Series 3 > Mary Queen of Scots and the Babington plot

INTRODUCTION
CX1X
commended itself, because he desired to know the opinion
of catholic divines upon the lawfulness of their project.
When Gilbert returned without any such opinion, Babing-
ton was vexed, and sent him back again to get it. Thus,
though one might have imagined that Gilbert’s first task
would have been to procure all the information possible
from the conspirators in England, the reasons for going to
Paris were also strong.
In point of fact, though Gilbert haunted Morgan, and
got money out of him, he seems to have obtained little
news. Morgan was inclined to be prudent, and would not
open up about ‘ the matter in question ’ ; though he
‘ promised that in time he should know all.’ 1 In regard
to Ballard, however, Morgan distinctly warned Gilbert to
be ‘ discreet,’ and ‘ to give him as little honour as may be
in the face of the world,’ though ‘ his credit should be
preserved for many causes, as you know.’ This is exactly
the same line that Morgan was taking at this period with
Mary herself.2
Gilbert’s countermove was to spend his week in Paris
(about 14 to 21 June) working with Grately in the hurried
production of a MS. book against the Jesuits. It had
nothing directly to do with the plot, but it was a veil to
prevent his (Gilbert’s) part in the plot from becoming too
clear to Grately and Morgan. It will be remembered that
Gifford had explained his favourable reception by Wal-
singham, by saying that the Secretary was won over by
Gilbert’s declaration of hostility to the Jesuits. So also
Grately, consumed with the desire of obtaining a favour
like Gilbert’s, now offered their common work as a token
which Walsingham would perhaps highly prize. The real
reason for Gilbert’s going and coming was entirely shrouded
1 These are Gilbert’s phrases. Morris, p. 220 ; or Boyd, p. 517.
2 Compare Morgan to Mary, 24 June/4 July, and to Gifford, 9/19 July;
in Boyd, pp. 467, 515.