In a very short time, Sir Everard Digby, Rookwood, Thomas Winter, John Grant, Robert Keyes, Francis and Tresham were all safely lodged in the Tower, besides the earliest conspirator arrested--Guy Fawkes. One of the first things that Sir Everard did after being brought to London was to beg as a special favour to be permitted to see the king[334]--a boon most unlikely to be granted--"intending to lay down the causes so plainly which had moved them to this attempt," namely the Gunpowder Plot, "and withal how dangerous it was for His Majesty to take the course he did, as that he hoped to persuade at least some mitigation, if not toleration, for Catholics." Of course he was informed that no such favour would be shown him; but that he would very shortly be examined by the Lords of the Council, when an opportunity would be given to him of making a statement. [334] _Narrative of the G. P._, Gerard, p. 111. The news of the popular indignation at the Gunpowder Plot must have added greatly to Digby's sorrows. On Sunday, November 10th,[335] "a solemn thanksgiving was offered in all the churches." He would hear, too, that on the night of the very day that the explosion was to have taken place, church-bells were ringing, and bonfires were blazing in all directions as a testimony of the public rejoicing at the failure of the plot.[336] Even[337] "the Spanish Ambassador made bonfires, and threw money amongst the people." [335] Gardiner's _Hist. Eng._, Vol. i. p. 266. [336] S. P. Dom. James I., Vol. xvi. n. 23. [337] Stow's _Annales_, p. 880. More galling still was the ever-increasing evidence of the horror of the English Catholics and their angry disclaimers of having had anything to do with, or any sympathy for, such a nefarious scheme. "If, after the discovery," says Tierney,[338] "the pope himself abstained from issuing a formal condemnation of the conspiracy, Blackwell, at least, his delegate and representative in England, instantly came forward to stigmatize it as a 'detestable device,' an 'intolerable, uncharitable, scandalous, and desperate fact.' No sooner had the proclamation for the apprehension of the conspirators announced the intelligence that Catholics were implicated in it, than he addressed a letter to the clergy and laity of his flock (Nov. 7), reminding them of the criminality of all forcible attempts against the government, and exhorting them to manifest their respect for the decisions of the church, the clergy by inculcating, the laity by practising, that patient submission to the laws, which alone could 'please God, mollify man, and increase their merits and their glory in the world to come.'" Reports of this letter would be received by Sir Everard on his arrival in London. [338] Notes to Dodds' _Church Hist. of Eng._, Vol. iv. p. 64.