Then I asked his Lordship who those others were; but he answered, prithee, good Colonel, ask me no questions; if I had known of approaching dangers to the king, I should have told him. He then fetched a great sigh and wept, but presently said, Friend, I see things will go as you will; for God’s sake promise me you will find some way to tell the king every word I say, and that though some passages in letters of mine may look a little oddly, I would have run any hazard rather than have suffered any injury to have been done to his Majesty’s person: ’tis true I would have been glad to have seen all England Catholic, but not by the way of some ill men. My Lord Stafford was all along a moving agent, and was here in France about the business; the man of himself is not very malicious. My Lord Powis his covetousness drew him in further than he would have gone. I believe and hope there will hardly be found matter against them to take away their lives, but pray the king from a poor dying man not to have to do with any of those four Lords I have named, for they love not his person. My Lord Peeter has always had a great love and reverence for the king’s person; ’tis true this last wife of his is foolishly governed by priests and influences him; but he was ever averse to all things of intrigue in this matter. I need not desire you to be secret, your own safety will oblige you. My Lord Cardigan and others being at the door and calling to this Lord, the servants were ordered to let them in, and before them he said, pray don’t forget the hundredth we spake of, nor the business at Rohan. I was there once more with the Doctor, but he grew exceeding deaf; he said only then to me: Colonel, don’t forget what I said to you for God’s sake. This is the very manner he spake it. JOHN SCOT. COVENTRY PAPERS xi. 171 December 23, 1676. Hague. A letter, unsigned. Note by Coventry at head—To one Johnson: at foot—shewed his Maj. 23rd of Dec. 76. In my last I made some observations to you of the working of the old spirit in the Popish party: at this time will now only add that the same seemeth not to be restrained to England.... The popish humour beginneth to spread itself over the English regiments, especially the regiment lately Col. Tanwicke. One Wisely is made Col., being Lieut. Col. before. Archer the major is made Lieut. Col., both Irish Papists, and the rest of the officers are generally papists and mad Irish, and for aught we know for the most part recommended by the Duke of York. Now albeit this be true that this congregating of Papists together in a body be in the dominion of another state, yet it is true they are subjects of England and in regard to the ... circumstances of England in my poor opinion worthy the public notice. COVENTRY PAPERS xi. 506