royalty restored-第51部分
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fanatical divine urged Oates to present himself once more before them； bewail his misconduct； promise amendment； and seek readmission to their midst。 Following his advice； Oates was again received by the Jesuits； and sent to their famous seminary at St。 Omer's； where； though he had reached the age of thirty years； he was entered among the junior students。 For six months he remained here； until his vices becoming noted； he was turned away in disgrace。 Again he presented himself before the rector of St。 Michael's； knowing as little of popish plots as he did on his previous return。 But Tonge； though disappointed； was not disheartened； if no scheme existed； he would invent one which should startle the public； and save the nation。 Such proposals as he made towards the accomplishment of this end were readily assented to by Oates； in whose breast wounded pride and bitter hate rankled deep。 Therefore； after many consultations they resolved to draw up a 〃Narrative of a Horrid Plot。〃 This was repeatedly changed and enlarged； until eventually it assumed the definite shape of a deposition； consisting of forty…three distinct articles； written with great formality and care； and embodying many shocking and criminal charges。
The narrative declared that in April； 1677； the deponent was employed to carry letters from the Jesuits in London to members of their order in Spain； these he broke open on the journey； and discovered that certain Jesuits had been sent into Scotland to encourage the presbyterians to rebel。 Arrived in Valladolid； he heard one Armstrong； in a sermon delivered to students； charge his majesty with most foul and black…mouthed scandals； and use such irreverent； base expressions as no good subjects could repeat without horror。 He then returned to England； and was soon after sent to St。 Omer with fresh letters； in which was mentioned a design to stab or poison his majestyPere la Chaise； the French king's confessor； having placed ten thousand pounds at the disposal of the Jesuits that they might； by laying out such a sum； the more successfully accomplish this deed。 While abroad the deponent had read many letters； relating to the execution of Charles II。； the subverting of the present government； and the establishment of the Romish religion。 Returning again to England； he became privy to a treaty with Sir George Wakeham； the queen's physician； to poison the king； and likewise with an agreement to shoot him； made between the Jesuits and two men； named Honest William and Pickering。 He had heard a Jesuit preach a sermon to twelve persons of quality in disguise； in which he asserted 〃that protestants and other heretical princes were IPSO FACTO deposed because such； and that it was as lawful to destroy them as Oliver Cromwell or any other usurper。〃 He also became aware that the dreadful fire had been managed by Strange； the provincial of the Jesuits； who employed eighty…six men in distributing seven hundred fire…balls to destroy the city； and that notwithstanding his vast expenses； he gained fourteen thousand pounds by plunder carried on during the general confusion； a box of jewels； consisting of a thousand carat weight of diamonds； being included in the robbery。
The document containing these remarkable statements was finished in August； 1678。 It now remained to have it brought before the king or the council。 Tonge was resolved this should he done in a manner best calculated to heighten the effect of their narrative； at the same time he was careful to guard the fact that he and Oates had an intimate knowledge of each other。 Not knowing any one of interest at court； he sought out Christopher Kirby； a man employed in the king's laboratory； of whom he had some slight knowledge； and； pledging him to the strictest secrecy； showed him the 〃Narrative of the Horrid Plot；〃 and besought his help in bringing it under the notice of his majesty in as private a manner as possible。
This aid was freely promised； and next day； the date being the 13th of August； when the monarch was about to take his usual airing in the park； Kirby drew near； and in a mysterious tone bade his majesty take care； for his enemies had a design against his life； which might be put into execution at any moment。 Startled by such words； the king asked him in what manner was it intended his life should be taken； to which he replied； 〃It might be by pistol； but that to give a more particular account of the matter； required greater privacy。〃 The monarch； who quickly recovered his first surprise； resolved to take his usual exercise； and； subduing his curiosity； he bade Kirby attend him on his return from the park； and tell him what he knew of the subject。
When the time arrived； Kirby saw his majesty alone； and related to him in brief that two men waited but an opportunity to shoot him； and Sir George Wakeham had been hired to poison him； which news； he concluded； had been imparted to him by a worthy man living close at hand； who would attend his majesty's pleasure when that was manifested。
