Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1865-01-11
snl5trllanrous.
The Titus Oates Plot.

In the days of plots, inventions, &c, it
would be well for those who get them up
to remember the lessons Of history. The
| following is Macauiay's description of
the famous Oates Plot, and the result of
| it -
Yet was the ferment excited by this
discovery-ihe French plot against Dandy
q shght, when compared with the COM
motion which arose when it was noised
abroad that that . great Popish plot had
been detected One Titus Oates 4 c!er-
| gyman of the Church OF England, had,
by his disorderiy life and heterodox doc
| trine, drawn on himself the censure of his
! spiritual superiors, had been compelled 10
quit his benifice, and had, ever since, led
an infamous and vagr:nt life. He had
once proiessed himself Roman Catholic,
and had passed some time on the CONT
| nent in English colleges of the order of
Jesus. In these seninaries he had heard
much wild talk about the best means OF
bringing England back TO the true church.
From hints thus furnished he constructed
Il hldeous romance, resembling rather TIE
dream of a sick man than any transaction
which ever took place in the world The
pope, he said, had intrusted the govern
| ment Of England to the Jesuils. The
,Jesuits had, by commissions under the
seal OF their society, appointed Catholic
| clergyincn, policemen, and gentlemen, to
| all the highest Offices in church and state.
! The Papists had burned down London
| once They tried to burn it down again.
| They were at that moment planning ii
scheme for setting fire TO al! the shipping
III the Thames. They were to rise at a
| signal and massacre all their Protestant
| ncighbOrs. A French army was at The
| same time 10 land in Ireland All the
| leading statesmen AMI divines in England
were to be murdered. Three or four
! schemes had been formed for asSassinating
| the king. He was 10 be stabbed. He
| was to be poisoned III his medicine He
! was 20 be shot with si.ger bullets. The
public mind Was 80 sore ana exciis.hle
that these lies readily found credit with
the vulgar; and two event. which speedily
took place lei even some refiecting men
- Inspect tina: The tale, though evidently
! distorted and exaggerated, might have
| soine foundation.
kImund Coleman, q very busy and not
| very honest homan Catholic intruder, ha.i
/ Gcen among tie persons accused. Search
vas made for his papers. II was found
that he Lad destroyed the greater part OF
them. But IL few which escaped, con-
tanned some PASSAGES which, to minds
strongly preposscssed. might seem 10 con-
Z .,.,.,
! sagcs. indeed, when canl!id!y construed,
appear TO express little more than
the hopes which the posturcs Of affairs,
the predictions OF Charles, the still
stouger predictions of James, and the
relations existing between the French and
En1lish courts, might naturally excite ii
the mind Of Roman Catholic str ou2ly
attached 10 the interests Of his church
But the country was not then inclined tl
construe the letters OF Papists candidIy
and il was urged, with some show of rea-
son, that, II papers which had been pass
ed over as uiilnportant, were filled with
matter 80 suspicious, some great mystery
Of iniquity must nave been contained ii
those documents which had been carefully
committed to the flames.
The capital and the whole nation went
mad with hatred and fear. The pena
laws, which had began 10 lose something
of their edge, were sharpened anew
Everywhere Justices were busted in search
ing houses and papers. All the .jails were
filled with Papists. London had the as
pect of a city in Il state Of siege. ThC
train bands were under arms all night
Preparations were made for barricadin:
the great thorougLfares Patrols marched
up and down the street. Cannon wer,
planted round whitehall. No citizer
thought himself safe unless he carried
under his coat n small fail loaded Will
lead to brain the popisi assassins.
The houses insisted that Il guard shout,
be placed in the vaults over which they
safe, in order 10 secure them against
second Gunpowder Plot. All their pro
ceedings were of a piece with this demand
To such temper had eighteen years O
misgovernment brought the most loya
Parliament that had ever met in Eng
I land.
: Meanwhile, the courts Of justice, whicl
ought to be, in the midst of political com
; motions, sure places of refuge for the in
nocent of every party, were disgraced b,
wilder passions and fouIer corruptions thar