CHARLES II. 295

this intelligence was conveyed to the Icing, hereplied , that the pacquet mentioned had a fewhours before been brought to the duke by Ben-nifield ; who said, that he suspected some baddesign upon him, that the letters seemed to con-tain matters of a dangerous import, and that heknew them not to be the hand-writing of thepersons whose names were subscribed to them.This incident still farther confirmed the king inhis incredulity.

The matter had probably steeped for ever, hadit not been for the anxiety of the duke ; who,hearing that priests and jesuits and even his ownconfessor had been accused, was desirous, that athorough inquiry should be made by the councilinto the pretended conspiracy. Kirby and Tonguewere inquired aster, and were now found tobe living in close connexion with Titus Oates,the person who was said to have conveyed thefirst intelligence to Tongue. Oates affirmed,that he had fallen under suspicion with the Jesuits;that he had received three blows with a stick,and a box on the ear from the provincial of thatorder, for revealing their conspiracy; And that,over-hearing them speak of their intentions topunish him more severely he had withdrawn ,and concealed himself. This man , in whosebreast was lodged a secret, involving the fate ofkings and kingdoms, was allowed to remain insuch necessity, that Kirby was obliged to supplyhim with daily bread ; and it was a joyful sur-prise to him, when he heard, that the council

V 3

CHAP.

LXVII.

ifirr.