A LETTER FROM AMSTERDAM TO A FRIEND IN PARIS.  
Steriles dominantur avenae.  
S R.  
I never complied more cheerfully with your commands then at present, since I have the occasion to discharge a debt I own to the Christian World. You desire to be satisfied concerning this so much talked of Plott in England which you say is the only subject of all Discourses and as it hath alarmed all the King of Great Britain's Kingdoms and Dominions so it hath struck with astonishment the greatest part of Europe. judicious People find themselves in great perplexity; on the one side they cannot comprehend how so many Religious Persons whose education hath been in the spirit of Meekness & Humility, so many men of Quality, who have given such unquestionable Proofs of their Loyalty, and exposed both Fortunes & lives to maintain the life and Authority of the late & present Kings of England, so many of all degrees and conditions hitherto reputed honest in their Actions and sincere in their words, should upon à sudden be engaged in à Diabolical and Damnable Conspiracy to take away the life of the King & subvert the Government. On the other side, if there be no plot how comes à whole Kingdom to be so imposed upon as to believe it, And then to use such severityes and Rigours far different from the usual temper of the Nation? This is the Riddle which you desire to be solved: I shall do it in brief and plainly; for Truth never appears better than in downright and unartificial expressions. Sr. I can assure you there is no such thing as à Plot of the Catholics; no design against his sacred Majesty's Person, Government, or Laws of the Land: If any particular Person has transgressed let him suffer for it, Anima quae peccaverit ipsa morietur. This is the desire of all good Christians; and I am credibly informed that the General of the jesuits, upon the first bruit of this Conspiracy, should say of his Religious, si se miscuerint istiusmodi Rebus, dignum luant supplicium. But as à bare Accusation without manifest proofs is deemed a mere Calumny, so a bare denial is a slender Apology, to take of a prejudicated opinion: I shall therefore make it out with undeniable Reasons. You have rightly described the parties accused; I shall decipher the Accusers and then appeal to your judgement whether they be Persons that deserve any Credit.  
Sergeant Mainard, in Mr. Colmans' Trial pag. 8. saith Mr. Oates was the first man that we hear of, that discovered this Treason: He was the single man, that discovered so many▪ Active Agents in so great a Treason. It is worth the pains to inform you what this Oats is. His Father in his younger days was a devoute silck weaver, but in the late Rebellion found it more for his advantage to turn an anabaptistical Preacher, After the Return of his Majesty, he became a Minister and was beneficed in or near Hastings, at present he is an old fornicator in Kingstreet southampton Buildings. He trained up his son Titus to the Pulpit, and having himself procured a better living resigned that to his son; but whether he was baptised or no is a great question; though the son saith he was christened at seventeen years of Age, yet I presume it was done after the anabaptistical form. His debaucheries are notoriously known in and about Hastings; I shall not defile my paper with them: yet I must not omit to tell you how he accused an Innocent man of Sodomy, but was convicted of Perjury (The Conviction stands upon Record) and was clapped in Prison, but he broke it. Sometime After he was embarked for Tangers, he fell to his old Tricks of Sodomy in the ship and was taken in flagranti, to escape hanging, according to his demerit, he adventured drowning and stole away narrowly to shore in the Cockboat: But this, you will say, is not to the purpose; his Majesty's Indulgence has granted him a plenary impunity; & his infamous life does not de grave him from a capacity, to bear witness for the King; nay his Patrons allow this, and like him the better; the more wicked he is, the fit instrument to make discoveries of wicked designs: for who more proper to unkennel a Fox then the Terrier, that is part of him? And as to his legal conviction of Perjury recorded In perpetuam rei memoriam, though it disables him from making a Legal Testimony, yet it implies only a Presumption, semel malus semper praesumitur malus; And not a necessity of always lying from that time forward; and who can Tell but heemay speak truth at present! be it so; yet it must be granted that the Infamy of the Accuser takes of from his Credit with the judicious, and obligeth a conscientious Person to wave his judgement, until better proofs be produced; as all so that every one must be looked upon as Innocent by the eye of the Law, if there be no allegation against him, besides the testimony of a Person perjured upon Record. justice's then and Charity (That is the law of God and man) maintain a man in possession of his Innocency, until he is either outed by the evidence of his own Acts, or ejected by a Legal formality. This Argument must be allowed to conclude thus far; and I pretend no more. This you say is too general, and not to your entire satisfaction; I will therefore descend to the particulars of the Accusation, and make out with evidence that they are groundless and false.  
