Jardine gives in his “_Criminal Trials_”[133] a certain Letter of Instructions to Sir Edward Coke,[134] the Attorney-General who conducted the prosecution of the surviving Gunpowder conspirators at Westminster Hall[135] before a Special Commission for High Treason, on the 27th day of January, 1605-6. This very remarkable document is in the handwriting of Robert Cecil first Earl of Salisbury. It is as follows:—— “These things I am commanded to renew unto your memory. First, that you be sure to make it appear to the world that there was an employment of some persons to Spain for a practice of invasion, as soon as the Queen’s breath was out of her body. The reason is this for which the King doth urge it. He saith some men there are that will give out, and do, that only despair of the King’s courses on the Catholics and his severity, draw all these to such works of discontentment: where by you it will appear, that before his Majesty’s face was ever seen, or that he had done anything in government, the King of Spain was moved, though he refused it, saying, ‘he rather expected to have peace,’ etc. “_Next, you must in any case, when you speak of the Letter which was the first ground of discovery, absolutely disclaim that any of these wrote it, though you leave the further judgment indefinite who else it should be._ (The italics are mine.) “Lastly, and you must not omit, you must deliver, in commendation of my Lord Mounteagle, words to show how sincerely he dealt, and how fortunately it proved that he was the instrument of so great a blessing as this was. To be short, sir, you can remember how well the King in his Book did censure[A] his lordship’s part in it, from which sense you are not to vary, but _obiter_ (as you know best how), to give some good echo of that particular action in that day of public trial of these men; because it is so lewdly given out that he was once of this plot of powder, and afterwards betrayed it all to me. “This is but _ex abundanti_, that I do trouble you; but as they come to my head or knowledge, or that I am directed, I am not scrupulous to send to you. “You must remember to lay Owen as foul in this as you can.” [Footnote A: The word “censure” here means, formed an opinion of his lordship’s part. From Lat. _censeo_, I think.] Now, strangely enough, in the day of public trial of these men, the learned Attorney-General forgot in one particular the aforesaid clear and express Injunctions of his Majesty’s principal Secretary of State. For, if he be correctly reported, Sir Edward Coke then said:——[136] “The last consideration is concerning the admirable discovery of this treason, _which was by one of themselves_, _who had taken the oath and sacrament, as hath been said, against his own will; the means was by a dark and doubtful letter sent to my Lord Mounteagle._”[A] (The italics are mine.)