Titus Oates and the Popish Plot to Kill King Charles II

Titus Oates, architect of the false Popish Plot, embodies deceit, ambition, and turmoil in Restoration England.

Reviled by his contemporaries and historians alike, ’the monstrous Titus Oates’ masterminded the fabricated Popish Plot of 1678–1681, a conspiracy that led to the wrongful execution of 27 Catholics. His story is one of staggering ambition, lies, and betrayal. Yet Oates’ life also opens a window into an age of religious tension, political intrigue, and moral complexity. Was he truly ’the vilest liar in the world,’ or has his story been shaped by the biases of his time?

Drawing on a wealth of contemporary sources, from state papers to private letters and trial records, Jonathan Oates untangles fact from fiction, uncovering the truth about Oates’ character, his actions, and his legacy. By exploring his life in its full context, the author reveals a fascinating portrait of a man who played a pivotal role in shaping the political landscape of Britain.

The Catholic Conspiracy to Kill King Charles II is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the turbulent world of Restoration England, and the shadow cast by one of its most controversial figures.