Sir Nicholas Throckmorton (unknown artist)

Sir Nicholas Throckmorton (or Throgmorton) (c. 1515/1516 – 12 February 1571) was an English diplomat and politician, who was an ambassador to France and played a key role in the relationship between Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... 1515 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... // Events March - With the death of Ferdinand II of Aragon, his grandson Charles of Ghent becomes King of Spain as Carlos I. July - Selim I of the Ottoman Empire declares war on the Mameluks and invades Syria. ... is the 43rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events January 11 - Austrian nobility is granted Freedom of religion. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... This article is about negotiations. ... The Politics series Politics Portal This box:      A politician is an individual who is a formally recognized and active member of a government, or a person who influences the way a society is governed through an understanding of political power and group dynamics. ... This article is about Elizabeth I of England. ... Mary, Queen of Scots redirects here. ...

Early years

Nicholas Throckmorton was the fourth of eight sons of Sir George Throckmorton of Coughton Court in Warwickshire and Katherine, daughter of Nicholas, Lord Vaux of Harrowden, and an uncle of the conspirator Francis Throckmorton. He was brought up in the households of members of the Parr family, including that of his cousin Catherine Parr, the last wife of Henry VIII. He got acquainted with young princess Elizabeth when he was serving in the household of the former queen and her new husband Thomas Seymour and became a close confidante. In his youth he also became favourable to the Protestant reformation. This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... A detailed map Stratford-upon-Avon Kenilworth Castle Warwickshire (pronounced // or //) is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in central England. ... Vaux is the name or part of the name of several communes in France: Vaux, in the Allier département Vaux, in the Haute-Garonne département Vaux, in the Moselle département Vaux, in the Vienne département Vaux-Andigny, in the Aisne département Vaux-Champagne, in the... Francis Throckmorton (1554—1584) was a conspirator against Queen Elizabeth I of England. ... Catherine Parr or Jane Grey Catherine Parr (c. ... “Henry VIII” redirects here. ... Thomas Seymour, 1st Baron Seymour of Sudeley Thomas Seymour, Baron Seymour of Sudeley (c. ... “Reformation” redirects here. ...

When Seymour was executed in 1546, Throckmorton managed to distance himself from his affairs and eventually became the part of the circle of John Dudley and confidante of the young king Edward VI. John Dudley (1501-1553) was a Tudor nobleman and politician, executed for high treason by Queen Mary I of England. ... Edward VI (12 October 1537 – 6 July 1553) became King of England, King of France (in practice only the town and surrounding district of Calais) and Edward I of Ireland on 28 January 1547, and crowned on 20 February, at just nine years of age. ...

He sat in Parliament from 1545 to 1567, initially as the member for Devizes (a seat previously held by his brother, Clement Throckmorton). During the reign of Edward VI he was in high favor with the regents. Type Bicameral Houses House of Commons House of Lords Speaker of the House of Commons Michael Martin MP Lord Speaker Hélène Hayman, PC Members 1377 (646 Commons, 731 Peers) Political groups Labour Party Conservative Party Liberal Democrats Scottish National Party Plaid Cymru Democratic Unionist Party Sinn Féin... , Devizes is a town and civil parish in the English county of Wiltshire. ... Edward VI (12 October 1537 – 6 July 1553) became King of England, King of France (in practice only the town and surrounding district of Calais) and Edward I of Ireland on 28 January 1547, and crowned on 20 February, at just nine years of age. ...

In 1547, he was present at the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh during the invasion of Scotland. He was knighted in 1551, and the title included numerous benefits, including land grants, that gave him financial security. He held the post of under-treasurer at the Tower mint from 1549 to 1552. Combatants Scots English Commanders Earl of Arran Duke of Somerset Strength Between 23000 and 36000 17000 30 warships Casualties 5000 killed 1500 prisoners 500 killed The Battle of Pinkie Cleugh, along the banks of the River Esk near Musselburgh on 10 September 1547, was part of the War of the... This article is about the country. ... The Royal Mint is the body permitted to manufacture, or mint, coins in the United Kingdom. ...

Tudor Successions

After the death of Edward VI in 1553, during the short-lived attempt to place Lady Jane Grey on the throne, Throckmorton tried to keep contact with both supporters of both her and Queen Mary Tudor. Eventually he began to support the latter. Lady Jane Grey, formally Jane of England (1537 — 12 February 1554), a grand-niece of Henry VIII of England, reigned as uncrowned Queen regnant of the Kingdom of England for nine days[1] in July 1553. ... Mary I (18 February 1516 – 17 November 1558), also known as Mary Tudor, was Queen of England and Queen of Ireland from 6 July 1553 (de facto) or 19 July 1553 (de jure) until her death on 17 November 1558. ...

