The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1908-06-27
A HoARY FAL!EA0oD
Writer Exposes the Absurd
Fiction Of "Popish Plot"
The Character of the Chief
Conspirator.

DldCKer nue. imam tne nCtlOn OF tne
"Popish Plot in England in the reign
of Charles II. For two centuries this
horrible falsehood manufactured in
the fertile brain of Titus Oates has
been believed by a large part of the
English-speaking world. 1t has passed
| into history and writer's have ex-
pressed their qualification at the
wholesale judicial murders that took
place during that period of anti Cath
Ollie frenzy.
But gradually the truth about the
terrible affair is becoming known and
non Catholic writer's today do not
hesitate to characterize it as an in
famous conspiracy against the lives Of
innocent men.
In the May number of "Blackwoods
Magazine the writer of the article
"Musing Without Method writes
freely of this time and places before
us review of the methods of the
judges and witnesses as cleaned from
a packet of documents containing an
authentic report of the proceedings.
1.-THE State Trials" he says, (Which
have come into our hand describe for
the most part the sufferings of those
who died victims to the Popish Plot
Never were so many judicial murders
committed in England within a few
years space
His description Of the character of
Titus Oates the fomentor and protago-
frank. "He it was who held England
spell bound. He cheerfully swore
away the lives of honest men. and in
doing this he won the perfect SYM
pathy Of the people. He appears to
have loved perjury for it's own sake
and the excitement which it brought
him.
1T is wholly impossible to believe
that he had any zeal for any cause
save that of his own advancement. If
as is most probable. he contrived the
death of Sir Edmund Godfrey, then he
was truly such an artist in crime as
has seldom been seem: His success
was due to courage and effrontery
There was no sound reason why his
words should be taken by any just
man.
His career before he set up as an
informer was as infamous as it had
been cunning. The son of an Anabap-
fist he had professed many faiths and
brought discredit upon them all. Dis
loyalty was in his blood, and he could
not help turning upon those to whom
he had paid reverence for some Illicit
purpose of his own
The conduct of the trials is thus set
forth: "As you read the Trials you
recognize how excellent an under
standing held the chief actors in the
court together. They all knew their
parts. There was Scroggs. in the first
place, very scourge of Catholics, a
drunken scoundrel. who did as he was
told. and vastly preferred popularity
or profit to justice. Titus Oates was.
| indeed. the pet Of the court. IF he
were cross examined by a presumptu-
Gus prisoner on trial for his life,
! Scroggs would not have him harried
We desire.' said the Court, that Mr..
Oates may not be interrupted' If the
witness shuff1ed or contradicted a
former statement the Judge was ever
| ready with an apology for him.
| Finally the writer sums up the char
| acter of Oates: THE successful villain
commonly depends for his success
trick of making himself agreeable to
others. Titus Oates body was as ILL
favored as his mind. II is thus that
Roger North describes him: "A low
man. of an i'll cut, very short neck.
snd his visage and features were most
particular. His mouth was the CEN
ter of his face. and compass there
would sweep his nose. forehead and
chin within the perimeter.' And hav-
ing thus described the rascal. Roger
North utters this prudent warning:
Cave quos ipse Deus notavit'
God had marked Titus Oates in
very truth. and nobody was wise
enough to beware. Had one single
man among his victims been permitted
| to cross examine him as to character
+, his power for evil would have been
destroyed. He had already been pros
ecuted for perjury. the first necessity
of his being. before he came forth as
the champion of Protestant truth.
His demeanor in the witness box
proves the skill Of practiced hand
Though his task Of falsehood was
made easier by the unbroken sympa-
thy of the judges he was now and
again at loss. and then he had two
methods of extrication. Either he