"
Concerning those through whose malice such disturbance was
wrought, and so much blood shed, a few words may be added.
Within twelve months of Lord Stafford's execution, Shaftesbury
was charged with high treason, but escaping condemnation, fled
from further molestation to Holland, where, after a residence of
six weeks, he died. Tonge departed this life in 1680,
unbenefited by the monstrous plot he had so skilfully devised;
and in the same year Bedlow was carried to the grave after an
illness of four days. Oates survived to meet a share of the
ignominy and punishment due to his crimes. After a residence of
three years in Whitehall, he was driven out of the palace on
account of "certain misdemeanors laid to his charge," and
deprived of his salary. Two years later, in May, 1683, he was
accused of calling the Duke of York a traitor, and using
scandalous words towards his royal highness. Upon hearing of the
case the jury fined him one hundred thousand pounds. Unable to
pay the sum, he was cast into prison, where he remained six
years, until liberated in the reign of William and Mary, His
punishment was not, however, at an end. At the Michaelmas term
of 1684 he was accused of having wilfully perjured himself at the
late trials. As he pleaded not guilty, his case was appointed to
be heard at the King's Bench Court. His trial did not take place
until May, 1685, on which occasion the lord chief justice, in
summing up the evidence, declared, "There does not remain the
slightest doubt that Oates is the blackest and most perjured
villain on the face of the earth.
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