On sunday 29. September 1678. still: v. his Majestye being present in Council, Titus Oats deposed upon oath, how he had been employed by the jesuits to Treat with Don john of Austria. and that he did actually treat with him at Madrid about this Conspiracy; and mentioned several other passages happened at Madrid. He repeats also his benig at Madrid july 77. in his depositions taken by order of the house of Commons.  
How well he knew Don john, may be seen by the description he made of his Person to his Majesty and Council, I report myself to those that were present; That he never was at Madrid is thus made out; He was not acquainted with the jesuits before April 1677. This he cannot deny. His great friend and acquaintance that first introduced him can testify as much. Towards the end of April he was on shipboard in the downs, as appears by his letter dated there. As to his arrival in spain his stay there and return for England I shall give you the Depositions of several Persons upon oath before a public Notary.  
Don Duarte sal, Michael Hore, and john Grace Merchants of Bilbao deposed how they knew very well Titus Ambrose alias Oats an Engishman, that he landed at Bilbao on the 16. of May 1677. stilonovo brought from London in the ship called the Merchant of Biscay Lucas Roach Master; he stayed there 10. days or there abouts; And thence went the nearest way to vagliadolid with Martin Lornitz Espinosa a Guide to the College of Saint Alban; where he continued as they understood, until he set out back for Bilbao; he arrived here the 3. of November following; he stayed in town about 8. days and was shipped upon the Merchant of Bilbao bound for Topsam in England. Martin de Lornitz Espinosa a guide dwelling at Bilbao deposed upon oath before a Notary that he knew Titus Ambrose as having conducted him on a Mule the right way from Bilbao to the college of S. Alban in vagliadolid where they arrived on the beginning of June 1677. Moreover that he is ascertaind how the said Titus was never 5. leagues out of vagliadolid until he returned for Bilbao for having occasion to travel frequently that way (as being a Guide much employed because he knew the french Language) as often as he passed he found him at vagliadolid. The foresaid depositions were taken on the second of januarie 1679. stilo novo at Bilbao before john Baptista de Asturiaca a public notary: the originals are kept at S. Omers together with an Authentical Attestation that the said john Baptista is the King's public Notary.  
That he went not to Madrid from the time of his arrival at the College of S. Alban in vagliadolid until his departure from the College is made out by the depositions upon oath of F. Manuel de Calatajud Rector and F. Domingo Rames Procurator of the said College as followeth: Titus Ambrose alias Oats departed from the College of S. Alban in vagliadolid for Bilbao on saturday 30. October 1677. he entered upon the ist of june about 4. or 5. in the afternoon in to the College; from the time of his entrance till the day of his expulsion he never lay one night out of the College which also appears, by the Books.  
That he went not to Madrid from the Day of his departure from the said College until his arrival at Bilbao upon return, is made out by the Depositions of john de Sandoval the Guide who furnished him with a Mule and accompanied him from vagliadolid to Bilbao: as followeth.  
On saturday the 30. October 1677. we departed from the College of vagliodolid and lodged that night at Torquemada ten leagues of; the next morning I told him I would hear Mass he said he would not hear. The next night we lodged at Burgos, and the morning after being the Feast of all saints we both heard Mass at the Dominicans, than we kept on our journey, and at noon arrived at a place called the White Inn having broke fast in the morning; he inquired of the host whether he might say Mass in the Chapel over the way, I asked him how he could say mass having broke his fast in the morning. He answered that's not great matter, I have several times said 3. or 4. Masses after breakfast. On the third of November about noon we arrived at Bilbao.  
The said depositions were made before Joseph Morales at vagliadolid the King's public Notary on the 20. of December 1678. The Originals with all the usual Formalities in such cases are kept at S. Omers.  
How after his arrival at Bilbao he never went out of the town before he was shipped for England is attested by Mr. Michael Hore Merchant of Bilbao.  
Titus Ambrose alias Oats arrived here with the Castilian Guide, who returned homewards the next day.  
