1565.] THE EMBASSY OF DE SILVA. 275 to him that he would have had her dragged back from it by force. ' I never saw Lidington in such perplexity and pas- sion/ wrote Throgrnorton ; ' 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 unad- vised act.' Mary Stuart's orders to Maitland to return to London were so distinct that he hesitated before he again dis- obeyed ; 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 ambas- sador at Alnwick. At the Border they heard the alarm- ing news that Chatelherault had been bribed into com- pliance 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 Ma- jesty's safety.' ' Sir Henry Percy is dangerous.' 1 Time pressed. On the I5th 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 n and 12 Scotch MSS. Rolls Home.
