id greatly rejoice to hear of them."[646]
We learn, also, that the Nun had continued to _communicate with "the Lady
Princess Dowager" and "the Lady Mary, her daughter."_[647]

These were names which might have furnished cause for regret, but little
for surprise or alarm. The commissioners must have found occasion for other
feelings, however, when among the persons implicated were found the
Countess of Salisbury and the Marchioness of Exeter, with their chaplains,
households, and servants; Sir Thomas Arundel, Sir George Carew, and "many
of the nobles of England."[648] A combination headed by the Countess of
Salisbury, if she were supported even by a small section of the nobility,
would under any circumstances have been dangerous; and if such a
combination was formed in support of an invasion, and was backed by the
blessings of the pope and the fanaticism of the clergy, the result might be
serious indeed. So careful a silence is observed in the official papers on
this feature of the Nun's conspiracy, that it is uncertain how far the
countess had committed herself; but she had listened certainly to avowals
of treasonable intentions without revealing them, which of itself was no
slight evidence of disloyalty; and that the government were really alarmed
may be gathered from the simultaneous arrest of Sir William and Sir George
Neville, the brothers of Lord Latimer. The connection and significance of
these names I shall explain presently; in the meantime I return to the
preparations which had been made by the Nun.

As the final judgment drew near--which, unless the king submitted, would be
accompanied, with excommunication, and a declaration that the English
nation was absolved from allegiance,--"the said false Nun," says the
report, "surmised herself to have made a petition to God to know, when
fearful war should come, whether any man should take my Lady Mary's part or
no; and she feigned herself to have answer by revelation that no man should
fear but that she should have succour and help enough; and that no man
should put her from her right that she was born unto. And petitioning next
to know when it was the pleasure of God that her revelations should be put
forth to the world, she had answer that knowledge should be given to her
ghostly father when it should be time."[649]

With this information Father Goold had hastened down to Bugden, encouraging
Catherine to persevere in her resistance;[650] and while the imperialists