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his neck". Whether this was his own notion, or whether it was suggested to him by someone else, is unclear. Colman's papers were found, some of recent date in paper bags; incriminating letters of earlier years were in a deal box, slightly nailed down. The
Government expressed its surprise that after several days warning Colman should have made so little effort to hide them properly: a new pavement had recently been laid in the house, though it is not clear if it was intended as a hiding place. Inexplicably, Colman continued to deny having written the letters for several weeks after they were discovered. It is possible, as Kenyon suggests, that after a lapse of four or five years he had actually forgotten writing them, or perhaps he did not yet realise the danger they put him in. The letters were carried off, but Colman's wife declared him to be absent, and to the Government's later embarrassment she persuaded the searchers to let her keep several bundles of letters which she claimed were personal. His sister removed a trunk full of documents from his house a week later, rousing further suspicions about what incriminating evidence her brother was concealing.
509:, (unfortunately for Colman the Government knew that he had corresponded with Oliva as well as with the French Court). In cross-examination, Oates shuffled and excused himself. In particular, he could not explain to the Court's satisfaction why he had failed to recognise Colman at the crucial Council meeting of 30 September: the judges were not impressed with his pleas that it had been late and he was tired. Bedloe was examined concerning the packets of letters from Colman to Father La Chaise in 1675, which Colman admitted to sending, and the money which Colman had received from the French Government to bribe members of Parliament; again, Colman admitted receiving the money, but insisted that he had simply pocketed it. Bedloe, there as at later trials, made a very poor impression. Scroggs, who could never resist the urge to bully a witness, even one appearing for the Crown, gave both Oates and Bedloe a most unpleasant time in the witness box, but, mindful of the need to secure a conviction, did not go so far as to accuse them of
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in his defence could have pleaded that he had acted throughout the exchange of correspondence on the Duke's express orders. He was clearly tempted to do so, but at the last moment he seems to have suffered from a fatal hesitation (perhaps he still hoped for a pardon), and took refuge in evasion and ambiguous remarks such as "I might possibly make use of the Duke's name; it is possible, they say I did it". Scroggs, not unreasonably, said: "you have such a swimming way of melting words that it is a troublesome thing for a man to collect matter out of them".
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decided to make an example of Colman, in order to reassure the public that the Crown would allow the law to take its course even against Court officials, and that he was happy to sacrifice a man whom he had always distrusted. By 10 November Colman, having been shown the allegedly treasonable letters, at last admitted to having written them. The strange optimism (Kenyon attributes it to a natural levity of mind) which he had shown up to then finally deserted him: he predicted correctly to the
323:, Louis' Foreign Minister, who put no faith in Colman, Throckmorton or indeed King Charles II, whom he did not even think worth the trouble of bribing. Louis evidently shared this view: as Throckmorton admitted "he (Louis) hath so mean an opinion of King Charles and all his partners, he scarce thinks anything we do worth money". Colman succeeded later in obtaining £3500 from three successive French ambassadors, whom he supplied with information on the proceedings of Parliament.
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283:, although his belief that a new Parliament would be disposed to repeal the Test Act was shared by no one else. His intrigues were so ill-judged that they led to the Cavalier Parliament in its final session passing a second and more stringent Test Act, while the next Parliament, elected after Colman's death was, quite contrary to his predictions, even more hostile to Catholicism than its predecessor.
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had some difficulty in explaining why he, as opposed to the leading Jesuit fathers, was on trial at all. On 10 November Colman was offered a pardon if he made a full confession; he was warned that if found guilty he would suffer in its full horror the gruesome death prescribed for convicted traitors. Colman refused to confess, and preparations were made to try him as quickly as possible.
420:, in the presence of Oates, who was unable to recognise him. He made so "voluble and fair a defence", urging his voluntary appearance as proof of his "innocence of these vile things", that the Council, exhausted by the long day's proceedings, decided not to order his arrest. He was only committed to the care of a messenger, and his papers were not searched carefully till a week later.
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his solemn declarations of innocence: 'Mr. Colman, your own papers are enough to condemn you'. The next morning a sentence of death and confiscation of property was pronounced, and on
Tuesday, 3 December, he was executed, avowing his faith and declaring his innocence. Some onlookers thought that he was hoping for a reprieve, even at the very end, but it did not come.