Titus stayed here about 8. or 10. days during which time he never went from Bilbao but kept Company with the English in Town until he was shipped for England, which was in the Catch called the Bilbao Merchant Thomas Richard Master, bound for Exon, to which place I understood the vessel belongs. I hope this fully satisfies you that Oats was not at Madrid and therefore that he is perjured as to this point. Titus' Oats being expelled out of the College of Vagliadolid with a very bad character which will shortly be published in a larger treatise, & departed out of spain came to London in November 1677. And before the end of the same month prevailed with the Jesuits to be sent over to S. Omers. He departed November 26. sti: v: on a monday from London in a coach to Dover and arrived at S. Omers 10. of December st: no. Now he deposed upon Oath at the King's bench Bar Colemans' Trial pag: 18. How he brought a packet of Letters From Mr. Coleman delivered to him by Fenwick at London, which (saith he) I opened when I came to S. Omers. And some few lines after being asked by the Chief justice. Did you break it open? Oats. I was at the opening of it and saw it and read it. But this is a peccadillio not worth an animadversion. What is material, is, that in the Packet there was a letter of thanks to Father Lechese for the 10000 pounds given for the propagation of the Catholic Religion and it should be employed for no other intent, but for that for which it was sent; which was to cut of the King of England. pag. 19 Oates saith, I delivered this letter to Father Lechese his own hand. pag. 20. he spoke Latin to P. Lechese, which Lechese sends an Answer to this Letter. I brought it to Saint Omers and there it was enclosed in a letter from the Society to Coleman.  
It is not worth an observation that Oats spoke latin; an Jgnorant Dolt that could not speak six words nor write 3. lines of true latin; I must tell you the Character the spaniards gave of him: we have a mean opinion of the English Heretics since so ignorant and ridiculous an animal could gain esteem amongst them. This Letter mentioned in Col: Trial contained Treason of the highest degree. Oats received it at London from Fenwick, brought it to S. Omers where he was present at the opening and reading; he delivered it to Lechese his own hands and brought back his Answer to S. Omers. so that Oats after his arrival at S. Omers must have gone to Paris to deliver the Letter, and then returned back to S. Omer. But from his arrival at S. Omers which was the tenth day of December st: n: till the 23. of june st: no: on which day he departed for good and all he never lay out of S. Omers but one or two nights at Watten the jesuits Noviship 2. leagues distant; this is deposed upon Oath by 20. Persons before the Eschevins of the place, and an Authentical Testimony is extant of it. Are you satisfied now that Oats is perjured in another material point relating to this pretended conspiracy? I come now to the main body of the Plot. Colemans' Trial pag. 21. Mr. Oates speaks: In the month of Aplil saint: ve: in the month of may no: sti: there was a Consult held at London, it was begun at the white Horse Tavern, after they had consulted to send a Procurator to Rome they adjourned themselves to several clubs and meetings. They went on to these Resolves, that Pickering and Groves should continue in attempting to assassinate the king's Person; Groves was to have 1500.l. Pikering 30000. Masses.  
Colemans' Trial pag: 27. In the month of may last new stile April old stile. I think within a day after our Consult I was at Mr Langhornes Chamber: He had several Commissions which he called Patents; Amongst his Commissions I saw one from the General of the Society of jesus by virtue of a brief from the Pope by which he was enabled, for Coleman to be Secretary of state. justice's Wild▪  
What other Commissions were there in Mr. Langhornes Chamber? Oats Agreat many I cannot remember all there was a Commission for my Lord Arundel of Warder The Lord Powis and several others. Lord chief-Iustice. Ibid. p. 28. When did you see the Commissions? Oats. In the month of April old stile May new style. Lordchief justice: What time did you come over from S. Omers? Oats. In the month of April. Ibid. pag. 29. Oates speaks, Mr Langhorne I hear you have received the Commissions from Rome; He said, he had: shall I have the honour to see some of them; He said I might: he thought he might trust me, and so he might for that very day I gave him an account of the Consult.  
