to him that he would have had her dragged back from it by force.

'I never saw Lidington in such perplexity and passion,' wrote Throgmorton; I could not have believed he could have been so moved; he wishes I had brought with me authority to declare war if the Queen of Scots persist, as the last refuge to stay her from this unadvised act.'

Mary Stuart's orders to Maitland to return to London were so distinct that he hesitated before he again disobeyed; he remained at Newark for a few hours after Throgmorton had gone forward; but the extremity was so serious that he ran all risks and overtook the ambassador at Alnwick. At the Border they heard the alarming news that Chatelherault had been bribed into compliance with the marriage 'by a written promise to enjoy his own.' 'Let the Earl of Northumberland be stayed in London,' Throgmorton wrote back to Leicester: 'from what I hear it is very necessary. Examine Sir Richard Cholmondley, and look well and sharp to the doings of that party.' The Papists in these parts do rouse themselves.' 'Look to yourselves and her Majesty's safety.' 'Sir Henry Percy is dangerous.'

Time pressed. On the 15th Lord Darnley was to be created Earl of Ross at Stirling; when, being an English subject, he would swear allegiance to the Queen of Scots without leave sought or obtained from his own sovereign. A dukedom had been first intended for him; the higher

1 Throgmorton to Leicester and Cecil, from Berwick, May 11 and 12 Scotch MSS. Rolls House.

title had been suspended, and the foolish boy struck with his dagger at the justice-clerk who was sent to tell 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.

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 enter

prising 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 nobleman who was equally acceptable to both realms, 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 conces sion which she had made.

The matter is irrevocable,' he reported to Elizabeth;

'I do find this Queen so captivate either by love or running or rather to say truly by boasting or follythat she is not able to keep promise with herself, and therefore not able to keep promise with your Majesty in these matters.'1

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 York, to inform the council there of the names of dangerous 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 public '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.

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

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."1

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

2

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.

1 Throgmorton to Cecil and Leicester, May 21: Scotch MSS. Rolls House. 2 Randolph to Leicester and Cecil, May 21: Scotch MSS. Rolls House.