“I have here the proofs, Your Majesty,” returned Walsingham. “Here is a tablet upon which is painted the face of Babington and five others who are associated with him in perilous enterprise, as thou seest engraved. Further: here are letters which have passed between Mary of Scotland and the conspirators 189 in which she commends the performance of the deed. The act was to be committed on thy way to chapel.”
“Then, my lord, if this be true, why have you not apprehended these men? Methinks that the safety of your queen should be your first consideration.”
“Her Highness is right,” cried Leicester. “Upon her life depends not only the safety of her ministers but the welfare of the Commonwealth.”
“Pardon me, my liege lady,” said Walsingham, “if I have seemed to be careless of that life which is so dear to all of us. But I wished to involve Mary so deeply in this conspiracy as to open the way to rid the country of her. Your Majesty will never be safe while that woman lives. She is a menace as long as she remains in England.”
“Deport her then,” suggested Elizabeth. “France would gladly receive her.”
“Nay, madam. That were to place her where she could abet the design of Phillip to invade England. That bourne from which no traveler returns is the only proper abode for Mary Stuart. And for thy protection, madam, 190 I took precautions. Ballard, the priest, as thou knowest, hath long since been confined in the Tower. Babington has been lodged in mine own house where I could watch him. He can be taken at any time. That time hath now come. The warrants are issued, not only for him, but for Tilney, Savage, Tichbourne, Stafford and other conspirators associated in the enterprise.”
Stafford! Francis gave a faint gasp, and started up in terror. Her father? Was he to be taken with these men? But the queen was speaking:
“Lord Stafford?” she said interrogatively. “Stafford, Walsingham? Surely not he. He is an honorable gentleman, and would not be concerned in such foul designs.”
“Did I not tell you some time since that it was whispered in mine ear that Stafford and his son delivered letters to Mary? The whisper hath become a certainty. Those letters were to apprise the queen of the intent to slay thee, deliver her from custody, and raise her to the throne. This hour will I send to arrest Lord Stafford as well as the others. And then——”