Most of the said particulars are mentioned likewise in Oats his depositions taken by order of the house of Commons. As the several Consults held at London in April and May at which he was present about assassinating the King's Person The Commissions of Military and Civil Offices, as also for the Bishoprics, seen by him in Mr Langhornes Chamber These are the two main branches of the Plot: Destroying the King Person and subverting the Covernment. How absurd and ridiculous this Fable is to a man of indifferent Capacity I leave to your Consideration, I have not leisure to make glosses. I must tell you in one word Oates came to S. Omers on y 10. December stilo novo 1677. and stayed there until 23. june 78. stilo novo all that Time he never lay out of the College but one or 2. nights at a place two leagues distant, there is an Authentical instrument upon that subject made by the Eschevins of the place, having examined 20. wittenesses upon Oath for that Purpose There are a hundred more ready to testify it in the same manner. How was Oats then at London present at the foresaid Consults, and saw the Commissions in a Chamber of the Inner Temple in April or May? Are you satisfied that he is perjured? He swore that he delivered a Commission to Sr. Francis Ratcliff in Wild garden the summer 1678. where as it was made out that Sr. Francis had not been in London within four years. He swore that Pierson my Lord Powis his Secretary in the month of june 78. received a Commission for his Lord in Wild street, and brought there in a Coach 300.l. in exchange for it, where as it can be proved by 500 witnesses that Mr Pierson was not in London nor within 80. miles of it from Aug: 9 1677. until October the 5. 1678. He swore that one Preston a married man of many years was a Priest, and how he had been several times at Confession with him: the Contrary was proved to his Face. My Lord chancellor can Authenticate it. He swore before the Lords that he could accuse no other member of their house nor any Person of Consideration out of their house; yet within few days after he swore in the same place that the Queen was deeply engaged in the Plot, my Lord Salisbury will justify it, who caused the journal to be inspected, and asked the opinion of the house whether the Queen was a Person of Consideration or no? I should allege his false accusations of Mr. Ireland for words and Actions done and spoke at London when it is deposed by many Honourable and worthy Persons that he was far distant from the place, which shall be made out with evidence in a treatise a part. All the other particulars are canvassed and found false in the same degree so that Oats had great reason to say Colemans' Trial 30. pag. Prisoners may supplant Evidence when they know it and bring Persons to such circumstances as time and Place. I hope you are fully satisfied that the Plot is a Diabolical Fiction of this Oats: that himself is a pure compound of Lies forgeries and Perjuryes. I hear there is a statue preparing for him as preserver of the Kingdom. I shall adorn it with an Epigraphe for his sake.  
Upon this fellows Testimony is grounded the whole Machine of the Plot, others are brought in as butteresses to support a weak foundation. Upon his single testimony the Lords and many Gentlemen of Quality and fortune besides Priests and divers others are committed to Prison and some of them, most barbarously treated. catholics houses are searched in all parts for arms and Priests; All Catholics in less than seven day's warning are banished out of London and Ten miles about. Others in the Country confined within five miles of their habitation; so many forced to take Oaths against their Conscience. The train band up in London, watch and ward through all the Kingdom. Many severe Bills prepared in Parliament against poor Papists. An universal consternation in all places. And what is beyond all admiration both houses of Parliament vote that there is a plot.  
Others I say are brought as Buttr●sses. In the first place comes in a second to Oats, a knight of the Post ready to swear what you please, one Bedloe a Fiddler's son. It's hard to give a Character of him in a short letter, he is well known over most parts of England, Low countries France and Spain for debaucheries cheats, robberies and Rogueries: Guzman and the english Rogue were mere novices to him; but it is no marvel for I am credibly informed by a Person of worth that he carries a familiar devil about, which he calls his Patrimony, and if he were well searched it might be found. He hath disgraced many honourable names in his Travels as Lord Cornwallis in France, and Lord Gerard (not him of Gerard's Bromley) in Spain, but all these are pardonable crimes. He cheated even his own Friend Titus' Oats alias Ambrose in Vagliadolid, yet Oates has sworn that he never saw Bedloe before: and brings it as a great proof of the truth that his Depositions should be confirmed by a mere stranger. I have in my Custody to attest it Titus his own Letter dated at Vagliadolid September. 3. 77. to Mr. Grace a Merchant. I am sorry for Mr. Franklin's misfortune by the pretended Lord Gerard, he should first have demanded of the said Lord three things, his Patent of honour, his licence under the great seal of England to travel, and Letters of Credit for his Reception. If the said person were my Lord Gerard, I assure you that he's an errand Rogue and is outlawed in England for a murder committed upon a boy whose neck he broke villainously & basely; Proclamations are out against him. His complice was tried for his life but was quitted, the fault lying on the said Lord Gerard as the sole Murderer: I have written against him to the Irish Archbishop and Father sweetmen a Jesuit that they may not countenance him, he stole ten pieces of 8. out of my Drawer being left alone in my Chamber, whilst I went to provide him somewhat to eat and drink. This is Oats his own Letter, I am not bound to correct some mistake that lies in it. Esquire Brandon Gerard is much obliged to Bedloe, and has expressed his Gratitude at a dead lift. When his Majesty with great indignation had refused to sign Bedloes pardon extended to a certain day, who more concerned in the Case then the Esquire? who more importune to press him too it, than he, and at last effected it? for your assurance that this Bedloe was the counterfeit Gerard I send you a copy of a letter from Mr. Hore Merchant of Bilbao to a friend at Madrid. December 12. 1678. The Original I have in my custody.  
