Father Gerard says[53] that Sir Everard "had a friend for whom he felt a peculiar affection," namely, Oliver Manners, the fourth son of John, fourth Earl of Rutland, and said by Father J. Morris[54] to have been knighted by King James I. "on his coming from Scotland," on April 22nd, 1603, but by Burke,[55] "at Belvoir Castle, 23rd April 1608." He was very anxious that this friend should be converted to the Catholic faith, and that, to this end, he should make the acquaintance of Father Gerard; "but because he held an office in the Court, requiring his daily attendance about the King's person, so that he could not be absent for long together," this "desire was long delayed." At last Sir Everard met Manners in London at a time when he knew that Father Gerard was there also, "and he took an opportunity of asking him to come at a certain time to play at cards, for these are the books gentlemen in London study both night and day." Instead of inviting a card-party, Digby invited no one except Father Gerard, and when Manners arrived, he found Gerard and Digby "sitting and conversing very seriously." The latter asked him "to sit down a little until the rest should arrive." After a short silence Sir Everard said:-- [53] _Life of Father John Gerard_, p. clxvi. _seq._ [54] _Ib._, footnote to p. cciii. [55] _Peerage_, 1886, p. 1173. "We two were engaged in a very serious conversation, in fact, concerning religion. You know that I am friendly to Catholics and to the Catholic faith; I was, nevertheless, disputing with this gentleman, who is a friend of mine, against the Catholic faith, in order to see what defence he could make, for he is an earnest Catholic, as I do not hesitate to tell you." At this he turned to Father Gerard and begged him not to be angry with him for betraying the fact of his being a Romish recusant to a stranger; then he said to Manners, "And I must say he so well defended the Catholic faith that I could not answer him, and I am glad you have come to help me." Manners "was young and confident, and trusting his own great abilities, expected to carry everything before him, so good was his cause and so lightly did he esteem" his opponent, "as he afterwards confessed." After an hour's sharp argument and retort on either side, Father Gerard began to explain the Catholic faith more fully, and to confirm it with texts of Scripture, and passages from the Fathers. Manners listened in silence, and "before he left he was fully resolved to become a Catholic, and took with him a book to assist him in preparing for a good confession, which he made before a week had passed." He became an excellent and exemplary Christian, and his life would make an interesting and edifying volume.