The Bardon papers : documents relating to the imprisonment & trial of Mary Queen of Scots / edited for the Royal Historical Society by Conyers Read ; with a prefatory note by Charles Cotton.

Date:
1909
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The Bardon papers : documents relating to the imprisonment & trial of Mary Queen of Scots / edited for the Royal Historical Society by Conyers Read ; with a prefatory note by Charles Cotton. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    And that is, considering her sonnes obstinacye in heresye and the danger like to ensewe therbie to the Cath[olik] Chirche, lie sueceding in this crowne, she hath resolued, it her sonne be not reclaymed to the Chirch before her death (as she hath smale hope so longe as he remayne in Scotland) to geve and graunte her right to the Kinge of Spayne in the succession of this crowne by her last will and testamente, praieng hime to take her henceforth wholie into his proteccion and likwyse the state and affaiers in this contrye. She desyreth this to be kept secret, for if it be revealed it wold be in Fraunce losse of her dower, in Scotland cleare breach with her sonne, and in England her totall ruyne and distinction. 1 Ballard, being thus comme into England on Whitsonday, veraie shortlie after dealeth with Babington about the matters of the said conspyracye, and Babington said it wolde hardlie prevaile dueling the Q[ueenes] lief. But Ballard said that difiicultie wold easely be taken awaye by meanes alredye laid, that Savage had vndertaken and vowed to kill the Q[ueenes] Majestie. Then Babington, vndertaking to deale in the cause, laied the plotte for killing her Majestie, to be donne by vj rather then by one alone, least perhaps it might myscarrye in thandes of one alone ; and that Savage sholde forbeare to doe it alone and to be one of the vj other which he had prepared (which Savage agreed vnto). Bab[ington] also laid the plotte for invasion, for portes to lande at, and for deliuerye of the S[cottishe] Q[ueene], and for assistance to be levied here.1 1 Mary to Mendoza, just cited. * These passages concerning Ballard s dealings with Babington are evidently drawn from Babington’s confession (cf. Calthorpe MSS. Vol. xxxi, f. 218 seq.).
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