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religion, and chiefly to cut off the King of
England. Then followed details of the narrative according to Oates of 'consults' with the Jesuits in May 1678. Arrangements had been made to assassinate the King. 'This resolve of the Jesuits was communicated to Mr. Colman in my hearing at Wild House (i.e. the Spanish
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There was no proof of any conspiracy by Colman in a plot for the assassination of, or a rebellion against
Charles II except the perjured testimony of Oates and Bedloe. Nonetheless the jury, following the unmistakable instructions from Scroggs in his summing up, found Colman guilty. Scroggs replied to
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who had allegedly vowed to kill the King (in fact the threat seems to have been simply a foolish remark spoken in drink). Staley was executed on 26 November 1678, but clearly, the death of an unknown
Catholic layman would not be enough to appease public anger: indeed at Staley's trial the prosecution
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had undertaken on behalf of a foreign power to alter the
Government of England, while they were naturally irritated by the unflattering portraits Colman had given Louis XIV of themselves. The legal advice to the Crown was that some of the letters were clearly treasonable. Kenyon argues that the King
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carried the warrant to apprehend Colman and search for his papers. Oates, in what seems to have been an inspired piece of guesswork, had already suggested that if Colman's letters were opened, in particular his letters to Father La Chaise, they would contain treasonable matter, "which might cost him
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in the spring of 1675: this, following
Ferrier's death the previous winter, deprived Colman of his most useful contacts at the French Court. He was still in touch with Father Saint-Germain, but this connection did him nothing but harm, as Saint-Germain, who had been forced to flee from England after
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in the same year, barring
Catholics from public office, has been described as a shattering blow to his hopes of an important political career, and condemned him to a life of "backstairs intrigue", unless he could get the Act repealed. This explains his repeated efforts to obtain a dissolution of the
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To spare the Duke of York any embarrassment, the prosecution did not tell the jury that Colman had ever been in his employment, instead referring vaguely to Colman holding an unspecified public office (although they can scarcely have believed that the jury were unaware of his true position). Colman
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laid great stress on them; they did prove the strong desire of Colman for the dissolution of parliament. He plainly had advocated foreign bribery of the king to insure such a dissolution, and used some strong phrases as to the
Catholic hopes of suppressing heresy. Kenyon argues that a case may be
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on 28 September 1678. Oates did not know Colman personally: this caused him some awkward moments at Colman's trial, where he had great difficulty in explaining his failure to recognise him at the subsequent
Council meeting of 30 September. Oates however had evidently learnt enough about Colman to
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Colman declared that he had not continued the correspondence beyond 1674. Oates swore that he had carried a treasonable letter from Colman to the rector of St. Omer, containing a sealed answer to Father La Chaise, with thanks for the ten thousand pounds given for the propagation of the Catholic
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notes that the King himself had on several occasions urged his brother to dismiss him. Edward continued with unofficial duties for James and he may have disbursed bribes to MPs on behalf of the French ambassador. In the summer of 1678 he clashed with the vehemently anti-Catholic Welsh landowner
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there for a scheme for increased tolerance for English Catholics, but nothing came of it. He also visited Paris without an official pass, which was later used in evidence against him at his trial in 1678. Subsequently, he was in contact with highly placed Catholics in France. Through an English
235:, who knew him well, called him "a man who must run himself into the briars". He was married: his wife was known to be a woman of great charm, but little else seems to be recorded of her. In appearance he was strikingly pale and emaciated, due it was said to his practice of regular
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and three junior judges. Scroggs was a firm believer in the Popish Plot, and although he assured Colman that he would receive a fair trial- "we seek no man's blood, but only our own safety"- there is no doubt that he was determined to secure a conviction by any means necessary.
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realise that he was vulnerable to attack, due to his intrigues with the French Court, futile though they were. According to Oates, Colman would become secretary of state on the death of Charles. It later emerged that the magistrate, Sir
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456:. The Government decided that to appease the public's desire for blood, it was vital that a few of the suspected plotters be sacrificed as quickly as possible. The first victim of the plot was William Staley, a young Catholic
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375:(the dismissal was in fact the result of a local feud in Monmouthshire). The duel never took place. Arnold was no doubt delighted by Colman's ruin and death, but does not seem to have played any part in his downfall.
501:, to poison the king; instructions had been seen and read by Colman, copied out by him and sent to other conspirators. Colman had been appointed a principal secretary of state by commission from Father D'Oliva (
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viewed Colman as a dangerous influence on James, a view shared by the King. Danby had him dismissed in 1676 after Colman was caught leaking naval intelligence in a newsletter; according to both to the
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Parliament had reassembled on 21 October, in an atmosphere of unprecedented hysteria about the Plot. Ominously for Colman, the simple cry of "Colman's letters!" was enough to cause uproar in the
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392:, had contacted Colman, who was a friend of his, shortly after the meeting and the following day Colman's house was searched; letters covering his dealings with France were uncovered.
231:, converted to Roman Catholicism in the early 1660s. He has been described as a man of considerable charm and ability, but lacking in common sense or political realism. Sir
431:. Even careful scrutiny of his letters revealed nothing directly pertaining to Oates' allegations, but the Government was horrified at the manner in which a minor
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The warrant for his apprehension was sent out on Sunday night, 29 September. At the suggestion of Danby, Colman's papers were to be searched for thoroughly.
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allegedly threatening the life of a former Catholic priest called de Luzancy, was regarded as even more unstable and fanatical than Colman himself.
