Silius Titus (1623 - 1704) of Bushey was an English politician, captain of Deal Castle, and Gentleman of the Bedchamber to King Charles II.
Killing No Murder
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Titus began his political aspirations by writing a pamphlet titled Killing No Murder in 1657 during The Protectorate period of the English Interregnum era of English history. The pamphlet advocated the assassination of Oliver Cromwell. Due to the danger involved in writing such a politically charged opinion against the King, Killing No Murder was published under the pseudonym 'William Allen'.
Cromwell was said to have been so disturbed after the publication of Killing No Murder that he never spent more than two nights in the same place and always took extreme precaution in planning his travel.
Titus' authorship of this pamphlet has therefor been disputed in some circles with other attirubtions being given to Edward Sexby or a man by the real name, William Allen. These attributions are usually unfounded as King Charles II awarded Titus the title of Gentleman of the Bedchamber for his service in authoring the work.
Political Life
editSilius Titus first took up arms for the Parliament. Although he was a strong Presbyterian Titus became an ardent Royalist devoted to Charles I and King Charles II.[1]
In 1679 Titus was a Member of Parlaiment for Hertford. Though not eloquent, he would often illustrate his speeches with a humor that rendered them effective. For instance, when it was complained that Titus made sport of the House of Commons, he retorted that "things were not necessarily serious because they were dull". Once again, when Charles II offered to impose limitations on a Roman Catholic Church sovereign rather than exclude his brother from the throne, Titus likened such a plan to "having a lion in the lobby and then voting to secure ourselves by letting him in and chaining him, rather than by keeping him out".
Titus also served King James II but later transferred his allegiance to William III. When he died in 1704 Titus was buried at Bushey.[2]
Mentioned in Samuel Pepys' Diary
editCaptain Titus was mentioned in the diary kept by Samuel Pepys on two occasions. The following excerpts come from the entries of those days.
May 7, 1660
edit"Very great deal of company come today, among others Mr. Bellasses, Sir Thomas Lenthropp, Sir Henry Chichley, Colonel Philip Honiwood, and Captain Titus, the last of whom my Lord showed all our cabins, and I suppose he is to take notice what room there will be for the King's entertainment." [3]
October 11, 1664
edit"This day with great joy Captain Titus told us the particulars of the French’s expedition against Gigery upon the Barbary Coast, in the Straights, with 6,000 chosen men. They have taken the Fort of Gigery, wherein were five men and three guns, which makes the whole story of the King of France’s policy and power to be laughed at." [4]
References
edit- ^ Clutterbuck, History of Hertford; Kingston, Civil War in Hertford; Hillier, King Charles in the I. of W.
- ^ http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=43267
- ^ http://www.pepysdiary.com/archive/1660/05/07/
- ^ http://www.pepysdiary.com/archive/1664/10/11/