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Traitor to the Crown: The Untold Story of the Popish Plot and the Consipiracy Against Samuel Pepys
“The meticulousness of the Longs’ research is awesome” in this historical account of the plot to brand a British naval official as a Catholic traitor (The Guardian). 1679, Fear of conspiracy and religious terrorism have provoked panic in politicians and a zealous reaction from the legal system. Everywhere, or so it is feared, Catholic agents are plotting to overthrow the King. Samuel Pepys, Secretary of the Admiralty, finds himself charged with treason and facing a show trial and execution. Imprisoned in the Tower of London, Pepys sets to work investigating his mysterious accuser, Colonel John Scott, and uncovers a life riddled with ambition, forgery, treason and—ultimately—murder. Using rare access to Pepys’ account of the affair, James Long and Ben Long brilliantly evoke a turbulent period in England’s history—and tell the forgotten story of the two most dangerous years in the life of the legendary diarist. “As gripping as any thriller.” —The Times (London) “I couldn’t put it down, and there aren’t many books on the seventeenth century you can say that about.” —History Today
441 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 3, 2008
52 people are currently reading
147 people want to read
About the author
James Long
53 books54 followersAka Will Davenport
James Long was a BBC TV news correspondent until the end of the 1980s. After two years starting and running an international TV station out of Zurich, he returned to England to concentrate on writing, which had always been his first love. He wrote four thrillers, then went back to a story he had begun many years earlier and which grew into Ferney. The book was originally born from his disappointment at being unable to buy a derelict cottage he had found near the village of Penselwood and that house became the centre of the story. Many more novels followed, including two written under the pseudonym 'Will Davenport.' He moved into historical non-fiction in 2007 with The Plot against Pepys, co-written with his oldest son, Ben. Since then, he has co-written a play with his middle son, Harry. He lives with his wife, Annie and daughter Matilda in Totnes, Devon. His interests range from archaeology to motor racing. He is actively involved in the creative writing charity, the Arvon Foundation and tutors from time to time on Arvon courses. He is also a patron and adviser to the Dartington Literary Festival, 'Ways with Words.'
James Long was a BBC TV news correspondent until the end of the 1980s. After two years starting and running an international TV station out of Zurich, he returned to England to concentrate on writing, which had always been his first love. He wrote four thrillers, then went back to a story he had begun many years earlier and which grew into Ferney. The book was originally born from his disappointment at being unable to buy a derelict cottage he had found near the village of Penselwood and that house became the centre of the story. Many more novels followed, including two written under the pseudonym 'Will Davenport.' He moved into historical non-fiction in 2007 with The Plot against Pepys, co-written with his oldest son, Ben. Since then, he has co-written a play with his middle son, Harry. He lives with his wife, Annie and daughter Matilda in Totnes, Devon. His interests range from archaeology to motor racing. He is actively involved in the creative writing charity, the Arvon Foundation and tutors from time to time on Arvon courses. He is also a patron and adviser to the Dartington Literary Festival, 'Ways with Words.'
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
November 5, 2012
Sold as a spy story, but more a political intrigue and crime story. Occurs later in Pepys life from his famous diaries. really gets under the skin of the genuine Catholic vs Protestant fear of that time.
Really well written, excellent research. I read it not long after a book on The Great Fire of a decade previous to this story and it's interesting to see how heroes can become villains and vice versa.
Really well written, excellent research. I read it not long after a book on The Great Fire of a decade previous to this story and it's interesting to see how heroes can become villains and vice versa.
Read
May 21, 2009Long, tortuous tale of Pepys being caught up in the hysteria of the Popish plot and spending time in the tower of London. His nemesis was Colonel John Scott, liar and con man. The twists and turns in this man's life are dealt with in much detail. Could have been a hundred pages shorter.
February 5, 2014
Very good biography about a very interesting time in English history. Learned a lot.
October 21, 2017
Most impressed . Pepys's diaries have been such a major historical source that his life after their life span get overlooked. A major 'life event' occurred on 20th May 1679 when one Colonel John Scott accused Pepys and a fellow MP Sir Anthony Deane-at the bar of the House of Commons- of being spies for Louis XIV and Roman Catholic traitors.
Scott claimed, whilst in France, to have been present in 1675 at the house of the French Treasurer , and seen papers with crucial details of British naval ships, the fighting instructions of the navy, along with several maps of the English coastline, and a letter signed 'Samuel Pepys' . As Pepys was Secretary of the Admiralty he would of course have access to such crucial information, and had in fact visited France in 1675. Pepys was also accused by another witness of piracy, a former servant also accused Pepys of having a Portuguese Roman Catholic man staying with him, who was also a potential assassin.
Essentially a group of Whig Protestants were trying to do all they could to get Pepys convicted of Treason. And the book sets against the charges he faced against the background of the notorious 'Popish Plot' . A loyal clerk who served Pepys, Samuel Atkins, had already been tried, and found not guilty of 'Murder' of Edmund Berry Godfrey, whose death had let to the discovery of the 'Popish Plot'.
