"
As my Lord Shaftesbury had not yet succeeded in his desired
project of excluding the Duke of York from succession, the
symptoms of change in public opinion were thoroughly distasteful
to him. He therefore resolved to check them immediately, and
stimulate the agitation and fear that had for many months reigned
paramount through out the nation. For this purpose he had
recourse to his former method of circulating wild and baseless
reports. Accordingly a rumour was soon brought before the House
of Commons of a horrible plot hatched by the papists to burn
London to the ground. This, it was alleged, would be effected by
a servant-maid setting a clothes-press on fire in the house of
her master, situated in Fetter Lane. Two vile Irishmen were to
feed the flames, and meanwhile the catholics would rise in
rebellion, and, assisted by an army of sixty thousand French
soldiers, kill the king, and put all protestants to the sword.
Though this tale was in due time discredited, yet it served its
purpose in the present. The violent alarm it caused had not
subsided when another terrible story, started on the excellent
authority of Lord Shaftesbury's cook, added a new terror. This
stated the Duke of York had placed himself at the head of the
French troops, with intention of landing in England, murdering
the king and forcing papacy on his subjects. The scare was
sufficiently effectual to cause Parliament to petition his
majesty that he might revoke all licenses recently granted
catholic householders to reside in the capital; and order the
execution of all priests who administered sacraments or
celebrated mass within the kingdom.
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