Series 3 > Mary Queen of Scots and the Babington plot

INTRODUCTION
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not yet a priest, to come and take the place which Dr.
William had refused. Gilbert consented, left the college
on 8 October 1585, and was warmly welcomed by Morgan,
who wrote a very lengthy letter in his favour to Queen
Mary.1
It is far too long to quote here, but it is worthy of
remark as showing how little real skill Morgan had in
correspondence of this kind. It abounds in minute in¬
structions, which were probably impracticable, and in
unnecessary details, as to which he could form no safe
judgment under his circumstances, and which would do
great harm if the letter were intercepted, as in fact it was.
For us, however, the main thing is that Gilbert was now
officially connected with Mary’s correspondence. Having
previously known of Savage’s resolution against Elizabeth,
and presumably having even enticed him to that course,
it will be strange if Gilbert does not manage to link Savage,
or some kindred spirit, with the correspondence ; and then
Mary’s life, under the Association law, will be forfeit.
SECTION III
Setting the Death-trap—December
1585-January 1^86.
1. Gilbert Gifford’s First Steps.
Gilbert Gifford left Rheims on the 8th of October 1585,
and on the 15th Morgan wrote for him the necessary letters
of introduction. Yet he was in no hurry to be off from
Paris, and it seems to have been about the 10th of December
before he landed at Rye, where he was ‘ apprehended ’ and
sent up to London. Whether this was prearranged or
not we do not know, but in due course he appeared before
1 Murdin, State Papers, p. 454.
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