| Administrative History | Sir Anthony Babington of Dethick was the ringleader in a conspiracy in 1586 to replace Queen Elizabeth I with Mary Queen of Scots, then imprisoned at Chartley in Staffordshire. Babington's letters and the Scots Queen's replies were intercepted and he was arrested on 14 August 1586. At their trial in mid-September, Babington and his co-conspirators pleaded guilty to wanting to kill Queen Elizabeth. They were condemned and executed as traitors. On 25 September Mary was moved to Fotheringhay in Northamptonshire where she stood trial for treason and was executed in February 1587. |
| Custodial History | This item was transferred from Derby Library in October 2002. |