In these notes the king explains that the things of greatest import cannot be written, but have been imparted "by tongue" to the envoy, to be delivered to his holiness. Moreover he thus charges Lindsay: "You shall assure him that I shall never be forgetful of the continual proof I have had of his courtesy and long inclination towards me, and especially by this his so courteous and unexpected message, which I shall be careful to requite thankfully by all civil courtesies that shall be in my power, the particulars whereof I remit likewise to your declaration." Besides this, he protests that he will ever inviolably observe two points: first, never to dissemble what he thinks, especially in matters of conscience; secondly, never to reject reason when he hears it urged on the other side. [225] P.R.O. _France_, b. 132. [226] Lodge, _Illustrations_, iii. 262. [227] P.R.O. _France_, b. 132. [228] _Ibid._ [229] _The Politician's Catechism_, 1658. [230] Birch, _Historical View_, p. 234. [231] "If the Priestes and Catholickes, so many thousands in England would have entertayned it, no man can be so malicious and simple to thinke but there would have been a greater assembly than fourscore [in the Midlands] to take such an action in hand, and the Council could not be so winking eyed, but they would have found forth some one or other culpable, which they could never do, though some of them, most powerable in it, tendered and racked forth their hatred against us to the uttermost limites they could extend." _English Protestants' plea_, p. 60. [232] _Discourse of the manner of the discovery of the Gunpowder Plot._ Printed in the Collected Works of King James, by Bishop Mountague, by Bishop Barlow, in _Gunpowder Treason_, and in Cobbett's _State Trials_, as an appendix to that of the conspirators. [233] _I.e._, Cornwallis, Edmondes, and Chichester. The despatch to Cornwallis is printed in Winwood's _Memorials_, ii. 170. [234] Sir Thoms Parry, P.R.O. _France_, bundle 132. [235] Mr. Hepworth Dixon observes (_Her Majesty's Tower_, i. 352, seventh edition) that a man must have been in no common measure ignorant of Cecil and Northampton who could dream that such a design could escape the greatest masters of intrigue alive, and that abundant evidence makes it clear that the Council were informed of the Plot in almost every stage, and that their agents dogged the footsteps of those whom they suspected, taking note of all their proceedings. "It was no part of Cecil's policy," adds Mr. Dixon, "to step in before the dramatic time." [236] Often called Phelipps, or Philipps. [237] _History of Scotland_, iii. 376, note (ed. Eadie). It was on one of these letters which had been in the hands of Phelippes that Mary was convicted. [238] _Dom. James I._ xx. 51. April, 1606.