1679-1680 A true narrative of the horrid plot and conspiracy of the popish party against the life of His sacred Majesty, the government, and the Protestant religion: with a list of such noblemen, gentlemen, and others that were the conspirators: and the head-officers both civil an military, that were to effect it. Published by the order of the Right Honourable the Lords spiritual and temporal in Parliament assembled. Humbly presented to His most excellent Majesty. By Titus Otes, D.D. [with] The King’s evidence justifi’d: or Doctor Oates’s vindication of himself, and the reality of the plot, against a traiterous libel, called The compendium; contrived by the Jesuits, to the dishonour of the King and kingdom. [with] A modest vindication of Titus Oates the Salamanca-doctor from perjury: or An essay to demonstrate him only forsworn in several instances. By Adam Elliot, Master of Arts, and a priest of the Church of England. [with] A narrative and impartial discovery of the horrid Popish plot: carried on for the burning and destroying the cities of London and Westminster, with their suburbs, &c. Setting forth the several consults, orders and resolutions of the Jesuites, &c. concerning the same. And divers depositions and informations, relating thereunto. Never before printed. By Capt. William Bedloe. Lately engaged in that horrid design, and one of the popish committee for carrying on such fires. [with] A true narrative and discovery of several very remarkable passages relating to the horrid Popish Plot: as they fell within the knowledge of Mr Miles Prance of Covent-Garden, goldsmith. Viz. I. His depositions concerning the plot in general, and a particular design against the life of His Sacred Majesty. II. The whole proceedings touching the murther of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey, and the particular circumstances thereof. III. A conspiracy to murther the Right Honourable the Earl of Shaftsbury. IV. The traiterous intrigues and immoralities of divers popish priests. Published by authority. [with] The tryal and sentence of Elizabeth Cellier; for writing, printing, and publishing, a scandalous libel, called Malice defeated, &c. at the sessions in the Old-Bailey, held Saturday the 11th. and Monday the 13th. of Sept. 1680. Whereunto is added several depositions, made before the Right Honorable, the Lord Mayor. [with] Malice defeated: or a brief relation of the accusation and deliverance of Elizabeth Cellier, wherein her proceedings both before and during her confinement, are particularly related, and the mystery of the meal-tub fully discovered. Together with an abstract of her arraignment and tryal, written by her self, for the satisfaction of all lovers of undisguised truth. [with] Tho. Dangerfield’s ansvver to a certain scandalous lying pamphlet, entituled, Malice defeated, or, The deliverance of Elizabeth Cellier. Together with some particular remarks made from her own words, an acknowledgment of matter of fact, and a short compendium of the principal transactions of her life and conversation. All which are wrote by the hand of Tho. Dangerfield, a lover of truth undisguis’d.

