The sensational story of the Popish Plot and how it shaped the political and religious future of Britain. In 1678 a handful of men claimed that the Catholics of England planned to assassinate the king. Men like the Reverend Doctor Titus Oates and Captain William Bedloe spread tales of Irish Ruffians, medical poisoners and silver bullets. They won public adulation and were even awarded government pensions.
But it was all a hoax
Political allies used this fabricated plot as a tool to undermine the ministry of Thomas Lord Danby. The result was the trial and execution of over a dozen innocent Catholics, and the imprisonment of many more, some of whom died in custody. (Intro taken from the sleeve of this new book)
The Popish Plot Hoax is a Yale publication 2022.
On 26 December 1679 the Domestic Intelligence No. 50 included this advertisement:
There is lately published a new Pack of Cards neatly cut in copper, in which are represented to the life the several consults for killing the King and extirpating the Protestant Religion, the manner of the murthering Sir Edmondbury Godfrey, the Tryals and Executions of the Conspirators, and all other material designs relating to the contrivance and management of the said horrid Popish Plot, with their attempt to throw it on the Protestants. These have something more than the first have, and yet nothing left out that was in them nor any old impertinent things added. Printed and sold by Robert Walton at the Globe, on the north side of St Paul's Churchyard, near the west end, were you may have them in sheets fit to adorn studies and houses.
The famous Popish plot to murder Charles II had been disclosed to the King, his council and parliament in 1678, but the public had little knowledge of it. The official newspaper, the London Gazette, had ignored the Plot, and citizens had only royal proclamations against Roman catholics and execution notices to go on, together with the fact that 2,500 militia men patrolled the city during the mysterious crisis. During winter 1678 to 1679 they became hysterical about the conspiracies which they suspected were going on, and it was not until the expiring of the Press Licensing Act in May 1679 that other newspapers, like the Domestic Intelligence, could appear.
This pack is a particularly good example of cashing in on a bewildered public as they not only offered them a clarification of what had been going on but also exploited the popular feelings of panic and patriotism which arose from those events. (taken from a Handful of History by J.R.S Whiting - this is another excellent publication from 1978 which details several events around several sets of English Illustrated playing cards).
Titus Oates shares information with the King regarding various plots to assassinate him. On 6 September 1678 Titus Oates takes his list of articles and evidence to a leading city magistrate, Sir Edmund Berry Godfrey and swears to the truth of them. On September 27 & 28 he saw Godfrey again to swear to a full set of 81 articles which he had then compiled. On Saturday 12 October 1678 Godfrey left his home and went to his death, but who were his murderers ?
Miles Prance & Bedloe see the body of Godfrey in a room at Somerset house but later tit was moved to the foot of Primrose Hill. 5 named Jesuits based on perjured evidence from informers leads to their execution
Many so called conspirators were rounded up and imprisoned, ultimately 13 were executed for their so called involvement. This included one time secretary to the Duke of York (the Kings brother) and subsequent secretary to the Duchess became a key figure in interrogations. He was a man of some administrative ability, but no common sense. His great personal charm was offset by his excessive piety and narrow Catholic outlook. He was to refute Oates evidence but Oates got the better of him and Lord Chief Justice Scroggs soon found him guilty of the charges against him.
J Whiting describes the 'Revolution pack' as the second in a series of packs illustrated by Francis Barlow covering events, prior to, during and post the Reign of James II. This set published c.1689 is particularly rare and only a couple of complete sets are known to exist, one being held by the British Museum.
In summary, the events of the 'Glorius Revolution' of 1688 are as follows: at the end of June 1688, seven leading statesmen invited William of Orange, the effective ruler of Holland, to come to Britain with an army "to rescue the nation and the religion" from the catholic rule of James II. What finally goaded the statesmen to commit high treason was the recent birth of James's son and heir, whom they feared would be raised as a Catholic. William was chosen to save the nation because he was a Protestant and was married to James's eldest daughter Mary. He readily accepted the invitation for, as champion of the Protestants in Europe and principal opponent of Louis XIV of France, he was keen to add England's wealth to his own resources.
On the 1 November 1688 William left the Netherlands and sailed down the English Channel, landing at Brigham on 5 November. His reception was cool, although not hostile, but as he marched towards London, his ranks grew and support for James melted away. Before the end of the year, William was in London and James was in exile in France.
