_Babington's Conspiracy._--Miss Strickland, in her life of Queen Elizabeth
(_Lives of the Queens of England_, vol. vii. p. 33.), after describing the
particulars of this plot, adds in a Note,--
"After his condemnation, Babington wrote a piteous letter of
supplication to Elizabeth, imploring her mercy for the sake of his wife
and children."--Rawlinson _MSS._, Oxford, vol. 1340. No. 55. f. 19.
A copy of a letter to which the description given by Miss Strickland would
apply, has been lately found among some papers originally belonging to Lord
Burleigh; and it would be very desirable to compare it with the letter said
to be in the Rawlinson collection. I have, however, authority for saying
that the reference above quoted is incorrect. I should be very glad indeed
to find whether the letter referred to by Miss Strickland is printed in any
collection, or to trace the authority for the reference given in the _Lives
of the Queens_. The MS. copies in the British Museum are known.