Series 3 > Mary Queen of Scots and the Babington plot

INTRODUCTION
Ixxv
they went to the English Hospice and stayed there till the
beginning of October.1
Tyrrell, as the climax of his story approaches, becomes
more and more artificial in his style. They get into
conversation first with the Rector, then with the General
of the Jesuits, then with Pope Gregory himself about the
assassination of the Queen ; and their approbations of
her murder are given with an increasing clearness and
force, and a rising scale of applause and of promised
reward. Father Agazario the Rector listens with pleasure,
will not give an answer himself, but offers to procure one
shortly. In a day or two the General of the Jesuits
appears; he hums and haws, says it is a matter only to
be discussed by men of tried security, but eventually
gives leave for Father Agazario to take them to the Pope,
and obtain an authoritative solution. So they go to the
Pope, the Jesuit explains their doubts, and then the Pope
delivers a handsome and well-turned approbation of the
murder of the Queen. ‘ Children, beloved in Our Lord,
we have always loved you in the bowels of Christ. . . .
For your various requests, we will consult and you shall
have answer, but as touching the taking away of that
impious Jezabel, I would be loth you should attempt
anything unto your own destruction, and we know not
how our censure in that point would be taken among her
subjects, who profess themselves our subjects. But if
you can wisely give such counsel, as may be without
scandal to the party or to us, know ye that we do not
only approve of the act, but think the doer, if he suffer
death simply for it, to be worthy of canonisation. And
so with our Apostolic Benediction we dismiss you.’ When
1 The dates are given almost exactly. The Pilgrim Book, still pre¬
served at the Enghsh College, Rome, bears witness that they arrived on
7 September (which would be 29 August, Old Style) and left on 2 October
(New Style). Foley, Records S.J., vi. 555.