Titus Oates: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 23:36, 17 August 2003

Revision as of 23:05, 16 November 2003

Line 23:

On [[October 12]], Sir Edmund Berry Godfrey disappeared for five days and then was found dead in [[Primrose Hill]]. He had been strangled and his sword had been driven through his body. Oates exploited this incident to launch a public campaign against the Papists and spread a rumor that the murder had been the work of the Jesuits. King Charles heard about the unrest, returned to London and summoned Parliament.

King Charles still did not believe in Titus's accusations. However, Parliament and public opinion forced him to order an investigation. Charles's opponents, who disliked his "Catholic" court and his Catholic wife [[Catherine of BrazangaBraganza]], exploited the situation. One of the most prominent was [[Anthony Ashley Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury]].

Hysteria continued. Noblewomen carried firearms if they had to venture outdoors at night. Houses were searched for hidden guns - mostly without any significant result. Some Catholic widows tried to ensure their safety by marrying Anglican widowers. The [[British House of Commons|House of Commons]] was searched - without result - in case of another [[Gunpowder Plot]].