319:, offering his assistance to prevent a rupture between England and France. These attempts failed to procure money, due mainly to the scepticism of
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513:. In his summing up he referred briefly to their evidence ("you have heard it") but made no comment, one way or the other, on their veracity
259:. He was a charismatic advocate of the Catholic cause and is credited with several high-profile conversions, including possibly the future
263:, although the details of that conversion are shrouded in mystery, due to the King's insistence on secrecy. It was more likely the Jesuit
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Parliament. When money was eventually secured by Charles, it was not through any of Colman's efforts. Throckmorton had been killed in a
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The finding of the letters having been certified, and the handwriting identified as Colman's, they were put in evidence, and the
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Colman acted independently of Charles II in trying to obtain French financial assistance to reduce the King's dependence on the
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in London)' said Oates. Then Oates told of a consultation in August at the Savoy, with Colman present, arranging to poison the
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that "I have confessed to that which will destroy me" (although many believed that he continued to hope in vain for a
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Andrew Barclay, 'Colman , Edward (1636–1678)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004
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revived the flagging investigation. On 16 October Colman was removed from the messenger's care and committed to
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Colman was targeted by Oates when the latter presented his fantasy, the Popish Plot, before the King and the
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who received James into the Catholic Church. In 1673 James appointed Colman secretary to his wife,
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On Monday morning he came forward voluntarily, and offered himself to the Secretary of State,
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made for his guilt, noting similarities between Colman's case and that of
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A gold signet ring, believed to be Colman's, was found on the banks of
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163:(17 May 1636 – 3 December 1678) was an English Catholic courtier under
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People executed by Stuart England by hanging, drawing and quartering
829: This article incorporates text from a publication now in the
806: This article incorporates text from a publication now in the
227:, receiving an MA in 1659. Colman, who had been reared as a strict
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Thomas Colman and his wife Margaret Wilson; he was a cousin of the
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The informers seemed about to lose credit when the death of Sir
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and to rise in rebellion. Four Irish ruffians had been sent to
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and recent research, the dismissal was at the prompting of the
307:. In 1675 he offered his services in favour of Catholicism to
468:, and the trial took place on Wednesday, the 27th, at the
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On Saturday, 23 November 1678, Colman was arraigned for
641:. Reissue of the 1984 Pelican paperback. Phoenix Press.
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52:"Coleman examined in Newgate by several Lords".
171:on a treason charge, having been implicated by
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859:, The Historical Journal (1999), 42:109–131
845:. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
729:. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
595:"Bl. Edward Coleman - Saints & Angels"
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785:"Treasure hunter strikes historic gold".
290:in the hope of gaining support from the
653:"Catholic Encyclopedia: Edward Coleman"
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295:Catholic army officer stationed in
27:English Catholic courtier and martyr
472:bar, before the Lord Chief Justice
812:Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "
321:Simon Arnauld, Marquis de Pomponne
221:Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon
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532:, executed for treason by act of
842:Dictionary of National Biography
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726:Dictionary of National Biography
720:"Coleman, Edward (d.1678)"
347:Dictionary of National Biography
315:to Charles II's sister-in-law
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895:Converts to Roman Catholicism
342:Thomas Osborne, Earl of Danby
915:People from Babergh District
880:Executed people from Suffolk
365:John Arnold of Monmouthshire
207:, Suffolk, son of the local
624:A Cambridge Alumni Database
620:"Colman, Edward (CLMN651E)"
505:), Superior General of the
444:right up to the very end).
169:hanged, drawn and quartered
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885:Victims of the Popish Plot
626:. University of Cambridge.
557:in 2017 by a detectorist.
367:, who challenged him to a
225:Trinity College, Cambridge
857:The Rise of Edward Colman
251:In June 1661 he became a
89:3 December 1678 (aged 42)
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900:English beatified people
837:Coleman, Edward (d.1678)
637:Kenyon, J. P. (2000) .
18:Edward Coleman (martyr)
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56:playing card drawn by
819:Catholic Encyclopedia
658:Catholic Encyclopedia
540:Verdict and execution
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497:, physician to Queen
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309:François de la Chaise
165:Charles II of England
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110:Roman Catholic Church
503:Giovanni Paolo Oliva
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390:Edmund Berry Godfrey
373:justice of the peace
121:15 December 1929 by
339:Lord High Treasurer
281:Cavalier Parliament
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253:gentleman pensioner
183:. He is a Catholic
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604:25 December
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358:, although
286:He visited
181:Popish Plot
173:Titus Oates
146:Popish Plot
73:17 May 1636
54:Popish Plot
869:Categories
663:New Advent
561:References
257:Charles II
134:3 December
787:The Times
669:3 January
536:in 1640.
534:attainder
313:confessor
305:Louis XIV
301:confessor
213:Salisbury
195:in 1929.
189:beatified
167:. He was
152:, c. 1679
117:Beatified
288:Brussels
276:Test Act
261:James II
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699:Kenyon
665:. 2012
511:perjury
491:Windsor
483:Embassy
241:periwig
237:fasting
229:Puritan
175:in his
161:Coleman
100:England
80:Suffolk
36:Blessed
458:banker
442:pardon
396:Arrest
247:Career
185:martyr
96:London
92:Tyburn
65:Layman
448:Trial
297:Paris
209:vicar
130:Feast
703:p.84
671:2015
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