There were some who did not spare Ormonde's reputation any more than his property. In times of danger he always bore the brunt of the storm. 'Who so happy,' he said, 'as the most wicked, who so unhappy as the best servant?' When Kildare was arrested many whispered that as good a case might be made against Ormonde. He defied all detractors in the most uncompromising way: they were liars and slanderers, and he only wished he knew their names. 'If the charges against Kildare,' he said, 'be treasons (as I hope they are not), I defy him and pronounce him a false villain that spake them, if he meant them for me. For as I never was traitor, no more was I friend of traitor, nor maintainer of traitors. If any can charge me (as some I know would if they could) let them say their worst: I defy them, and will answer to defend my honour in my short [shirt], or any way shall become a gentleman.' He added that as he was no traitor so was he no procurer of murders, no receiver of stolen goods, no practiser to keep stores for private gain. On the contrary, he had subdued scoundrels of all sorts, persuaded ill subjects to reform, opposed Scottish enemies, spent his living in her Majesty's service, 'as my house has ever been, which some perhaps may envy.' He was accused of seeking revenge against those that robbed him and burned his villages, and against those who harboured felons. 'My lord,' he pleaded, 'when my neighbours be lawless, not coming to assizes or sessions, what amends may I have by justice, though by that means I seek mine own?' He complained that his enemies at Court remembered him better than his friends; but he was all along secure in the Queen's personal favour, even if his great services had proved a weak defence. She took care to tell him privately that she believed no stories against him, and commanded him to write often. 'Yet one thing,' she added, 'you seem to have forgotten, and wherefore we have some cause to be displeased with you, as though of anything that you write to ourself any person living should be made privy but ourself alone.' It is hard to guess what the matter was which Ormonde was afraid to trust to paper and which Elizabeth wished to be so profound a secret; but the passage quoted shows what very great favour he enjoyed.[313] [Sidenote: Death of Sir Peter Carew.]