esidence. Here, at the end of that time, he went with his attendants.
The Queen was greatly pleased with him, it is said, and bestowed on him
much favour. Her minister, Cecil, too, held him in high estimation;
indeed, the Cardinal afforded him the greatest assistance with regard to
the unravelling of Popish plots.

I had by this time many friends in London. Among the principal, and
certainly the oldest, was Sir John Leigh, who resided in a handsome
house in the Strand. I frequently paid him a visit, and was now sorry
to see that his health was breaking, and that he was becoming gradually
weaker and weaker. Still he was as vivacious and full of anecdote as
ever, while he took a keen interest in public affairs.

"Ernst," he said one day, soon after I came in, "see to the door, that
no one is near. I have a matter of great importance which I know I can
entrust to you. You always supposed that I was a Romanist; and so I
was, as far as I could be said to have any religion; but the things I
have witnessed in England, and which are now going forward in the
Netherlands, in France, and in Spain, and which are, I have undoubted
proof, encouraged in every possible way by the head of the Romish
Church, have made me inquire into the claims and authority of that
Church. I find that the Pope has no ground whatever on which to support
his claim to be head of the Christian Church, and that the religion he
promulgates is rather a system organised by Satan for leading souls to
destruction than one for teaching them the way to attain to happiness in
another life. I say this, that you may understand why I have taken the
part I have done in an important matter. You are well aware that the
Romanists consider any means lawful to attain their ends. They are
resolved to re-establish their faith in England; and I, as a patriot,
consider that no greater curse could happen to the country. Every
effort has been made to induce the Queen to accept a Popish husband.
They think possibly that, if they could get rid of Cecil, they might
succeed in inducing the Queen to marry as they have proposed; but if
not, I know to a certainty that they will not scruple to use violence,
even to the taking away of her life. I have thoroughly fathomed the
plot to ruin Sir William Cecil, aided by the information I have received
from Cardinal Chastillon, who is himself well acquainted with it. I
wish you to communicate faithfully to Sir Thomas Gresham the ma