" He also became
aware that the dreadful fire had been managed by Strange, the
provincial of the Jesuits, who employed eighty-six men in
distributing seven hundred fire-balls to destroy the city; and
that notwithstanding his vast expenses, he gained fourteen
thousand pounds by plunder carried on during the general
confusion, a box of jewels, consisting of a thousand carat weight
of diamonds, being included in the robbery.
The document containing these remarkable statements was finished
in August, 1678. It now remained to have it brought before the
king or the council. Tonge was resolved this should he done in a
manner best calculated to heighten the effect of their narrative;
at the same time he was careful to guard the fact that he and
Oates had an intimate knowledge of each other. Not knowing any
one of interest at court, he sought out Christopher Kirby, a man
employed in the king's laboratory, of whom he had some slight
knowledge, and, pledging him to the strictest secrecy, showed him
the "Narrative of the Horrid Plot," and besought his help in
bringing it under the notice of his majesty in as private a
manner as possible.
This aid was freely promised; and next day, the date being the
13th of August, when the monarch was about to take his usual
airing in the park, Kirby drew near, and in a mysterious tone
bade his majesty take care, for his enemies had a design against
his life, which might be put into execution at any moment.
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