royalty restored-第56部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


cted　the　guard…room；　and　afterwards　the　privy　chamber；　places　in　which　it　would　have　been　impossible　to　have　held　secret　consultation。　　Aware　that　the　king　was　resolved　to　protect　her　majesty；　and　conscious　the　evidence　of　her　accusers　was　more　wildly　improbable　than　usual；　the　Lords　refused　to　second　the　address　of　the　Commons；　when　the　charge　against　this　hapless　woman　was　abandoned；　to　the　great　vexation　of　my　Lord　Shaftesbury。

Though　the　queen　happily　escaped　the　toils　of　her　enemies；　the　reign　of　terror　was　by　no　means　at　an　end。　　At　request　of　the　king；　the　Duke　of　York　left　England　and　took　refuge　in　Brussels；　the　catholic　peers　imprisoned　in　the　Tower　were　impeached　with　high　treason；　Hill；　Green；　and　Berry；　servants　of　her　majesty；　charged　with　the　murder　of　Sir　Edmondbury　Godfrey；　were；　without　a　shadow　of　evidence；　hurried　to　the　scaffold；　as　were　soon　after　Whitebread；　Fenwick；　Harcourt；　Gavan　and　Turner；　Jesuits　all；　and　Langhorn；　a　catholic　lawyer；　for　conspiring　to　murder　the　king。　On　the　morning　when　these　unfortunate　men　stood　ignominiously　bound　to　the　gallows　at　Tyburn；　the　instruments　of　death　before　their　eyes；　the　angry　murmurs　of　the　surging　mob　ringing　in　their　ears；　suddenly　the　sound　of　a　voice　crying　aloud；　〃A　pardon！　　a　pardon！〃　　was　heard　afar　off；　and　presently　a　horseman　appeared　riding　at　full　speed。　　The　soldiers　with　some　difficulty　making　way　for　him　through　a　line　of　excited　people；　he　advanced　to　the　foot　of　the　scaffold；　and　handed　a　roll　of　paper　bearing　the　king's　seal　to　the　sheriff；　who；　opening　it；　read　a　promise　of　pardon　to　those　now　standing　face　to　face　with　death；　provided　〃they　should　acknowledge　the　conspiracy；　and　lay　open　what　they　knew　thereof。〃　　To　this　they　replied　they　knew　of　no　plot；　and　had　never　desired　harm　to　the　king；　and；　praying　for　those　who　had　sought　their　lives；　they　died。

The　firmness　and　patience　with　which　the　victims　of　judicial　murder　had　one　and　all　met　death；　refusing　bribes；　and　resisting　persuasions　to　own　themselves　guilty；　could　not　fail　in　producing　some　effect　upon　the　public　mind；　and　towards　the　middle　of　the　year　1679　the　first　signs　of　reaction　became　visible；　when　three　Benedictine　monks　and　the　queen's　physician　were　tried　for　conspiracy　〃to　poison　the　king；　subvert　the　government；　and　introduce　popery。〃　　During　the　examination；　Evelyn　tells　us；　〃the　bench　was　crowded　with　the　judges；　lord　mayor；　justices；　and　innumerable　spectators。〃　　After　a　tedious　trial　of　nine　hours；　the　jury　brought　the　prisoners　in　not　guilty；　〃without；〃　says　Evelyn；　〃sufficient　disadvantage　and　reflection　on　witnesses；　especially　on　Oates　and　Bedlow。〃