El Diabolico Titus (Oats) may be proved a perjurer if he swore that he was at Madrid I writ a couple of lines to a friend in London to whom I sent the note Titus gave me for the 10. pieces of 8. I lent him; and by the way gave him to understand that one Williams of whom his letter to Mr. Grace makes mention, has presented himself Before the Parliament, declaring himself to have had a hand in Sr. Edmunbury Godfrey's death. I know the said Williams to be a knave and a highway Robber, and Titus Oats told me that he had stolen from him at Vagliadolid ten pieces of 8. This Williams was here with his brother, the one pretended himself to be the young Lord Gerard. and the other his Tutor, The one is a shoemaker the other a Carpenter: they have used many cheats and other mad pranks amongst our Merchants.  
This fellow is qualified to be a Witness in the case, he hath obtained an universal pardon under the great seal; but no act of Grace nor oblivion can cancel the memory of his misdemeanours. This man hath far more wit and confidence than Oats though he is only second and not principal in the Intrigue. He and Oates swore stoutly against Mr. Coleman, who took it vpon his salvation before and after sentence and at the Gallows, that he had never seen Oats before he was brought into trouble, nor Bedloe before the day of his Trial.  
A third Person brought on the stage is one Prans a silver smith, who hath sworn forward and backward several times in the Case: he is now for the Plot, but I presume when the next fit comes he will swear against it.  
Stephen Dugdale born of mean Parents in Darbyshire after some him spent in school was applied to the plough, but being found to have skill in Arithmetic, and a capacity for a better employment, he was entertained by the Lord Ashton for bailey. After some years spent in that service honestly as is supposed, he turned spendthrift by frequenting foot races, making matches abetting and losing often such considerable somms as once of three hundred pound, that to maintain his Credit he used to imbezel his Lord's money and play several other cheats, things well known and talked of in the neighbourhood before they were discovered by his Lord in October last, which was on this occasion. He had told his Lord that certain Tenants had not paid their Rent whereof one coming in the way was asked the Reason, who answered that is was paid long before; the Lord asked his Bailey: whether it were true, he stood upon the denial very confidently, until the Tenant was brought in place. Then he fell upon his knees begged his Lordship's pardon promising future amendment if he might keep his service, which was granted at the intercession of a Gentleman then in the house, provided he would procure out of hand the money for which he had sold two yoke of Oxen: this he undertaken to do and assured his Lord that within few days the buyer would bring it, but no money Coming he was asked who the buyer was; he said one of Newcastle, and how a certain man of Stafford was witness to the bargain. The Lord found upon enquiry at Stafford how the price of his Oxen had been disposed of to pay a debt of his Bailie. About the same time he sold of certain Runts unknown to his Lord, and kept the money. For these and many other cheating tricks notoriously known in the family and Country about tixal, he was turned out of service. Towards the end of November he was committed to the Jail of Stafford, where he took the Oaths, but being asked by two justices of Peace whether he knew any thing of the Plot. he answered that he knew nothing. Yet on the 23. December, having had notice of 200.l. and other advantages that were promised to any one that would make further discovery of the Plot, being now in a desper eaten condition and never like to get out of Prison by reason of his debts, laid hold on the proffer and feigned a false accusation. You see upon what account he is brought in shortly we expect to have his depositions published.  
I hope this short account will satisfy you that there is no plot; I have made use of one Topick only to defeat Oats his deposition, to wit, by making out that he and the Parties accused were far asunder at such times as he fixes the Treason to, which he laid to their charge.  
Yourself will reflect upon the Absurdityes and Improbabilityes in the whole subject of his deposition. As that Oates was a jesuit, a fellow unknown should be entrusted with secrets of most dangerous consequence, and then turned away disgracefully to betray them. To be called by a particular Patent to consults, to be empowered to open letters. That 40000. black Bills should be provided, and yet be in visible. That a General of a Religious Order should be empowered to dispose of all Offices Military and Civil in the Kingdom by comissions. That such honourable Persons of Estates and discretion should be so simple as to believe it, and stake both life and Fortune on such a mad cast, etc. All the whole Contrivance is a mere midsummer night's dream.  
But all this increases the difficulty of the second Quere, how the whole nation could be worked to such a temper as to belive it. This is soon answered if the time were seasonable: the success of a plot doth not so much depend upon the Composition as upon the management; There lies all the art and wit. Verbum sapienti satis. Adieu.  
FINIS.