The letters were by some secret means conveyed to his lady, and were preserved in the family as sacred relics. “Sir Everard Digby,” says Archbishop Tillotson in his sermon on the fifth of November, “whose very original papers and letters are now in my hands, after he was in prison, and knew he must suffer, calls it the best cause, and was extremely troubled to hear it censured by Catholics and priests, contrary to his expectations, for a great sin.” The letters were also, once in the possession of Bishop Burnet, as he himself informs us. From him we learn how they were discovered. “The family being ruined upon the death of Sir Kenelm’s son, when the executors were looking out for writings to make out the titles of the estates they were to sell, they were directed by an old servant to a cupboard that was very artificially hid, in which some papers lay that she had observed _Sir Kenelm_ was oft reading. They, looking into it, found a velvet bag, within which, there were two other silk bags, (so carefully were those relics kept) and there was within these a collection of all the letters that _Sir Everard_ writ during his imprisonment.” A few extracts will show what his sentiments were concerning the plot. “Now, for my intention let me tell you, that if I had thought there had been the least sin in the plot, I would not have been of it for all the world; and no other cause drew me to hazard my fortune and life, but zeal to God’s religion. For my keeping it secret, it was caused by certain belief, that those which were best able to judge of the lawfulness of it, had been acquainted with it, and given way unto it.” “Now, let me tell you, what a grief it hath been to me, to hear that so much condemned, which I did believe would have been otherwise thought on by Catholics.” “Oh! how full of joy should I die, if I could do any thing for the cause which I love more than my life.” On the proceedings which were to have been adopted in the event of the success of the plot, Sir Everard remarks: “There was also a course taken to have given present notice to all princes, and to associate them with an oath, answerable to the league in France.” Respecting the pope’s concurrence he has the following passage: “Before that I knew any thing of the plot, I did ask Mr. Farmer, what the meaning of the pope’s brief was: he told me that they were not (meaning priests) to undertake or procure stirs; but yet they would not hinder any, neither was it the pope’s mind they should, that should be undertaken for Catholic good. I did never utter thus much, nor would not but to you; and this answer, with Mr. Catesby’s proceedings with him and me, gave me absolute belief that the matter in general was approved, though every particular was not known.” Then alluding to the presence of some Romanist peers at the opening of parliament, he adds: “I do not think there would have been three worth saving that should have been lost.” In another letter he observes: