Series 3 > Mary Queen of Scots and the Babington plot

xcviii MARY STUART AND THE BABINGTON PLOT
preparations, the like of which was never seen in these parts
of Christendom. The Pope was the chief disposer. The Kings
of France and Spain concurred. . . . The Duke of Guise, or
the Duke of Maine would conduct the enterprise for France.
For the Italian and Spanish forces, the Prince of Parma. The
number would be about 60,000 men.
‘ And hereupon he came over to inform thus much, to sound
the catholics for assisting, and for the preservation of their
possessions, upon which the stranger would enter by right of
conquest without sparing any, in case they did not declare
themselves performers.’
The alteration is indeed complete. The sum of Mendoza’s
message had been this. ‘ Bring to us before September
definite numbers, attestations, and plans, and we will
surely help you.’ The sum of Ballard’s message is ‘ The
invasion is fixed for September in any case. Come and
assist. That will be the way to keep your estates in
safety.’ According to Mendoza the time would be decided
by the English catholics ; the assistance would come from
the Spaniards : no mention is made of the French. Accord¬
ing to Ballard the time is September, the attacking force
is the mythical catholic League,1 with the Pope supreme,
and the kings of Spain and of France taking leading parts !
The foreign army of 60,000 men seems also suspicious.
Talking to Savage, Ballard used that figure for the army
of English insurgents who had promised to rise.
Perhaps some friend of Ballard may here object that
I am blaming him on inadequate evidence for these ex¬
aggerated statements, which do not come to us from Ballard
directly, but through Babington. May it not be that the
blame for them should rather attach to the latter ? The
answer is, first, that Babington does not stand alone;
Savage, Gifford, and others tell the same story, though briefly
and without details. Moreover, as evidence accumulates,
we find Babington a distinctly good witness, while Ballard
See above, p. xvii.