Nicholas Throckmorton
Sir Nicholas Throckmorton (or Throgmorton; c. 1515/1516 – 12 February 1571) was an English diplomat and politician, who was an ambassador to France and later Scotland, and played a key role in the relationship between Elizabeth I of England and Mary, Queen of Scots.
[2] After the execution of Lord Thomas Seymour in 1549 and the downfall of Protector Somerset later in the year, Throckmorton managed to distance himself from those affairs and eventually became part of the circle of John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland and confidant of the young king Edward VI.
He sat in Parliament from 1545 to 1567, initially as the member for Maldon and then from 1547 for Devizes (a seat previously held by his brother Clement Throckmorton).
In March 1553, he was elected knight of the shire for Northamptonshire and then MP for Old Sarum (November 1553, which by then was already a rotten borough[3]), Lyme Regis (1559) and Tavistock (1563).
During the short-lived attempt to place Lady Jane Grey on the throne after the death of Edward VI in 1553, Throckmorton tried to keep contact with both supporters of both her and Queen Mary I.
[4] He managed to convince the jury, which included Simon Lowe alias Fyfield, of his innocence, although the judges were openly hostile to him.
[7] Throckmorton spoke with the Italian military engineer Giovanni Portinari, ensuring his return to English service.
He described her appearance on 24 May 1559 when she was unwell, in a letter to William Cecil:Assuredly sir, the Scottishe Quene in mine opinion looketh very ill on it, very pale and green, and the withal short breathed: and it is whispered here amongst them that she cannot long live.
He also asked Throckmorton to find him a French horticulturist to make orchards and vineyards at Burghley, the house he was building near Stamford.
[11] Throckmorton conducted negotiations with the English court regarding Mary's travel arrangements when she decided to return to Scotland from France.
He organised the rescue of the Protestant James Hamilton, 3rd Earl of Arran from France, and his travel in disguise via Switzerland to London.
When Throckmorton returned to France in 1560, the Roman Catholic leader Francis, Duke of Guise imprisoned him as a persona non grata.
[14] In 1562, when religious violence began to intensify in France, Throckmorton wanted to support the mediation efforts of Catherine de' Medici.
Throckmorton recorded Lethington's personal answer, which outlined that English interference was not welcome at this time, and might even be counterproductive, and Throckmorton would not be allowed to see Mary;Being in place to knowe more than you can knowe, I saye unto yowe ..., in case you doe on the Quenes majesties behalf your mestris, presse this company to enlarge the Quene my soveraigne, and to suffer you to goe unto her, or doe use any thretnynge speache in those matters, the rather to compasse them (rather than achieve them), I assure you, you wyll put the Quene my soveraigne in greate jeopardye of her lyffe: and therefore there is none other waye for the present to do her good but to give place and use mildness.
Elizabeth told Throckmorton he should argue that the lords had deposed Mary against scriptural law, citing Paul's letter to the Romans.
Elizabeth noted that as she planned not to send financial aid to the rebel lords, there was a risk they might renew the Auld Alliance with France.
Throckmorton was not to give a signal of approval or confirmation to the rebellion by attending the coronation of the infant Prince James as ambassador.
The Scottish lords knew him as a friend of Mary and as a supporter of her claim to be a successor to Elizabeth, so he was an unwelcome guest.
[2] After his death, Anne married Adrian Stokes, the second husband, and former Master of Horse of Frances Grey, Duchess of Suffolk.