Bewildered by such intelligence； yet suspicious of its veracity； the king ordered Kirby to summon his informant that evening by eight o'clock。 When that hour came his majesty repaired to the Red Room； and there met Dr。 Tonge； who delivered his narrative into his hands。 The rector was convinced the great moment he had so long awaited； in which he would behold the monarch aroused to a sense of his danger； had arrived。 He was doomed to bitter disappointment。 His majesty coolly took the narrative； and without opening it； said it should be examined into。 On this Tonge begged it might be kept safe and secret； 〃lest the full discovery should otherwise be prevented and his life endangered。〃 The monarch replied that； before starting with the court to… morrow for Windsor； he would place it in the hands of one he could trust； and who would answer for its safety。 He then bade him attend on the Lord Treasurer Danby next morning。
In obedience to this command； Tonge waited on his lordship at the appointed time； and by the character of his replies helped to develop his story of the plot。 When asked if the document he had given his majesty was the original of the deponent； Tonge admitted it was in his own handwriting。 On this； Lord Danby expressed a desire to see the original； and likewise become acquainted with its author。 Nothing abashed； the rector replied the manuscript was in his house； and accounted for its possession by stating that； singularly enough； it had been thrust under his doorhe did not know by whom； but fancied it must be by one who； some time before； had discussed with him on the subject of this conspiracy。 Whereon his lordship asked him if he knew the man； and was answered he did not； but he had seen him lately two or three times in the streets； and it was likely he should see him soon again。
Being next questioned as to whether he had any knowledge of Honest William； or Pickering； the villains who sought the king's life； he answered he had not。 Immediately； however； he remembered it was their habit to walk in St。 James's Park； and said； if any man was appointed to keep him company； he was almost certain he would have opportunities of letting that person see these abominable wretches。 Finally； Lord Danby asked him if he knew where they dwelt； for it was his duty to have them arrested at once； but of their abode Tonge was completely ignorant； though he was hopeful he should speedily be able to obtain the required information。
He was therefore dismissed； somewhat to his satisfaction； being unprepared for such particular examination； but in a couple of days he returned to the charge； determined his tale should not be discredited for lack of effrontery； On this occasion he said he had met the man he suspected of being author of the document； who owned himself as such； and stated that his name was Titus Oates； but requested Tonge would keep it a strict secret； 〃because the papists would murder him if they knew what he was doing。〃 Moreover； Oates had given him a second paper full of fresh horrors concerning this most foul plot。 Taking this with him； the lord treasurer hastened to Windsor； that he might consult the king； having first left a servant with Tonge； in hopes the latter might catch sight of Honest William and Pickering in their daily walk through the park； and have them arrested。 On Danby recounting Tonge's statements to the king； his majesty was more convinced than before the narrative was wholly without foundation； and refused to make it known to his council or the Duke of York。 Therefore the lord…treasurer； on conclusion of a brief visit； left Windsor for his country residence； situated at Wimbledon。
For some days no fresh disclosure was made concerning this horrid plot； until late one night； when Dr。 Tonge arrived in great haste at Lord Danby's house； and informed him some of the intended regicides had resolved on journeying to Windsor next morning； determined to assassinate the king。 He added； it was in his power to arrange that the earl's servant should ride with them in their coach； or at least accompany them on horseback； and so give due notice of their arrival； in order that they might be timely arrested。 Alarmed by this intelligence； Danby at once hastened to Windsor； and informed the king of what had come to his knowledge。 Both endured great suspense that night； and next day their excitement was raised to an inordinate pitch by seeing the earl's servant ride towards the castle with all possible speed。 When； however； the man was brought into his majesty's presence； he merely delivered a message from Dr。 Tonge； stating the villains 〃had been prevented from taking their intended journey that day； but they proposed riding to Windsor next day； or within two days at farthest。〃 Before that time had arrived； another message came to say； 〃one of their horses being slipped in the shoulder； their trip to Windsor was postponed。〃
Taking these foolish excuses； as well as Dr。 Tonge's prevaricating answers and mysterious statements； into consideration； the king was now convinced the 〃Narrative of a Horrid Plot〃 was an invention of a fanatic or a rogue。 He was； therefore； desirous of letting the subject drop into obscurity； but Lord Danby； foresee
