Coke himself, in his speech at the trial, referred to the long delay in bringing the prisoners to the bar, saying[369] "There have been already twenty and three several days spent in Examinations." And he summarized the good results of the delay thus[370]:--"_Veritas Temporis filia_, Truth is the daughter of Time, especially in this case; wherein by timely and often Examinations, First, matters of greatest moment have been lately found out. Secondly, some known Offenders, and those capital, but lately apprehended. Thirdly, sundry of the principal and Arch-traytors before unknown, now manifested, as the Jesuits. Fourthly--" but he might have abridged this statement into these few words--We hoped to worm some evidence out of the prisoners against Catholic priests. [369] _Gunpowder Treason_, p. (16). [370] _Ib._ CHAPTER XIV. Sir Everard appears to have received several kind communications, whilst in the Tower, from Father Gerard, if we may judge from some of his remarks concerning "my brother" in his letters to Lady Digby. For instance, we find him writing[371]:--"Let my Brother see this, or know its Contents, tell him I love his sweet comforts as my greatest Jewel in this Place"; in another,[372] "I give my Brother many thanks for his sweet comforts, and assure him that now I desire death; for the more I think on God's mercy the more I hope in my own case: though others have censured our Intentions otherwise than I understood them to be, and though the Act be thought so wicked by those of Judgment, yet I hope that my understanding it otherwise, with my Sorrow for my Error, will find acceptance at God's hands." In another he sends a warning to him,[373] "Howsoever my Brother is informed, I am sure they fear him for knowledge of the Plot, for at every examination I am told that he did give the Sacrament to five at one time." And once again,[374] he says:--"Tell my Brother I do honour him as befits me, but I did not think I could have increased so much, loving him more as his charitable Lessons _would_ make me." [371] _Sir E.D.'s Letters_, No. 1. [372] _Ib._, No. 4. [373] _Ib._, No. 5. [374] _Sir E. D.'s Letters_, No. 6. But if Father Gerard had sent very consoling messages to Sir Everard in his imprisonment; on one occasion--it was within a few days of the trial--he wrote him a formal letter, which he sent to Lord Salisbury and the Duke of Lenox, asking them to give it to Sir Everard and hear what he might say in answer to it. To Salisbury himself he wrote another letter, in the course of which he said[375]:--"Sir Everard Digby can testify for me, how ignorant I was of any such matter" [as the Gunpowder Plot], "but two days before that unnatural parricide should have been practised. I have, for full trial thereof, enclosed a letter unto him, which I humbly beseech may be delivered, &c."