ard he had for anyone who would murder his majesty. Frightened by
such remarks at a time when no man's life or credit was safe, Burnet
shrank from further action; but rumour of his interference having got
noised abroad, it was resented by the public to such an extent, that he
was advised not to stir abroad for fear of public affronts.

Within five days of his arrest, William Staley was condemned to death.
In vain he protested his innocence, pointed out the improbability of his
using such words in a public room, and referred to his character as
a loyal man and worthy citizen. He was condemned and executed as a
traitor.

The next victim was Coleman. He denied having hired assassins to murder
his majesty, or entertained desires for his death; but honestly stated
he had striven to advance his religion, not by bloodshed, but by
tolerance. Whilst lying in chains at Newgate prison under sentence of
death members of both Houses of Parliament visited him, and offered him
pardon if he confessed a knowledge of the plot; but, in answer to all
persuasions and promises, he avowed his innocence; protesting which, he
died at Tyburn.

A little later, three Jesuits, named Ireland, Whitehead, and Fenwick,
and two attendants of the queen's chapel, named Grove and Pickering,
were executed on a charge of conspiracy to kill the king. Oates and
Bedlow swore these Jesuits had promised Grove fifteen hundred pounds
as price of the murder; Pickering chose as his reward to have thirty
thousand masses, at a shilling a mass, said for him. Three times they
had attempted this deed with a pistol; but once the flint was loose,
another time there was no powder in the pan, and again the pistol was
charged only with bullets. These five men died denying their guilt to
the last.

Meanwhile, Dr. Tonge, the ingenious inventor of the plot, had sunk into
insignificance by comparison with his audacious pupil. Not only did the
latter have apartments at Whitehall allotted him, and receive a pension
of twelve hundred a year, but he was lauded as the saviour of his
country, complimented with the title of doctor of divinity, honoured in
public, and entertained in private. Eachard mentions "a great supper
in the city," given in compliment to Oates by "twenty eminent
rich citizens;" and Sir John Reresby writes of meeting him at the
dinner-table of Dr. Gunning, Bishop of Ely. Nothing could exceed the
insolence and arrogance of the impostor. He appeared in a silk gown