Series 3 > Mary Queen of Scots and the Babington plot

INTRODUCTION
liii
as an authority of the first importance. It should be
remembered, however, that it was written a year or more
after the events described, during which time any one’s
memory for small details is liable to become a little confused;
moreover, there is an element of self-defence about the com¬
position which may detract a trifle from its value here and
there. There can, however, be no reason for not accepting
the following account of Gilbert’s advent to London:
In the month of December 1585, Gifford came to England
with letters from the Archbishop of Glasgow, Morgan, and
Paget, which testified to his catholicity and fidelity to the
Queen of Scotland. The French ambassador had then ap¬
pointed Cordaillot, one of his secretaries, to attend to the affairs
of that Queen, and he, on seeing Gifford’s letters, asked him
the reason of his journey. Gifford said that he had been
entrusted with secret letters for the Queen of Scotland, and
that as she was now confined in a house not far from his father’s
home, he hoped to be able to accomplish the task. Cordaillot,
nevertheless, answered little, for he knew that Walsingham
was endeavouring to find out whether he corresponded secretly
with the Queen. Gilbert urged that having been ten or twelve
years away from England he would easily pass unknown, and
would probably not be recognised even by his father and
sisters. Again, he looked so young, without any beard, that
his real age, and consequently his identity, would not be sus¬
pected. Still he was not yet trusted, and eventually withdrew.
It was afterwards discovered that he was lodging with Phelippes,
a servant of Walsingham.1
2. Thomas Phelippes.
As Gifford had already taken up his abodewith Phelippes,
it may be well to introduce this personage, who from now
onwards plays such a large part in our story. Thomas
Phelippes was the son of William Phillips,2 ‘ Customer of
1 A. de Labanoff, Lettres de Marie Stuart, 1844, vi. 281-2: slightly
abbreviated. Renewed search should be made for the missing portion.
2 Note the difference of spelling in the surname. It was a custom of
the time for various members of a family to differentiate their signatures