Series 3 > Mary Queen of Scots and the Babington plot

INTRODUCTION
xxxvii
Bastille, bringing with him letters from Christopher
(afterwards Sir Christopher) Blount, a gentleman in
Leicester’s retinue. Morgan had most imprudently asked
Blount to correspond with himself and Mary, and Blount’s
answer was to send Poley, who played his part so well
that both Morgan and Paget wrote in July 1585 com¬
mending him to their mistress.
A week later, however, Morgan heard that Poley’sJetter
had been intercepted. His means of conveyance should
be avoided therefore until the mischance were explained.1
Later on Morgan returned to his praises, while Mary
warned Babington against him.
(3) George (afterwards Sir George) Gifford of Itchell,
Hants, and Weston - under - Hill, Gloucester, has been
mentioned above. He was born of a family which long
remained catholic, and his brother, Dr. William Gifford,
eventually became Archbishop of Rheims. George lost
his father when he was quite young. In 1578, when a
mere youth, he was drawn into Elizabeth’s court, and made
a Gentleman Pensioner, but he soon wasted his patrimony
by extravagance, and became involved in disreputable and
criminal enterprises. In 1586, when he had been arrested
on suspicion of complicity in Babington’s plot,2 it was
found that he was ‘ wanted ’ for a whole series of mis¬
demeanours, receiving stolen goods, assisting burglars, and
profit-sharing with robbers of many sorts.3 Still, he did
not lose his place, or the royal favour, was eventually
knighted for service against Spain, married a wife from
1 Morgan’s letter of 20 July 1585, printed in full in Murdin, State
Papers, 1759, p. 446, and in the Hatfield Calendar, iii. p. 101. See also
R.O., Mary Queen of Scots, xvi. 7, 8, 15, 17, 70. Phelippes was jealous of
Poley, as the adherent of a rival courtier.
2 He then carved his name and arms in the Beauchamp Tower.
* R.O., Domestic Elizabeth, cxcv. 58 (13 Dec. 1586). ‘ Articles against
Gifford.’ For the charges of April 1583, see ibid. clx. 29.