Description

An Important Work, First Edition, Leather Binding, Very Scarce

Eight extraordinarily scarce works on the Popish Plot with several not seen at auction since the 1970's. Comprising of eight works bound as one. The first five pamphlets regard Titus Oates, William Bedloe and Miles Prance with their fictional 'Popish Plots'. These gentleman worked hard to convince the monarchy and general public that the Catholics and Jesuits intended to assassinate the King, Charles II, implicating many innocent people who lost their lives. The final three works focuses solely on Elizabeth Cellier, an accused Catholic who was imprisoned for her involvement in the so-called 'Meal-Tub Plot' against James II (Charles II's successor). Titus Oates, also known as Titus the liar was an English perjurer who fabricated the 'Popish Plot'. This plot was a supposed Catholic conspiracy to assassinate Charles II. The first work to this book, 'A True Narrative...' is the first edition, and is Oates asserting and declaring this plot, which led to the executions of at least 22 men. He was requested to publish his own narrative of the conspiracy which then took this form. Oates took advantage of the already existing Anti-Catholic sentiment which had flared from the King's marriage to the Catholic princess, Catherine of Portugal. Oates and William Bedloe even tried to implicate the Queen in this plot. It later transpired that this plot was false and Oates was tried for perjury. 'A True Narrative of the Horrid Popish Plot..' is lacking the frontispiece and the first three leaves after title page, work begins on the third page of the dedication to Charles II. 'The King's Evidence Justified..' is another work by Oates in the same year where he further defends his stance regarding this conspiracy. The ESTC notes that this work is a reply to Roger Palmer, The Earl of Castlemaine, a prominent Catholic who came under suspicion regarding this plot. Castlemaine was tried for treason and represented himself before becoming acquitted. 'A Modest Vindication of Titus Oates...' by Adam Elliot forms as the clergyman's memoir. He knew Oates from their time at Cambridge together and had some turbulence in their relationship. Oates had thrown some accusations around regarding Elliot to help undermine him as a witness in a legal case. He also created a lawsuit against Elliot accusing him of misdeeds during their Cambridge years. This memoir, written by the Church of England Clergyman, demonstrates how specious Oates's accusations against the Jesuits had been and refutes those accusations against himself. 'A Narrative and Impartial Discovery of the Horrid Popish Plot' is the account of one William Bedloe, an English fraudster who chose to corroborate the previous claims of Titus Oates and continue the tale of a supposed plot made by the Catholics against the King. He claims that he knew the details of the supposed murder of magistrate, Sir Edmund Berry Godfrey, giving names of men he claims that he saw commit the crime, stating that it was related to the 'Popish Plot'. For this information he was awarded £500. This work is Bedloe's chief writing and explores in detail his numerous allegations. The Oxford DNB notes that 'Bedloe was an opportunistic rogue, fraud and criminal. His rambling evidence led to the deaths of a number of innocent people. Although he was less odious, except to his victims, than Titus Oates, Bedloe's imposing personality and opportunism seem to have led his dupes not to see through his elaborate and, to a neutral eye, improbably lies until it was too late'. This work has an engraved portrait of Bedloe. 'A True Narrative and Discovery of Several Very Remarkable Passages' is a work by Miles Prance, one of the men accused by William Bedloe for murdering Sir Edmund Berry Godfrey. Prance was committed to Newgate for this crime. Whilst in prison, Prance confessed and then recanted. He then confessed again, implicating several other innocent people in the murder, which lead to their arrests and deaths. He gave evidence at the trial against these men and shared the reward money given with Bedloe. He also informed on many more Catholics under the influence of Titus Oates and William Bedloe. It was not until James II's reign that Prance was found guilty of perjury. This work is Prance's testimony regarding the murder of Godfrey and also includes information regarding a conspiracy to murder the Earl of Shaftsbury. This work has an engraved portrait of Prance. 'The Tryal and Sentence of Elizabeth Cellier' is the principal contemporary account of the notable Catholic midwife's treason trial for the alleged 'Meal-Tub Plot'. Cellier was innocent of this charge and was later acquitted. This work is the proceedings of Cellier's trial, with information on the jurors, and the court proceedings, verbatim. Pagination to this work begins on C1r as called for. The 'Meal-Tub Plot' was given its name as this was the location incriminating documents were found. 'Malice Defeated' is Elizabeth Cellier's vindication of herself following her release from prison after being accused of plotting to murder James II. The work gives her account of events, attacks her accuser Thomas Dangerfield, and also discusses the treatment, or torture, of prisoners in Newgate prison she witnessed. This then led to her being put on trial for libel. Cellier gained a nickname as the 'Popish Midwife' from her enemies. She was a witty, forthright woman who worked hard to advance the field of midwifery. 'Tho. Dangerfield's Answer to a Certain Scandaloud Lying Pamphlet' is a response to Elizabeth Cellier's 'Malice Defeated'. In this Dangerfield regards Cellier as a liar. Dangerfield's unreliability as a witness allowed Cellier's acquittal from her initial trial. Dangerfield published several pamphlets over time such as 'Dangerfield's Narrative'.