A Fine Madness by Alan Judd (best classic books TXT) 📕

enemies who sought ‘the extirpation of our religion out of this realm with ruin of us all’. She then added ten words which sharpened her executioner’s axe, words which showed she acknowledged and accepted the plot to murder Queen Elizabeth: By what means do the six gentlemen deliberate to proceed? That was why we called it ‘the bloody letter’ – we knew blood would run after those words. That the Queen knew well what she was about was further evidenced by her urging Babington to ‘fail not to burn this present quickly’.

Once that letter was in Babington’s hands we knew we could move against the plotters and finally against Queen Mary herself. But for the latter we needed the authority of Queen Elizabeth. It was well known at Court that she was reluctant to execute a fellow Queen, her cousin at that. Mr Secretary and Lord Burghley found it hard even to discuss it with her.

The Court was at Greenwich when I reached London and I had to go by river to meet Mr Secretary there. He wanted to see the original letter before it was delivered to Babington. He took me to one of the many small rooms of the palace, one that he had made his own by furnishing it with maps and books, although he was not often there. He was in better health this time and greeted me warmly.

‘I thank God for you, Thomas. You are truly an instrument of His work. But that does not relieve us of the necessity of continuing to strive to the uttermost in His cause. I think we have more to do with this letter.’

He had on the desk before him the plain text copy I had sent in advance and now laid the enciphered original beside it. He looked from one to the other, stroking the point of his beard with the thumb and forefinger of his left hand. ‘It is plain to anyone that the Queen of Scots implicitly acquiesces in this plot to murder her cousin and restore papal rule. It will be plain too that Babington and Ballard and their friends are mired in guilt. But I worry that plainness by implication may not be sufficient for the law to convict her under the Act for the Queen’s Surety, which requires proof that she is privy to the conspiracy, that she is engaged in it, is part of it. For that, something else may be needed.’

I doubted we could provoke her into being more open. ‘She is cautious. Babington will not seek further authority because he will think he has it in this. And if we delay, the plotters who are now gathering like crows on the threshing floor may fly away and disperse.’

‘I know, Thomas, I know.’

He continued to stroke his beard, gazing at the columns for figures in the enciphered letter. Somehow, in those moments of silence that felt like minutes, I began to divine his thoughts. I could hardly bring myself to say what I thought he was thinking, it seemed so great a hazard. But neither could I resist.

‘Unless, Mr Secretary, we added words to her letter.’

His dark eyes rested on mine. I felt he had been waiting for me to say it. He nodded. ‘It needs a postscript.’

It is curious to relate now, sir, but I may as well confess to you that after these many years I still remember my heart beating faster as I stood before him. What he proposed was a great and dangerous undertaking, the introduction of a forgery into a court of law convened under oath before our Lord. But Mr Secretary was quick to end my hesitation.

‘We must be very careful of the phrasing,’ he said, ‘and you must be very sure of your writing. And it must be done with all speed. We cannot delay delivery much longer.’

I put my reservations aside and we worked on it together for the rest of that day in Greenwich. We had first to agree what should be said, words that made Queen Mary’s intention, already implicit in what she had dictated, mortally clear. They had also to be true to her manner of correspondence, bearing in mind that she thought in French and turned it into English. And they had to follow on naturally from what was already written. Once that was agreed, I had to translate it into Curll’s cipher, expressing it as he would have while ensuring that Babington would understand it. Then I had to copy Curll’s script precisely.

Fortunately, I have since childhood had the happy gift that, shown a man’s hand, I can copy it so closely that he himself would think it his. It is the same with any man’s voice, accent or mode of speech. This gift of mimicry I never had to cultivate or work at. I simply grew up finding I had it, as some men may naturally and easily catch a ball, and others woo a woman.

Even so, it took time. We had to send for inks like that which Curll had used, then mix them to get the right shade. I tried, shaped, tried again a dozen quills until I had one with which I could repeat his strokes precisely. Then I wrote out the eight lines of cipher three or four times on other paper to ensure I had his script exactly. Finally I added it to his letter. I can tell you now, from memory, how those ciphered columns read:

I would be glad to know the names and qualities of the six gentlemen which are to accomplish the designment, for that it may be I shall be able upon knowledge of the parties to give you some further advice necessary to be followed therein; and as also from time to time particularly how you proceed and as soon as you may for the same purpose who be already and how far every one privy hereunto.

Next it had to be resealed, a demanding task requiring great