no woman there but her majesty； and he heard the same voice ask Harcourt； whilst be was within； if he had received the last ten thousand pounds。
The appetite of public credulity seeming to increase by that on which it fed； this avowal was readily believed。 That the accusation had not been previously made； that Oates had months before sworn he knew no others implicated in the plot beyond those he named； that the queen had never interfered in religious matters； that she loved her husband exceeding well； were facts completely overlooked in the general agitation。 Parliament 〃was in a rage and flame；〃 and next day the Commons drew up an address to the king； stating that 〃having received information of a most desperate and traitorous design against the life of his sacred majesty； wherein the queen is particularly charged and accused〃 they besought him that 〃she and all her family； and all papists and reputed papists； be forthwith removed from his court。〃 Furthermore； the House sent a message to the Peers； desiring their concurrence in this request； but the Lords made answer； before doing so they would examine the witnesses against her majesty。 This resolution was loudly and indecently protested against by Lord Shaftesbury and two of his friends。
The king had discredited the story of the plot from the first； but remembering the unhappy consequences which had resulted upon the disagreement of the monarch and his parliament in the previous reign； he weakly resolved to let himself be carried away by the storm； other than offer it resistance。 On the condemnation of the Jesuits； he had appeared unhappy and dissatisfied； 〃but；〃 says Lord Romney； 〃after he had had a little advice he kept his displeasure to himself。〃 The Duke of York states； in the Stuart Papers； that 〃the seeming necessity of his affairs made his majesty think he could not be safe but by consenting every day to the execution 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
