Series 3 > Mary Queen of Scots and the Babington plot

xxii MARY STUART AND THE BABINGTON PLOT
the affair dropped (pp. 169-175). We shall have to return
to this later, because the Babington plot was in some sense
a later development of this intrigue : meanwhile we proceed
to Dr. William Parry, who began his treasonable practices
about the same time.
3. William Parry was a ruined courtier, who had incurred
the sentence of death for assaulting one of his creditors
with violence. After some time in trouble, and occasion¬
ally even in prison, he resolved to seek his fortune abroad,
for he was full of ambition and not altogether wanting in
good qualities. So in August 1582 he went to Paris, and
began to study law there. He also alleges that he then
made a profession of catholicity; perhaps he made some
necessary oath or profession preliminary to the degree in
law, which he took next year. He now began to give him¬
self the airs of a 'politique and a philosophe, and he also
began to ‘ feel the minds ’ of priests in regard to regicide,
which was then, in consequence of ‘ the ban,’ a common
subject of conversation. But the result of it all was that
the other English catholic exiles became more and more
suspicious of him. To escape ill consequences he made
one journey to Venice, and afterwards another to Lyons,
where he saw Father Crichton, S.J.1 Thence he went to
Milan, where he was favoured, perhaps, by that enthusiastic
Welsh nationalist Dr. Owen Lewis, who may have com¬
mended him to Pope Gregory xin. He would not, however,
go to Rome, but returned to Paris in October, where
he then found himself in better conceit with catholic
Welshmen. He now began to discuss the above-mentioned
questions with Thomas Morgan, and they were soon in¬
volved in plans for the Queen’s murder. In December 1583
1 In regard to his promised reception into the Church, Crichton reported
favourably of his talents, but would not vouch for his intentions. To the
Card, de Como, 5, 17, 18 July 1583, R.O., Roman Transcripts, 80.