ootnote 37: Vavasour's concealment of guilty knowledge as the writer
of the warning letter would probably be only misprision of treason,
unless Coke knew or suspected that he was directly concerned in the
treason.]

[Footnote 38: The present writer does not owe the identification to that
clue, which was not met with until after Vavasour had been identified as
the writer of the letter.]

[Footnote 39: Letter to the Earl of Dunfermline, Lord Chancellor of
Scotland. December 1, 1605 ("State Papers, Domestic," James I., xvii.
2). Salisbury was created K.G. with almost regal pomp for his services
in the matter. "Tuesday the 20th of May (1606), at Windsor, were
installed Knights of the Garter, Robert, Earl of Salisbury, who set
forward from his house in the Strand, being almost as honourably
accompanied and with as great train of lords, knights, gentlemen, and
officers of the Court, with others besides his peculiar servants very
richly attired, and bravely mounted, as was the King when he rid in
state through London" (Stowe's "Annals," 1615, p. 883).]

[Footnote 40: Bates, Catesby's serving-man, at London; others in the
country.]

[Footnote 41: Although known as the "King's book," the report of the
trial was evidently compiled by Salisbury and corrected by the King.]

[Footnote 42: Salisbury's statesmanship is evinced by the advice he
wrote to James (I.) when King of Scotland, and impatiently awaiting
Queen Elizabeth's demise: "Your best approach towards your greatest end,
is by your Majesty's clear and temperate courses, to secure the heart of
the highest, to whose sex and quality nothing is so improper as either
needless expostulations, or over much curiosity in her own actions. The
first showing unquietness in yourself; the second challenging some
untimely interest in hers; both which, as they are best forborne when
there is no cause, so be it far from me (if there shall be cause), to
persuade you to receive wrongs and be silent" ("Secret Correspondence,"
Camden Society, 1860, p. 7).]

V

FRANCIS TRESHAM'S CONFIDENCE WHEN IN THE TOWER

Upon Tresham's death in the Tower (December 23, 1605), the Lieutenant
wrote to Salisbury: "I find his friends were marvellous confident if he
had escaped this sickness, and have given out in this place that they
feared not the course of justice."[43] As the late Dr. Gardiner
observed: "This confidence they could only have derived from himself,
and it could only have been fo