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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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Popish Plot
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(1678) Fictitious Jesuit plot to murder *Charles II and place *James II on the throne. Its existence was dreamt up by Titus Oates (1648–1705), a failed Anglican clergyman who had also partly trained as a Catholic priest in Spain and France. His experience gave his story just enough authentic detail for it to be believed in an age when religion was the tinderbox of politics. He was treated with high honour as the saviour of the nation and given a pension. His false accusations sent some 35 people to their deaths before the deception was realized. Convicted of perjury in 1685, his own punishment was only flogging and imprisonment.
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