After the Revolution, parliament agreed to settle the throne jointly on William and Mary and grant executive power to William. The two monarchs also accepted the Declaration of Rights, which was embodied later in the Bill of Rights. The principal terms of this keystone of the British Constitution were that no Catholic could become king or queen; taxes were not to be raised without the consent of Parliament; and no laws were to be dispensed with without Parliamentary approval.
William and Mary ruled jointly until the death of Mary in 1694, after which date William ruled by himself until his death in 1702. William's main aim throughout his life was to contain French expansion in Europe.
Queen Anne was to succeed her brother-in-law, William of Orange, in 1702.
A few more cards from this fascinating deck are shown below..
J.R.S Whiting, A handful of History published by Alan Sutton in 1978.
It was on the 25 October 1760 that King George II rose from his bed at Kensington Palace, retired to his closet for the usual purposes and dropped dead. A new reign had begun. George III born 24 May 1738 at the age of 22 years was proclaimed King on 26 October 1760. Unlike his father and grandfather George III was not a foreigner. In George III's first speech to Parliament, he said "born and educated in this country, I glory in the name of Britain". The last monarch who could claim this was Queen Anne, born almost a century before in 1665. The new king was young and personable but also unmarried so the search began to find him a wife amongst the protestant princesses of Europe.
King George's eventual choice was the exceedingly obscure Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, a small duchy just south of Germany's Baltic coast. Arranged marriages were still largely the norm amongst upper class of society, where family alliances and the inheritance of land remained predominating factors, though royalty alone had rarely met their intended partners before. Arrangements for marriage were hastened as George's desire was to have his bride by his side at his Coronation, which was to take place on 22 September 1761. The young Princess Charlotte, was only seventeen arrived in Harwich on the 7 September and made London the next day.
The King's marriage and Coronation set the seal on the new reign. At the personal and domestic level this flourished. The Queen was soon accepted by her new country. In her honour, London was to boast a Mecklenburgh Square, English kitchens created the Apple Charlotte and the world of botany named the striking southern African bloom the Strelitzia. The marriage itself was very fruitful and the family grew and grew and grew.....
A son and heir, the future George IV, was born on 12 August 1762 and created Prince of Wales a week later. Eight more sons and six daughters followed at almost yearly intervals until the last, Princess Amelia, was born in 1783. All of whom with the exception of Octavious and Alfred survived to reach adult hood.
It was very exciting to discover a number of early playing cards with courts depicting members of King George's family. So far I have been unable to find any reference or examples of similar cards, so these can be described as rare. Unfortunately, I only have 8 of the courts and can only speculate as to the names of the missing family members.
First up is the King Spades - Prince of Wales. Born 1762 Who became Prince Regent on the 5 February 1811 due to the incapacity of his Father and then became King George IV on the death of his father in 1820. Died 1830.
Charlotte, Princes Royal and later Queen of Wurttemberg. Charlotte, the oldest daughter and fourth child of King George II was born on 29 September 1766. Died 1828. Charlotte was quite a clumsy girl, not as good looking as her sisters, ill-dressed, shy and lacking in confidence, though inclined to be managing by nature. An unhappy Princess in her early years, she felt particularly unloved by her m
Prince Edward born 2 November 1767 and baptised Edward Augustus. Died 1820. In 1785 Edward then 18 years old was sent too Hanover to train in the army and to study. With the exception of the Prince of Wales all the adult brothers were to spend many years abroad away from England. Edward did not live in England again for 13 years returning, only once without permission, in 1790 , when he saw the Ki
Princess Elizabeth was born at Buckingham House, London 22 May 1770 - Died 1840. Princesses Royal, Augusta and Elizabeth were treated as the senior princesses and lived separately from their younger sisters Mary & Sophia.Elizabeth whilst living a somewhat sheltered and protected life in her early years it is rumoured she enjoyed secret affairs and had more than one pregnancy before finally finding
Princess Sophia was born at Buckingham House London, 3 November 1777. Died 1848. Sophie was generally considered a delightful though moody girl, pretty, delicate and passionate, as devoted as her sisters to her father, exasperating as she found him at times. It seems that she gave birth in secret at Wetymouth when she was 22. It is rumoured that the father could have been her dreadful brother the