‘Did I say that?’
‘That’s what Roger told me.’
‘Good,’ said Ned. ‘I hope it’s true.’
*
SUMMER BROUGHT NEWhope to Alison, who brightened with the weather. Only the inner circle at Chartley Manor knew of the secret correspondence with Anthony Babington, but Mary’s revived spirits heartened everyone.
Alison was optimistic, but not blindly so. She wished she knew more about Babington. He came from a good Catholic family, but that was about all that could be said for him. He was only twenty-four. Would he really be able to lead a rebellion against the queen who had held on firmly to power for twenty-seven years? Alison wanted to know the plan.
The details came in July of 1586.
After the initial exchange of letters that served to establish contact and assure both parties that the channel of communication was open, Babington sent a full outline of what he proposed. The letter came in a beer barrel, and was decoded by Mary’s secretary, Claude Nau. Alison sat with Mary and Nau, in Mary’s bedroom at Chartley Manor, and pored over the paper.
It was exhilarating.
‘Babington writes of “this great and honourable action” and “the last hope ever to recover the faith of our forefathers”, but he says more,’ said Nau, looking at his decrypt. ‘He outlines six separate actions necessary for a successful uprising. The first is the invasion of England by a foreign force. Second, that force to be large enough to guarantee military victory.’
Mary said: ‘The duke of Guise has sixty thousand men, we’re told.’
Alison hoped it was true.
‘Third, ports must be chosen where the armies can land and be resupplied.’
‘Settled long ago, I think, and maps sent to my cousin Duke Henri,’ said Mary. ‘Though Babington may not know about that.’
‘Fourth, when they arrive they must be met by a substantial local force to protect their landing against immediate counterattack.’
‘The people will rise up spontaneously,’ Mary said.
Alison thought they might need prompting, but that could be arranged.
‘Babington has given this some thought,’ Nau said. ‘He has selected men he describes as “your lieutenants” in the west, the north, South Wales, North Wales, and the counties of Lancaster, Derby and Stafford.’
Alison thought that sounded impressively well organized.
‘ “Fifth, Queen Mary must be freed”,’ Nau read aloud. ‘ “Myself, with ten gentlemen and a hundred of our followers, will undertake the delivery of your royal person from the hands of your enemies.” ’
‘Good,’ said Mary. ‘Sir Amias Paulet has nowhere near a hundred guards here, and anyway, most of them are lodged in the surrounding neighbourhood, not at the Manor. Before they can be mustered, we’ll be long gone.’
Alison was feeling increasingly energized.
‘And sixth, of course, Elizabeth must be killed. Babington writes: “For the dispatch of the usurper, from the obedience of whom we are by excommunication made free, there be six gentlemen, all my private friends, who for the zeal they bear to the Catholic cause and your majesty’s service, will undertake that tragic execution.” I think that’s about as clear as it could be.’
It certainly was, thought Alison, and for a moment she was chilled to think of the murder of a queen.
‘I must reply to this quickly,’ said Mary.
Nau looked anxious. ‘We should be careful what we say.’
‘There is only one thing I can say, and that is yes.’
‘If your letter should fall into the wrong hands . . .’
‘It will be placed in safe hands, and written in code.’
‘But if things should go wrong . . .’
