Series 3 > Mary Queen of Scots and the Babington plot

cxviii MARY STUART AND THE BABINGTON PLOT
that was a privilege granted to those who ‘ rode post,’ to
commandeer a change of horses, when their own beasts
were tired. This would have given Mawde a certain
authority, and might well make Ballard glad of his com¬
pany. The second incident is that Mawde had procured
a letter to the ‘ Lord Admiral of Scotland.’ This might
act as a sort of passport with English searchers and
constables.
In spite of his advantages, however, Mawde does not
seem to have made any discoveries of importance. But
he undoubtedly fomented the plot. Edward Windsor
afterwards said that at a time when he had resolved to
break with Ballard and all his works, Mawde talked him
round again and persuaded him to continue.1 Similar
things were no doubt done elsewhere.
On the whole then we are not justified in suspecting
that Mawde was responsible for much in the development
of the plot. Nevertheless his presence in the company of
Ballard served as safeguard, and this helps to explain why
nobody, except Elizabeth, Avas alarmed about the con¬
spiracy. Her own officials were helping it on with vigour.
Gilbert Gifford almost immediately after the meetings of
the 5th and 7th of June went back to Paris,2and on the 10th
Barnes took down Mary’s post to Chartley. We have no
written explanation of Gilbert’s journey, but it fits in well
enough with what went before. It was quite natural,
from Walsingham’s point of view, to send him to Paris.
For there the plot had been first laid, there too Morgan
lived, and Mendoza, from whom the most valuable secrets
might be elicited. On the other hand, from Babington’s
point of view the journey to Paris would have entirely
1 R.O., Domestic Elizabeth, cci. no. 50, 30 May 1587.
2 Gilbert is said to have written to Phelippes on the nth, but nothing
is now known about this letter. It subsequently fell into the hands of
Gilbert’s enemies (Addenda Calendar, p. 227; below, p. 127).