Popish Plot

1678. Supposed conspiracy by Catholic conspirators to kill Charles II and replace him by his Catholic brother, James, Duke of York.

Two informers, Titus Oates and Israel (or Ezerel) Tonge, claimed that there was a Jesuit conspiracy to assassinate the king. Their more and more elaborate accusations resulted in an anti-Catholic frenzy, in which 24 Catholics were executed for alleged treason and several others died in prison.