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A selection of very scarce pamphlet publications emphasising the anti-Catholic sentiment, and hysteria caused by the 'Popish' plots against the British Monarchy in the seventeenth century. 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, Pranc. Seller Inventory # 605L18
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