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to the Duchess of York。 Such information was most acceptable to Danby at the moment； he at once started for Windsor； and laid this fresh information before the king。 To his lordship's intense surprise； his majesty handed him the letters。 These； five in number； containing treasonable expressions and references to the plot； had been some hours before handed by Mr。 Bedingfield to the Duke of York； saying； he 〃feared some ill was intended him by the same packet； because the letters therein seemed to be of a dangerous nature； and that he was sure they were not the handwriting of the persons whose names were subscribed to the letters。〃 On examination； they were proved to be most flagrant forgeries。 Written in a feigned hand； and signed by different names； they were evidently the production of one man； the same want of punctuation； style of expression； and peculiarities of spelling being notable in all。 The Duke of York； foreseeing malice was meant by them； forcibly persuaded the king to place the epistles before the privy council。 Accordingly； they were handed to Sir William Jones； attorney general； and Sir Robert Southwell； who stated； upon comparing them with Dr。 Tonge's narrative； they were convinced both were written by the same hand。
Meanwhile； Tonge and Oates； aware of the coldness and doubt with which his majesty had received the 〃Narrative of the Horrid Plot；〃 and ignorant of the fact he had placed the letters before his privy council； resolved to make their story public to the world。 It therefore happened on the 6th of September they presented themselves before Sir Edmondbury Godfrey； a justice of the peace； in the parish of St。 Martin's； who； not without considerable persuasion； consented to receive a sworn testimony from Titus Oates regarding the truth of his narrative； which had now grown from forty…three to eighty…one articles。 This action prevented further secrecy concerning the so…called plot。
A few days later the court returned to town for the winter； when the Duke of York besought the privy council to investigate the strange charges made in the declaration。 Accordingly； on the 28th of the month； Tonge and Oates were summoned before it； when the latter； making many additions to his narrative； solemnly affirmed its truth。 Aghast at so horrible a relation； the council knew not what to credit。 The evil reputation Oates had borne； the baseness of character he revealed in detailing his actions as a spy； the mysterious manner in which the fanatical Tonge accounted for his possession of the document； tended to make many doubt； whilst others； believing no man would have the hardihood to bring forward such charges without being able to sustain them by proof； contended it was their duty to sift them to the end。 Believing if he had been entrusted with secret letters and documents of importance； he would naturally retain some of them in order to prove his intended charges； the council asked Oates to produce them； but of these he had not one to show。 Nor； he confessed； could he then furnish proof of his words； but promised if he were provided with a guard； and given officers and warrants； he would arrest certain persons concerned in the plot； and seize secret documents such as none could dispute。 These being granted him； he immediately caused eight Jesuits to be apprehended and imprisoned。 Then he commenced a search for treasonable letters； not only in their houses； but in the homes of such catholics as were noted for their zeal。 His investigations were awaited with impatience； nor were they without furnishing some pretext for his accusations。
One of the first dwellings which Titus Oates investigated was that of Edward Coleman。 This gentleman； the son of an English divine； had early in life embraced catholicity； for the propagation of which he thenceforth became most zealous。 Coming under notice of the court； he became the confidant of the Duke of York； and by him was made secretary to the duchess。 A man of great mental activity； religious fervour； and considerable ambition； he had； about four years previous to this time； entered into a correspondence with the confessor of the French king and other Jesuits； regarding the hopes he entertained of Charles II。 professing catholicity。 Knowing him to be bold in his designs and incautious in his actions； the duke had discharged him from his post as secretary to the duchess； but had retained him in his dependence。 This latter circumstance； together with a suspicion of the confidence which had existed between him and his royal highness； prompted Oates to have him arrested； and his house searched。 Coleman； having received notice of this design； fled from his home； incautiously leaving behind him some old letters and copies of communications which had passed between him and the Jesuits。 These were at once seized； and though not containing one expression which could be construed as treasonable； were； from expectations they set forth of seeing catholicity re… established in England； considered by undiscerning judges； proofs of the statements made by Oates。
On the strength of his discovery； Oates hastened to Sir Edmondbury Godfrey； and swore false informations； becoming aware of which； Coleman； conscious of his innocence； delivered himself up； in hopes of meeting a justice never vouchsafed him。
The Privy council now sat morning and evening； in order to examine Oates； whose evidence proved untrustworthy and contradictory to a bewildering degree。 When it was pointed out to him the five letters； supposed to come from men of education； contained ill…spelling； bad grammar； and other faults； he； with much effrontery； declared it was a common artifice among the Jesuits to write in that manner； in order to avoid recognition； but inasmuch as real names were attached to the epistles； that argument was not considered just。 The subject was not mentioned again。 When an agent for these wicked men in Spain； he related； he had been admitted into the presence of Don John； and had seen him counting out large sums of money； with which he intended to reward Sir George Wakeham when he had poisoned the king。 Hearing this； his majesty inquired what kind of person Don John was。 Oates said he was tall； lean； and black； whereas the monarch knew him to be small； stout； and fair。 And on another occasion； when asked where he had heard the French king's confessor hire an assassin to shoot Charles； he replied； 〃At the Jesuits' monastery close by the Louvre；〃 at which the king； losing patience with the impostor； cried out； 〃Tush； man！ the Jesuits have no house within a mile of the Louvre！〃 Presently Oates named two catholic peers； Lord Arundel of Wardour and Lord Bellasis； as being concerned in the plot； when the king again spoke to him； saying these lords had served his father faithfully； and fought his wars bravely； and unless proof were clear against them； he would not credit they sought him ill。 Then Oates； seeing he had gone too far； said they did not know of the conspiracy； but it had been intended to acquaint them with it in good time。 Later on he swore falsely against them。
Meanwhile the wildest sensation was caused by the revelations of this 〃hellish plot and attempt to m