The book shows how at the time of anti-Catholic hostility, a Protestant who served under the Catholic James Duke of York, could generate enough hostility to face some quite frightful charges.
The life of John Scott is unravelled, the fantasies, obsessions, delusions. and forgeries. The focus of the book takes in the american colonies, West Indies, France, and Holland , as well as the complex power politics of the English Court and seething religious sectarianism of the time.
I thought that this book was excellent, But not for a casual read....it is a complicated tale indeed.
Scott claimed, whilst in France, to have been present in 1675 at the house of the French Treasurer , and seen papers with crucial details of British naval ships, the fighting instructions of the navy, along with several maps of the English coastline, and a letter signed 'Samuel Pepys' . As Pepys was Secretary of the Admiralty he would of course have access to such crucial information, and had in fact visited France in 1675. Pepys was also accused by another witness of piracy, a former servant also accused Pepys of having a Portuguese Roman Catholic man staying with him, who was also a potential assassin.
Essentially a group of Whig Protestants were trying to do all they could to get Pepys convicted of Treason. And the book sets against the charges he faced against the background of the notorious 'Popish Plot' . A loyal clerk who served Pepys, Samuel Atkins, had already been tried, and found not guilty of 'Murder' of Edmund Berry Godfrey, whose death had let to the discovery of the 'Popish Plot'.
The book shows how at the time of anti-Catholic hostility, a Protestant who served under the Catholic James Duke of York, could generate enough hostility to face some quite frightful charges.
The life of John Scott is unravelled, the fantasies, obsessions, delusions. and forgeries. The focus of the book takes in the american colonies, West Indies, France, and Holland , as well as the complex power politics of the English Court and seething religious sectarianism of the time.
I thought that this book was excellent, But not for a casual read....it is a complicated tale indeed.
January 12, 2023
The further back in time a biography is set, the more difficult it is, I think, to make the subject three-dimensional.. James Long's history of the charges against Samuel Pepys, though set in the 1600s, feels fully fleshed out and atmospheric. It reads like a history from the late 1800s--rich in detail, with multiple character perspectives. It's a meticulously researched book.
Filled with political intrigue, it tells the story of Samuel Pepys, accused by John Scott--a 16th century version of George Santos--of plotting against the British crown. With few avenues of defense and almost certain to face execution, Pepys researches his accuser to get to the root of the accusations. The tension rises as we anticipate a climactic court battle.
The unexpected twists are astonishing, and help shape the modern world, including the British political party system and even the geopolitics of New York.
I took off one star (really, .5 stars if I could) for the story petering out (I won't reveal more for fear of spoilers). All told, this is a really enjoyable book for people who like political history with a splash of true crime.
Filled with political intrigue, it tells the story of Samuel Pepys, accused by John Scott--a 16th century version of George Santos--of plotting against the British crown. With few avenues of defense and almost certain to face execution, Pepys researches his accuser to get to the root of the accusations. The tension rises as we anticipate a climactic court battle.
The unexpected twists are astonishing, and help shape the modern world, including the British political party system and even the geopolitics of New York.
I took off one star (really, .5 stars if I could) for the story petering out (I won't reveal more for fear of spoilers). All told, this is a really enjoyable book for people who like political history with a splash of true crime.
December 7, 2021
I have had this book on my shelves for several years. Decided it was time to read it.
I’m glad I did. It is an eyeopener of the 17th century, the times in which Pepys lived.
I was surprised at the fierce anti Catholic feeling and dismayed at such intrigue and skulduggery in parliament and court.
I is mostly about Samuel Pepys and how he was falsely accused for treason, also about his chief antagonist ‘Colonel’ John Scott an amoral opportunistic scoundrel. King Charles II lived in very uncertain times but showed himself astute.
I was amazed at the scope of the letter writing to communicate everything and anything.
It is a real 17th century thriller, it kept me turning the pages.
I’m glad I did. It is an eyeopener of the 17th century, the times in which Pepys lived.
I was surprised at the fierce anti Catholic feeling and dismayed at such intrigue and skulduggery in parliament and court.
I is mostly about Samuel Pepys and how he was falsely accused for treason, also about his chief antagonist ‘Colonel’ John Scott an amoral opportunistic scoundrel. King Charles II lived in very uncertain times but showed himself astute.
I was amazed at the scope of the letter writing to communicate everything and anything.
It is a real 17th century thriller, it kept me turning the pages.
February 1, 2023
Not Just A Diary
My theatre background gave me an insight to Samuel Pepys’ life and his various contributions to our understanding of life in his England. Traitor to the Crown allowed me to see the real Mr. Pepys with all his craftiness, his willingness to fight those who would do him harm as well as a slice of life in Restoration England. James and Ben Long do an excellant job of creating a touch of life in Pepys’ England through their use of language and research. Too the Longs present a intriguing mystery even though the reader knows who did it.
My theatre background gave me an insight to Samuel Pepys’ life and his various contributions to our understanding of life in his England. Traitor to the Crown allowed me to see the real Mr. Pepys with all his craftiness, his willingness to fight those who would do him harm as well as a slice of life in Restoration England. James and Ben Long do an excellant job of creating a touch of life in Pepys’ England through their use of language and research. Too the Longs present a intriguing mystery even though the reader knows who did it.