As　my　Lord　Shaftesbury　had　not　yet　succeeded　in　his　desired　project　of　excluding　the　Duke　of　York　from　succession；　the　symptoms　of　change　in　public　opinion　were　thoroughly　distasteful　to　him。　　He　therefore　resolved　to　check　them　immediately；　and　stimulate　the　agitation　and　fear　that　had　for　many　months　reigned　paramount　through　out　the　nation。　　For　this　purpose　he　had　recourse　to　his　former　method　of　circulating　wild　and　baseless　reports。　　Accordingly　a　rumour　was　soon　brought　before　the　House　of　Commons　of　a　horrible　plot　hatched　by　the　papists　to　burn　London　to　the　ground。　　This；　it　was　alleged；　would　be　effected　by　a　servant…maid　setting　a　clothes…press　on　fire　in　the　house　of　her　master；　situated　in　Fetter　Lane。　　Two　vile　Irishmen　were　to　feed　the　flames；　and　meanwhile　the　catholics　would　rise　in　rebellion；　and；　assisted　by　an　army　of　sixty　thousand　French　soldiers；　kill　the　king；　and　put　all　protestants　to　the　sword。　Though　this　tale　was　in　due　time　discredited；　yet　it　served　its　purpose　in　the　present。　　The　violent　alarm　it　caused　had　not　subsided　when　another　terrible　story；　started　on　the　excellent　authority　of　Lord　Shaftesbury's　cook；　added　a　new　terror。　　This　stated　the　Duke　of　York　had　placed　himself　at　the　head　of　the　French　troops；　with　intention　of　landing　in　England；　murdering　the　king　and　forcing　papacy　on　his　subjects。　　The　scare　was　sufficiently　effectual　to　cause　Parliament　to　petition　his　majesty　that　he　might　revoke　all　licenses　recently　granted　catholic　householders　to　reside　in　the　capital；　and　order　the　execution　of　all　priests　who　administered　sacraments　or　celebrated　mass　within　the　kingdom。　　Soon　after　this　address；　Lord　Russell　was　sent　by　the　Commons　to　the　Peers；　requesting　their　concurrence　in　the　statement　that　〃the　Duke　of　York's　being　a　papist；　the　hope　of　his　coming　to　the　crown　had　given　the　greatest　countenance　and　encouragement　to　the　conspiracies　and　designs　of　the　papists。〃　　And　now；　in　May；　1679；　the　condition　of　popular　feeling　promising　well　for　its　success。　　the　Bill　of　Exclusion　was　introduced；　ordaining　that　〃James；　Duke　of　York　should　be　incapable　of　inheriting　the　crowns　of　England　and　Ireland；　that　on　the　demise　of　his　majesty　without　heirs　of　his　body；　his　dominions　should　devolve；　as　if　the　Duke　of　York　were　also　dead；　on　that　person　next　in　succession　who　had　always　professed　the　protestant　religion　established　by　law。〃　　This　passed　the　House　of　Commons　by　a　majority　of　seventy…nine　votes。

Alarmed　by　this　bill；　Charles　resolved　to　show　signs　of　resentment；　and　at　the　same　time　check　the　increasing　power　of　the　Commons；　by　a　sudden　and　decisive　movement。　　Therefore；　without　previously　hinting　at　his　intentions；　he　prorogued　parliament　before　the　bill　was　sent　to　the　House　of　Lords。　　This　was　a　keen　surprise　to　all；　and　a　bitter　disappointment　to　Shaftesbury；　who　vowed　those　who　advised　the　king　to　this　measure　should　answer　for　it　with　their　heads。　　Owing　to　various　delays；　the　Bill　of　Exclusion　was　not　brought　before　the　Peers　until　eighteen　months　later。　　Its　introduction　was　followed　by　a　debate　lasting　six　hours；　in　which　Shaftesbury　distinguished　himself　by　his　force　and　bitterness。　　At　nine　o'clock　at　night　the　House　divided；　when　the　measure　was　rejected　by　a　majority　of　thirty…　three　votes；　amongst　which　were　those　of　the　fourteen　bishops　present。

Mortified　by　this　unexpected　decision；　the　violent　passions　of　the　defeated　party　hurried　them　on　to　seek　the　blood　of　those　peers　lodged　in　the　Tower。　　Of　the　five；　William　Howard；　Viscount　Staffordyoungest　son　of　the　Earl　of　Arran；　and　nephew　of　the　Duke　of　Norfolkwas　selected　to　be　first　put　upon　his　trial；　inasmuch　as；　being　over　sixty　years；　and　a　sufferer　from　many　infirmities；　it　was　judged　he　would　be　the　least　capable　of　making　a　vigorous　defence。　　Three　perjured　witnesses　swore　he　had　plotted　against　the　king's　life；　but　no　proof　was　forthcoming　to　support　their　evidence。　　Notwithstanding　this　was　〃bespattered　and　falsified　in　almost　every　point；〃　it　was　received　as　authentic　by　the　judges；　who　made　a　national　cause　of　his　prosecution；　and　considered　no　punishment　too　severe　for　a　papist。　　After　a　trial　of　five　days　sentence　of　death　was　pronounced　upon　him；　and　on　the　29th　of　December；　1680；　he　was　beheaded　on　Tower　Hill。

