to communicate them in whatever quarters they were likely to be welcome.  When we remember that Archbishop Warham had been a dupe of this woman, and that even Wolsey’s experience and ability had not prevented him from believing in her power, we are not surprised to find high names among those who were implicated.  Vast numbers of abbots and priors, and of regular and secular clergy, had listened eagerly; country gentlemen also, and London merchants.  The Bishop of Rochester had “wept for joy” at the first utterances of the inspired prophetess; and Sir Thomas More, “who at first did little regard the said revelations, afterwards did 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 at Rome were pressing the pope for sentence (we cannot doubt at Catherine’s instance), the Nun had placed herself in readiness to seize the opportunity when it offered, and to blow the trumpet of insurrection in the panic which might be surely looked for when that sentence should be published.