[375] S. P. Dom. James I., Vol. xviii. n. 35. But I avail myself of the endering in "Life of Fr. J. Gerard," pp. ccxxxi-ccxxxvii. At the same time he wrote to the Duke of Lenox, "My humble petition therefore is, that a witness be asked his knowledge who is well able to clear me if he will, and I hope he will not be so unjust in this time of his own danger as to conceal so needful a proof being so demanded of him. Sir Everard Digby doth well know how far I was from knowledge of any such matter but two days before the treason was known to all men. I have therefore written a letter unto him, to require his testimony of that which passed between him and me at that time. Wherein, if I may have your lordship's furtherance to have just trial made of the truth whilst yet he liveth, I shall ever esteem myself most deeply bound, &c, &c." This letter to Sir Everard, which, of course, would be read first by Salisbury and Lenox, began:--"Sir Everard Digby,--I presume so much of your sincerity both to God and man, that I cannot fear you will be loath to utter your knowledge for the clearing of one that is innocent from a most unjust accusation importing both loss of life to him that is accused, and of good name also, which he much more esteemeth." Then he says that upon some false information, given, he supposes, "by some base fellows, desirous to save their lives by the loss of their honesty,"--this looks as if he suspected some of the conspirators in the Gunpowder Plot, imprisoned in the Tower--a "proclamation has been issued against myself and my superior"--this would be Father Garnet--"and one other of the Society," probably Father Oldcorne, "as against three notorious practisers, with divers of the principal conspirators in this late most odious treason of destroying the King's Majesty and all in the Parliament House with powder. And myself am put in the first place, as the first or chiefest offender therein."