Like　those　who　had　suffered　from　similar　charges；　he　protested　his　innocence　to　the　last；　but　his　words　met　with　a　reception　different　from　theirs。　　Their　dying　speeches　had　been　greeted　by　groans；　hisses；　and　signs　of　insatiable　fury；　but　his　declarations　fell　upon　silent　and　sympathizing　hearts。　　When　he　had　made　denial　of　the　crimes　of　which　he　was　accused；　a　great　cry　rose　from　the　mob；　〃We　believe　youwe　believe　you；　my　lord；〃　and　then　a　single　voice　calling　out　〃God　bless　you！〃　　the　words　were　taken　up　and　repeated　by　a　vast　throng；　so　that　the　last　sounds　he　heard　on　earth　were　those　of　prayer。　　He　died　with　a　firmness　worthy　of　his　caste。　　Having　laid　his　head　upon　the　block；　the　executioner　brandished　his　axe　in　the　air；　and　then　set　it　quietly　down　at　his　feet。　　Raising　his　head；　Lord　Stafford　inquired　the　cause　of　delay；　the　executioner　replied　he　awaited　a　sign。　　〃Take　your　time；〃　said　he　who　stood　at　the　verge　of　eternity；　〃I　shall　make　no　sign。〃　　He　who　held　the　axe　in　his　hand　hesitated　a　second；　and　then　said　in　a　low　and　troubled　voice；　〃Do　you　forgive　me；　sir？〃　　To　which　Lord　Stafford　made　brief　answer；　〃I　do。〃　　Then　he　laid　his　head　again　upon　the　blood…stained　block。　　Once　more　the　glitter　of　steel　flashed　through　the　air；　a　groan　arose　from　the　crowd；　and　Lord　Stafford's　head　was　severed　from　his　body。

A　reaction　now　set　in；　and　gained　strength　daily。　　The　remaining　peers　were　in　due　time　liberated；　the　blood　of　innocent　victims　was　no　longer　shed；　and　the　Duke　of　York　was　recalled。　　Such　was　the　end　of　the　popish　plot；　which；　says　Archdeacon　Eachard；　〃after　the　strictest　and　coolest　examinations；　and　after　a　full　length　of　time；　the　government　could　find　very　little　foundation　to　support　so　vast　a　fabrick；　besides　downright　swearing　and　assurance；　not　a　gun；　sword；　nor　dagger；　not　a　flask　of　powder　or　dark　lanthorn；　to　effect　this　strange　villainy；　and　with　the　exception　of　Coleman's　writings；　not　one　slip　of　an　original　letter　of　commission　among　those　great　numbers　alledged　to　uphold　the　reputation　of　the　discoveries。〃

Concerning　those　through　whose　malice　such　disturbance　was　wrought；　and　so　much　blood　shed；　a　few　words　may　be　added。　Within　twelve　months　of　Lord　Stafford's　execution；　Shaftesbury　was　charged　with　high　treason；　but　escaping　condemnation；　fled　from　further　molestation　to　Holland；　where；　after　a　residence　of　six　weeks；　he　died。　　Tonge　departed　this　life　in　1680；　unbenefited　by　the　monstrous　plot　he　had　so　skilfully　devised；　and　in　the　same　year　Bedlow　was　carried　to　the　grave　after　an　illness　of　four　days。　　Oates　survived　to　meet　a　share　of　the　ignominy　and　punishment　due　to　his　crimes。　　After　a　residence　of　three　years　in　Whitehall；　he　was　driven　out　of　the　palace　on　account　of　〃certain　misdemeanors　laid　to　his　charge；〃　and　deprived　of　his　salary。　　Two　years　later；　in　May；　1683；　he　was　accused　of　calling　the　Duke　of　York　a　traitor；　and　using　scandalous　words　towards　his　royal　highness。　　Upon　hearing　of　the　case　the　jury　fined　him　one　hundred　thousand　pounds。　　Unable　to　pay　the　sum；　he　was　cast　into　prison；　where　he　remained　six　years；　until　liberated　in　the　reign　of　William　and　Mary；　His　punishment　was　not；　however；　at　an　end。　　At　the　Michaelmas　term　of　1684　he　was　accused　of　having　wilfully　perjured　himself　at　the　late　trials。　　As　he　pleaded　n