Series 3 > Mary Queen of Scots and the Babington plot

clx MARY STUART AND THE BABINGTON PLOT
to Paris. As Dujardin was just back from Scotland, they
were told that their man might ride with him next evening.
On the 21st Gilbert turned up alone, and said that he
would go. At this Chateauneuf became suspicious, for
he regarded the young man as Queen Mary’s special
servant, who ought not to be employed in other business.
What was the reason of these frequent journeys abroad ?
Especially let him beware of that busy Mendoza.
Just at this point, alas ! Chateauneuf’s memoir ends
abruptly, without telling us how the unscrupulous Gifford
parried the French jealousy of Spain. But the true
reason for his departure was confided to Phelippes later
on. ‘ The greatest cause of my going away was that I
feared to be brought to witness some matters concerning
the Scottish Queen, face to face ’ (Boyd, ix. 221).1
And why had the fear of Mary’s face gripped him at
that particular moment ? It was because on the 19th of
July Phelippes had sent up the copy of Mary’s fatal letter
to Babington with the little ‘ gallows-mark,’ n on the
outside. The postman noted it, however, and the news
came to the conspirators, which, says Walsingham to
Phelippes on the 22nd of July, ‘ hath greatly increased
their suspicion. My friend (i.e. Gilbert) remains still
here.’ 2 But unknown to Mr. Secretary, ‘ friend ’ Gifford
had fled with Dujardin on the night before.
3. Poley and Babington.
Just as there could be no anxiety about Ballard, so long
as Gifford kept sending in his notes, so there was nothing
to fear about Babington whilst he was being shadowed
by Poley. Poley afterwards wrote out a long account of
1 R.O., Mary Queen of Scots, xx. n. 45. Gifford to Phelippes, no date,
perhaps October 1586. See also below, p. 121.
2 Morris, p. 245.