1565

May

CHAP VIII him of the unwelcome change. But whether earl or duke he would alike commit treason to Elizabeth, and Throgmorton hurried forward to be in time if possible to prevent a catastrophe which would make reconciliation hopeless. A message from the Queen of Scots met him at Edinburgh that he should have his audience when the creation was over, and that he must remain where he was till she sent for him. So well he wished to Mary, that he would not obey; he pushed right on to Stirling and reached the castle on the morning of the fatal day. But the gates were locked in his face; and it was not till toward evening that he received an intimation that the Queen would receive him.

Throgmorton at Stirling.

When he was at last admitted into her presence, the creation was over-the oath had been sworn: and the Queen of Scots stood triumphant, her eyes flashing pride and defiance, surrounded by half the northern lords. Sir Nicholas Throgmorton and Mary Stuart had last met on the eve of her departure from France, when he had vainly entreated her to ratify the Treaty of Edinburgh. He was now witnessing another act of the same drama.

In England he had been a warm advocate of her recognition, and she received him with gracious kindness. He presented his despatches; he then said that he was sent by the Queen of England to express 'her surprise at the hasty proceedings with the Lord Darnley, seeing how he and his father had failed of their duty in enterprising such a matter without her Majesty's knowledge and consent.'

Mary Stuart affecting the utmost surprise in turn, professed herself at a loss to understand Elizabeth's meaning. It was not to be supposed, she said, that she would remain always unmarried; the foreign princes who had proposed for her had been unwelcome to the Queen of

England; and she had imagined that in taking an English CHAP VIII nobleman who was equally acceptable to both realms 1565 she would have met her sister's wishes most exactly.

The truth sprung to Throgmorton's lips; he had been a true friend to her and he would speak plainly.

He told her that she knew very well what the Queen of England had desired; and she knew also that she was doing the very thing which was not desired. The Queen of England had wished her to take some one who would maintain the amity between the two nations;' and by Lord Darnley that amity would not be maintained.

Argument was of course unavailing. The Queen of Scots had on her side the letter of Elizabeth's words— for Darnley was the nominee of the English Catholics; and the Catholics outnumbered the Protestants. After some discussion she promised to suspend the celebration of the marriage for three months, in the hope that in the interval Elizabeth would look more favourably on it; but Throgmorton saw that she was determined; and he doubted whether she would adhere to the small concession which she had made.

'The matter is irrevocable,' he reported to Elizabeth ; I do find this Queen so captivate either by love or cunning or rather to say truly by boasting, or folly— that she is not able to keep promise with herself, and therefore not able to keep promise with your Majesty in these matters."

Anticipating an immediate insurrection in Northumberland and Yorkshire, he begged that Bedford—who had gone to London-might return to Berwick without an hour's delay; and that the troops there might be largely reinforced. He returned at his leisure through

1 Throgmorton to Elizabeth, May 21.-Scotch MSS. Rolls House.

May

CHAP VIII York, to inform the Council there of the names of dan

1565

May

Measures

recommend

beth by

Throgmorton.

gerous persons which he had learnt in Scotland; and meanwhile he sketched a course of action to Leicester and Cecil which would either prevent the marriage, or cripple it with conditions which would deprive it of its danger. Elizabeth, he thought, should immediately make pubed to Eliza- lic the indignity' which had been offered her by the Queen of Scots, and should declare without ambiguity her intention of chastising the arrogancy' of subjects who had disowned their allegiance. He recommended the arrest of the Earl of Northumberland, the detention of Lady Lennox 'in close and separate confinement,' and the adoption of prompt measures to disabuse the Papists' of their belief that they were themselves in credit and estimation.' An eye should be kept on the Spanish ambassador- there the matter imported much -and favour should be shown to Lady Catherine Grey, who though fast sinking under hard usage, still survived. The English Government should avoid differences with France and Spain; and then either a breach of the matter would follow, or else a good composition."

6

Randolph, after Throgmorton's departure, continued at his post, and sent up accounts from week to week of the position of parties and of the progress of the crisis.

He described Darnley as a conceited arrogant intolerable fool; he spoke of Murray as true to his mistress in the highest sense, and still labouring to save her from herself-of Maitland as more honest than many looked for' -of Argyle and the Lords of the old Congregation as true to their principles, and working all together-of the Earl of Ruthven alone 'as to his shame stirring coals to bring the marriage to effect.' Of the poor Queen herself' he

1 Throgmorton to Cecil and Leicester, May 21.-Scotch MSS. Rolls House.

June

knew not what to say, 'so pitiful her condition seemed CHAP VIII to him; he had esteemed her before,' he said, so 1565 worthy, so wise, so honourable in all her doings;' and he found her so altered with affection towards Lord Apparet.t Darnley that she had brought her honour in question, a her estate in hazard, her country torn to pieces."1

Affection it might be-or else as Maitland thought, 'the foundation of the matter might have been anger and despite so far from loving the weak idiot whom she had chosen, she was more likely already shuddering at the sacrifice which her ambition and revenge had demanded; Lord Darnley had few qualities to command either love or respect from Mary Stuart.

change iu

character.

Darnley.

'David Ritzio,' continued Randolph in a later letter, 'is he that now worketh all-chief secretary to the Queen and only governor to her good man. The bruits here Lord are wonderful, men's talk very strange, the hatred towards Lord Darnley and his house marvellous great, his pride intolerable, his words not to be borne, but where no man dare speak again. He spareth not also, in token of his manhood, to let blows fly where he knows they will be taken. When men have said all and thought what they can, they find nothing but that God must send him a short end or themselves a miserable life. They do not now look for help from England. Whatsoever I speak is counted but wind. If her Majesty will not use force let her spend three or four thousand pounds. It is worth the expense of so much money to cut off the suspicion that men make of her Majesty that she never liked thing in her life better than to see this Queen so meanly matched. She is now so much altered from that

1 Randolph to Leicester and Cecil, May 21.-Scotch MSS. Rolls House.

CHAP VIII which lately she was known to be, that who now be

1565 June

holdeth her doth not think her to be the same. Her majesty is laid aside; her wits not such as they were; her beauty other than it was; her cheer and countenance changed into I wot not what-a woman more to be pitied than any that ever I saw. The Lord Darnley has said that if there were war to-morrow between England and Scotland, this Queen should find more friends in England than the Queen's Majesty's self.'1

Maitland continued to write confidentially to Cecil, promising to do his best to prevent a collision between the two countries, and entreating Cecil to assist him. Randolph, distracted by the suspicions of Elizabeth's motives which he saw round him, advised that unless the Queen of Scots was to be allowed to take her will,' an English army should advance to the Border, and that he should be himself empowered to promise the Congregation distinct and open support. In that case all would be well. The Papists should be bridled at home, and all intelligence cut off between them and the Scots and either Mary Stuart would be put to the hardest shift that ever prince was at, or such a stir in Scotland that what part soever was strongest should be the longer liver.'

2

The agitation in England after Throgmorton's return was almost as great. A series of remarkable papers remain to illustrate the alarm with which the crisis was regarded, and to reveal many unexpected features in the condition of the country.

First, is a paper in Cecil's hand, dated the 2nd of

1 Randolph to Leicester and Cecil, June 3.-Scotch MSS. Rolls House. 2 Randolph to Cecil, June 12.-Ibid.