Series 3 > Mary Queen of Scots and the Babington plot

INTRODUCTION
XXXI
complied so far as to throw the man into the Bastille
(1 March 1585), and to put his correspondence under lock
and key; but he was slow to go further. The English
Queen was naturally detested by the French people, and
the officials, of course, arranged that nothing compromising
should be found among Morgan’s papers when the time
came for giving them up. As for handing over Mary’s
servant to be tortured into a confession of guilt, the French
King, despicable as his general policy was, would not
consent to make himself guilty of so dishonourable a
breach of the law of nations.
In her deep vexation Elizabeth wrote to the King a
characteristic letter, which began by saying she was
‘ enragee ’ at receiving his note, and concluded with the
words : ‘ I swear to you that if he is denied me, I shall
conclude that I have joined a league not with a King but
with a Papal Legate or the President of a seminary. I
shall be as much ashamed at yours as I should at their
bad company.’1
No wonder that Morgan was rather better than worse
treated after such an outburst of spleen. But for all
that the Welshman was kept in the Bastille, more keen
than ever to be revenged on his enemies, who on their side
were more than ever alert to entrap the rash, quarrelsome
man in some intrigue that might ruin both him and his
mistress.
We must not, of course, go so far as to think that
Walsingham planned beforehand every step subsequently
taken by his spies and employes; nor has any evidence
been brought to support the allegation that he even had
some of the principal conspirators in his pay. There was
a rumour at the time that he had employed Ballard;
and Queen Mary alluded to it at her trial, whereupon
R.O., Foreign, Elizabeth, France, xiii. f. 127, under 10 March 1585.