Series 3 > Mary Queen of Scots and the Babington plot

INTRODUCTION
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covery of the plot. He had been told by Ballard of the
intentions of Savage and George Gifford, and of this he
had actually sent word to Idiaquez, and to Philip. He
had also heard from Gilbert about the Babington plot;
and had wished (though too late) to encourage the con¬
spirators. Later, when the plot had been discovered,
and while he was being angrily charged by the English
ministers with having encouraged and indeed with having
‘ conducted ’ the conspiracy, he wrote again (10 Sept¬
ember).1 He declared that ‘ of course he would omit no
act of war against those who had begun war against Spain :
but that, as to assassination, he had never advised any of
her subjects to conspire against her life, she being their
sovereign and a woman.’
It is not my object here to defend Mendoza. I am
dealing with his point of view only, with his describing
himself as having ‘ never advised any of her subjects to
conspire against her life.’ If Mendoza is sure that Philip
will see that view, and be satisfied with it, can we wonder
that Mary should have taken an almost exactly similar
view of her duty and of her execution of it ?
Liberty and her rights were the objects for which Mary
strove. She was ready to lose her life in that struggle.
Why should she forbear lest Elizabeth should lose hers ?
She would accept Babington’s offer, and do all in her
power to make it a success.
The chief need was that of foreign help. Without that
any .attempt would be madness. It was of the first
necessity therefore that some one should go abroad and
bargain with Mendoza for the most exact and faithful
engagements of help. When the day of its proximate
arrival drew near, the attempt on the Queen’s person
1 Spanish Calendar, p. 623. The original Spanish, which is not in
Documentos Iniditos, is much to be desired.
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