He attended a gathering on the feast of the Assumption, 1678, when Father John Gavan made his profession as a member of the Society of Jesus, at the house of the Penderels at Boscobel.
This circumstance came to the knowledge of the notorious Plot informer Stephen Dugdale, and became the occasion of Richard's imprisonment and death.
Dugdale accused him of having contributed to the funds of the alleged plotters (perhaps with some reference to the pensions paid for his boys at St-Omer) and of having conspired to murder the King.
[1] He was attended during his last hours by Father Edward Petre, who, in a letter written 29 March 1680, speaks of his dying wish to be buried by the side of his recently-executed friend, Thomas Whitbread.
Philip never claimed the title, and gave up all rights to the estates for a small yearly pension of £60, being obliged to leave the country by the action of a near connection, the Duke of Hamilton, who advertised the reward of £1,000 for his arrest as a priest.