[43] Brosch 420, n. Ranke v. 88.
[44] Lectures on Modern History.
[45] April 1675.
[46] Clarke, Life of King James II i. 440, 629. In referring to this work I adopt Lingard’s plan of mentioning it simply as “James,” except where the passage referred to is based, as here, upon James’ original memoirs, when I refer to it as “James (Or. Mem.).” Klopp i. 235. Foley i. 272 seq.
[47] Cardinal Howard to Coleman, April 18, 1676. Treby i. 85. Courtin, April 2, 1676.
[48] Ruvigny, August 19/29, 1675. Courtin, October 9/19, 1676, January 11/21, 15/25, 1677. Barillon, December 17/27, 1677. Giacomo Ronchi, October 3/13, 1678, in Campana de Cavelli i. 233. Longleat MSS. Strange to Warner, December 28, 1676; Bedingfield to Warner, December 28, 1676; Coleman to Whitehall, January 1, 1677; Mrs. Coleman to Coleman, January 1, 1677, January 4, 1677; Coventry Papers xi. 245, 246, 247. MS. diary of Lord Keeper Guildford, Dalrymple ii. 199, 200. Parl. Hist. iv. 1035. Hist. MSS. Com. Rep. i. Ap. 56. Floras Anglo-Bavaricus 136. Forneron, Louise de Keroualle 136, 161, 179. Ralph i. 272. Burnet ii. 51, 99.
Coleman is described by Warner, MS. history 41: “Hunc proxime secutus est Edwardus Colemannus, serenissimae Ducissae Eboracensi a secretis, in haeresi educatus, quam detectis erroribus ejuravit, et totus in Catholicorum partes transiit, quas exinde promovit pro virili, magno zelo sed impari prudentia. Magnum a natura sortitus est et festivum ingenium, cui dum nimium indulgeret, et liberrimis censuris quae parum a satyris abessent curules perstringeret, divûm nulli parcens, multorum, praecipue, Danbaei, offensam incurrit, a quibus tandem oppressus est.”
The imputation that he diverted the Frenchmen’s gold to his own use was put upon Coleman by Whig historians. Of this his character has been cleared by Sir George Sitwell (First Whig 25, note). The Whig Committee of the House of Commons appointed to examine Coleman reported his confession “that he had prepared guineas to distribute among members of Parliament, but that he gave none and applied them to his own use” (C.J. November 7, 1678). The committee was composed of men who themselves received money from the French ambassador, and therefore had the strongest motive to conceal the facts. But the truth slipped out two years later in a speech made in the House by Mr. Harbord (December 14, 1680). Coleman, he said, did confess “that he had twenty-five hundred pounds from the French ambassador to distribute amongst members of Parliament, and your committee prudently did not take any names from him, it being in his power to asperse whom he pleased, possibly some gentlemen against the French and Popish interest.” The prudence of the committee in attributing to Coleman statements which he never made is also indubitable.
[49] Coleman to Ferrier, June 29, 1674. Ferrier to Coleman, September 25, 1674. Coleman to Ferrier in answer to above. Coleman to La Chaize, September 29, 1675. Treby i. 1, 3, 6, 109. Chantelauze, Le Père de la Chaize 4.
[50] Berkshire to Coleman, March 24, 1675. Treby i. 103.