That Archbishop Lefebvre only initially intended to consecrate 3 bishops is docuмented on the SSPX.org website here:
"On February 2nd, the Archbishop announces in Flavigny before television cameras that he will consecrate three bishops on June 30th."
http://archives.sspx.org/SSPX_FAQs/a_short_history_of_the_sspx-part-5.htm
That Fr. Fellay was not among these initial candidates comes from a personal email from Bishop Williamson here:
"Upon information and belief, it was the Archbishop's friend, Attorney Roger Lovey, who asked on behalf of the Archbishop's Swiss drivers all over Europe, for a fourth priest from Switzerland to be added to the three priests already chosen to be consecrated bishops. The Archbishop agreed out of gratitude to his drivers. Fr Bernard Fellay seemed to be the best suited, and the rest is history."
To do something in gratitude is not the same as doing it for money. And I suppose you could suspect that I am fraudulently attributing this quote to Bishop Williamson, or made it up myself (but in that case, you could simply write to Bishop Williamson to verify). Or, you could question the source of Bishop Williamson's information. But if he is going to tell it to me, it is going to be the truth. For me, his word suffices.
More related history:
Fr. Laisney, in his book “Archbishop Lefebvre and the Vatican: 1987-1988,” supplies a reference to a May 3 confidential letter of Archbishop Lefebvre in which the latter supplies the names of 4 candidates to be considered for the consecration of a single bishop.
Interestingly, Fr. Laisney reveals that of the four names submitted on May 3, only two ended up being among those consecrated in June.
https://www.sspxasia.com/Docuмents/Archbishop-Lefebvre/Archbishop_Lefebvre_and_the_Vatican/Part_I/1988-05-03.htmThis definitely implies that two new candidates emerged between February and May.
Who were the two new names?
And what was the reason for their inclusion?
It is mentioned elsewhere that Archbishop Lefebvre initially chose Fr. Faure, but when he declined, the Archbishop deferred to Fr. de Galarreta.
Is this the explanation for one of the two new names? Not sure.
And is the email of Bishop Williamson above the explanation for the other?
Not sure.
Note also the good will implicit in Archbishop Lefebvre’s negotiations with Rome on this point:
As mentioned elsewhere in Fr. Laisney’s book, it is decided that Archbishop Lefebvre will settle for a single bishop if one should be granted, but otherwise he will consecrate several bishops (“If you’re going to die for a dime, you might as well die for a dollar”).