October 22, 2022
An in depth history of Pepy's trial for treason. If you are a fan of the diaries and have read Tomalin's bio, this is worth reading. Tomalin only spends a chapter on the events but they occupied a couple of traumatic years of his life.
August 27, 2023
Interesting material but slightly dry in places.
March 31, 2024
Very interesting. A criticism would be that on occasion i think too much time was given on other parties to the extent that it became confusing.
June 17, 2016
A comprehensive and extensively researched (36 pp of footnotes at the end) presentation of the issues that led to Samuel Pepys's imprisonment in the Tower of London and the proceedings brought against him in Parliament for treason in 1679.
Pepys, whose rise in the Admiralty was aided by his association with the Duke of York (the future James II), fell victim to the paranoia sweeping through London and Parliament over the Duke's Catholicism and over imagined "Popish Plots". It was feared that if and when the Duke succeeded his brother Charles II Catholicism would replace the Church of England throughout the country and the earlier Protestant martyrdom that took place under Mary Tudor would return. Pepys's association with the Duke brought out the anger of the newly empowered Whig members of the Commons in Parliament and landed Pepys in prison. His brilliant fight against the trumped up charges -- and against tremendous odds in the less than impartial justice system -- played out more dramatically than any fictional courtroom drama. A terrific book.
Pepys, whose rise in the Admiralty was aided by his association with the Duke of York (the future James II), fell victim to the paranoia sweeping through London and Parliament over the Duke's Catholicism and over imagined "Popish Plots". It was feared that if and when the Duke succeeded his brother Charles II Catholicism would replace the Church of England throughout the country and the earlier Protestant martyrdom that took place under Mary Tudor would return. Pepys's association with the Duke brought out the anger of the newly empowered Whig members of the Commons in Parliament and landed Pepys in prison. His brilliant fight against the trumped up charges -- and against tremendous odds in the less than impartial justice system -- played out more dramatically than any fictional courtroom drama. A terrific book.
January 19, 2018
How can I explain this. It's impossible to explain. OK I'll try. You are welcome.
It's like D&D. Ok but instead of a fighter or a cleric or something.... You are a first level bureaucrat. You eventually advance to godlike levels but.... in real time. day by day. second by second. You experience every meal, every incident, every seemingly meaningless coincidental moment of every day. And in that way you enter another world and understand it better from top to bottom.
Oh wait I'm talking about Pepys' diary. Read that as its one of the most amazing books ever written. Pompeii if Pompeii could speak. Then read this because there is more to be known about Samuel Pepys in the years of his life outside of the great journal.
It's like D&D. Ok but instead of a fighter or a cleric or something.... You are a first level bureaucrat. You eventually advance to godlike levels but.... in real time. day by day. second by second. You experience every meal, every incident, every seemingly meaningless coincidental moment of every day. And in that way you enter another world and understand it better from top to bottom.
Oh wait I'm talking about Pepys' diary. Read that as its one of the most amazing books ever written. Pompeii if Pompeii could speak. Then read this because there is more to be known about Samuel Pepys in the years of his life outside of the great journal.
July 25, 2014
Just goes to show you that swindling is one of the world's oldest professions. I was less interested in Pepys' story, which rather dragged as his ordeal did than in Scott's. Arch swindler, he seems the stereotypical compulsive liar--he was probably unable to tell the truth even when he wished to (which wasn't often, apparently). How he got away with it so long is probably a tribute to the poor communications of his time as much as to his ability. He was notoriously bad at covering his tracks or doing more than running away when the times got tough.
Read
December 3, 2018It's OK. Not my period, really, though. Well-researched for sure, but somehow lacks the sparkle to make it really interesting (to me). Maybe the book assumes you know more about the early Pepys than I do, or have more background knowledge. It's not a bad book, by any stretch of the imagination - don't get me wrong, but it's not got the "bite" that some of my favourite non-fiction historical writers put into their work.
May 9, 2009
An excellent account of a minor event (major to Pepys) when he was falsely accused of treason as the Stuart reign was coming to an end.
February 3, 2015
I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/13160392
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/13160392
April 8, 2017
The sheer temerity of the knaves and rogues in this history is worth the price of admission.
April 9, 2017
"As gripping as any thriller" reads part of The Times (London) review quoted on the back cover of the paperback version I read and I heartily concur. Amazingly detailed (I can only begin to imagine the depth and breadth of the research the Longs (father and son) did in putting this all together), this is a page turner substituting very short excerpts from diaries, news sheets, official records and other contemporary accounts for dialogue, an intricately plotted story that rivals the best fiction - except that it isn't. Whether it's Pepys's story or that of his arch (and often unseen) nemesis, John Scott or the fate of the King or other noble notables or the tussle between France and England, this multi-faceted story will grip you and keep you glued until the final satisfying end. "Reads like the best crime novel" is the quote from The Scotsman. Couldn't agree more.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews