The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1857-02-18
From aaeaulay's History Of Eagand,
Titus Dates aud Know N OF othingism in I67e
iu EngianG.

One Titus Oates, clergy man of the Church
of England, had. by his disorderly life and
heterotox doctrine, drawn on him The cen.
sure Of his spiritual superiors, had been COM
pelled to quit his benefce, aud had ever
since led vsgrant life. He had once pro.
fessed himself Roman Catholic, and had
passed some time on the Continent in Eng
Gsh colleges of the order of Jesus. In those
seminares he had heard much wlld talk
about the best means of bringing England
furnished lie constructed hiieous romance,
resembling rather the dream of sick man
than any transaction which ever took place
in the real world. The pope, lie said, hsd
Jesus. The Jesuls had, by commissions
under the great seal of their society, appoint
ed Catholic cIergymen, noblemen, and gen.
tlemau TO all The hishes, offices in Church
aud State. The papisis had burned down
London once. They had tried 10 burn it
down again. They were al that momeut
planning a scheme for setting fire 10 all the
shipping in the Thames. They were to rise
at the signal and massacre all their Protes.
tant neishbors. A French army was at the
same lime 10 land in Ireland All The lead.
ing statesmen and divines of England were
to be murdered. Three or four schemes had
been formed for assassiuaIing the king. He
was to be stabbed. He was 10 be poisoned
in his medicine. He was to be shot with
silver bullets. The public m ind was so sore
and excitsbs that these lies readily found
credit with the vulgar; and Two events which
speedily took place led even some rejecting
men 10 suspect that The tale, though evidently
distorted and exaggerated, might have some
foundation.
Edward Coleman, a very busy and not
very honest Roman Catholic in,riguer, had
been among the persons accused. Search
was made for his papers. |, was found tha,
he had just destroyed the greater part Of
them; but few which had escaped con.
tanned some passages which, 10 minds
strongly prepossessei, might seem TO confirm
the evidence OF Oates Those passages in.
deed, when candidly construed, appear 10
express little more than the hopes which the
posture Of affairs. the predilectioIs Of Charles,
the still stronger predictions of James, and
The relations existing between the French
and English courts, might naturally excite
In the mind Of a Roman Catholic strongly
attached TO the interests of his Church. But
the county was not then inclined to construe
The letters of pdpisis canddly and it was
urged, with some show oil reason, that If pa
pers which had been passed over as unim.
refiant were filled with matter so suspicious,
some great mystery of iniquity must Eave
been contained in those documents which
had been carefully committed 10 the flames.
few DAYS Ister il was known that Sir
Edmondsbury Godfrey, an eminent justice
Of The peace, who had taken the deposilions
OF Oates against Coleman, bad disappeared.
Search was made, and Godfrey's corpse was
found 10 field near London. II was clear
that he had died ty violence. II was equally
clear that he had moi been sci upon By rob-
bsrs. His fate is TO this day secrel. Some
think that ke perisbsd by his own hand !
some, that be was slain. BY private enemy
The most improbable .soPpcsitIon is, that he :