William Bedloe facts for kids
William Bedloe (born April 20, 1650 – died August 20, 1680) was an English man known for being an informer during the time of the Popish Plot. He claimed to have secret information about a plan by Catholics to harm the King and take over England.
Early Life and Travels
William Bedloe was born in Chepstow, a town in Monmouthshire, England. His father was likely Isaac Bedloe. William seemed to have received a good education.
In 1670, he moved to London. There, he met some Jesuits, who are members of a Catholic religious order. Bedloe sometimes worked for them. He often used different names, like Captain Williams or Lord Gerard, as he traveled across Europe. He was usually with his brother, James.
The Popish Plot Informer
In 1678, William Bedloe became famous for his role in the Popish Plot. This was a made-up story about a plan by Catholics to kill King Charles II. Another informer named Titus Oates had started these claims. Bedloe then added his own stories to the plot.
He claimed to know details about the murder of Sir Edmund Berry Godfrey. Godfrey was a judge who was found dead during the time of the plot. Bedloe's claims about this murder earned him £500, which was a lot of money back then.
Some people in the government were careful about trusting Bedloe. This was because he had a history of making up stories. However, many saw him as important because his stories seemed to support what Titus Oates was saying.
Later Life and Death
After his early success, Bedloe accused many Roman Catholics of being part of the plot. He married an Irish woman named Anna Purefoy. For a while, he lived a very fancy life because of his new fame.
However, his good fortune did not last. William Bedloe died in Bristol on August 20, 1680. Before he died, he gave some statements to Sir Francis North, a top judge. These statements did not reveal anything new or important. Bedloe also wrote a book about the plot, but his claims are not considered reliable by historians today.
Sources
- Pollock, John. The Popish Plot, 1903.
- Kenyon, J.P. The Popish Plot, Phoenix Press Reissues, 2000
