Transcriber’s Note In the transcription that follows, italic text is denoted by _underscores_ while bold text is denoted by =equal signs=. Small capitals in the original text have been transcribed as ALL CAPITALS. Superscripted text is prefixed by a caret ‘^’ symbol. If the superscript continues for more than one character, it is surrounded with curly braces ‘{}’. ———— See the end of this document for details of corrections and other changes. —————————————————— Start of Book —————————————————— THE POPISH PLOT A STUDY IN THE HISTORY OF THE REIGN OF CHARLES II BY JOHN POLLOCK FELLOW OF TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE “Some truth there was, but dashed and brewed with lies.” _Absalom and Achitophel._ “Oh! it was a naughty Court. Yet have we dreamed of it as the period when an English cavalier was grace incarnate; far from the boor now hustling us in another sphere; beautifully mannered, every gesture dulcet. And if the ladies were ... we will hope they have been traduced. But if they were, if they were too tender, ah! gentlemen were gentlemen then—worth perishing for!”—_The Egoist._ “Donner pour certain ce qui est certain, pour faux ce qui est faux, pour douteux ce qui est douteux.”—_Mabillon._ LONDON: DUCKWORTH AND CO. MCMIII INSCRIBED TO THE MEMORY OF LORD ACTON 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.