However, in January 1554 he was suspected of complicity in Wyatt's Rebellion and arrested. Later historians have suspected he was at least involved either because of his Protestantism or due to his dismay on the growing Spanish influence in the court. Wyatts Rebellion (1554) is a popular rising named for Thomas Wyatt the younger (son of Sir Thomas Wyatt). ... Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ...

Throckmorton was brought to trial at the Guildhall on 17 April of that year. He managed to convince the jury of his innocence even if the court was openly hostile to him. The judges included Sir Roger Cholmeley who was trying to impress the Catholic Mary. As a result, the court fined and imprisoned the jury and sent Throckmorton to the Tower. When he was released the next year, he fled to France in exile. Though there were people who wanted to put him to trial again, he was pardoned in 1557, and was employed by Queen Mary. The Guildhall The Guildhall complex in c. ... is the 107th day of the year (108th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For jury meaning makeshift, see jury rig. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... For other uses, see Tower of London (disambiguation) Her Majestys Royal Palace and Fortress The Tower of London, more commonly known as the Tower of London (and historically simply as The Tower), is an historic monument in central London, England on the north bank of the River Thames. ...

Elizabeth's court

Ambassador to France

After Elizabeth's accession Throckmorton rose rapidly into favour due to his personal acquaintance to her, sending her advice in the formation of her government. She followed some of that advice. He became Chief Butler and chamberlain of the exchequer, and from May 1559 to April 1564 he was ambassador to France. Throckmorton continued to send letters and messengers with advice to the Queen and she often followed them. The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister responsible for all economic and financial matters. ... An ambassador, rarely embassador, is a diplomatic official accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization, to serve as the official representative of his or her own country. ...

In these years Throckmorton also became acquainted with Mary Queen of Scots. He conducted the negotiations after her return to Scotland, and though he supported Reformation, he became her close friend, willing to do her favors. Mary, Queen of Scots redirects here. ... The Protestant Reformation was a movement which began in the 16th century as a series of attempts to reform the Roman Catholic Church, but ended in division and the establishment of new institutions, most importantly Lutheranism, Reformed churches, and Anabaptists. ...

As an ambassador Throckmorton encouraged Elizabeth to aid the Huguenots, and surreptitiously took a part in the war of religion. When Throckmorton returned to France from a brief trip to England in 1560, Roman Catholic leader, the Duke of Guise imprisoned him as a persona non grata. Guise was convinced that Throckmorton had been involved with the Tumult of Aboise, a Huguenot plot. Throckmorton later remarked that he was afraid he would be killed but was later released and retained his post as an ambassador. From the 16th to the 18th century the name Huguenot was applied to a member of the Protestant Reformed Church of France, historically known as the French Calvinists. ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... Henry I, Duke of Guise Coat of arms of the Duke of Guise Henry I, Prince of Joinville, Duke of Guise, Count of Eu (January 31, 1550 – December 23, 1588, Château de Blois), sometimes called Le Balafré, the scarred, was the eldest son of Francis, Duke of Guise and... Look up Persona non grata in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

In 1562, when religious violence began to intensify in France, Throckmorton wanted to support mediation efforts of Catherine de' Medici. Later in 1562, when the Huguenot Prince of Condé had taken over Newhaven (modern-day Le Havre) in April, Throckmorton convinced the Queen to send military aid to Huguenots in what was later called the Newhaven expedition. English troops garrisoned Le Havre in October 1562 but soon fell afoul with Huguenots. After the negotiations, the Huguenots turned against the English. After outbreak of plague, they had to surrender the next year. Catherine de' Medici was suspicious of Throckmorton's schemes, however, and when Elizabeth sent him to negotiate with her in 1563, she placed him under house arrest. Catherine de Medici (April 13, 1519 – January 5, 1589) was born in Florence, Italy, as Caterina Maria Romola di Lorenzo de Medici. ... Le Havre is a city in Normandy, northern France, on the English Channel, at the mouth of the Seine. ...

Elizabeth sent Sir Thomas Smith to negotiate his release. The two men soon begun to dislike each other and in one stage almost came to blows but Throckmorton was eventually released in 1564. Sir Thomas Smith (December 23, 1513–August 12, 1577), was an English scholar and diplomat. ...

Envoy to Mary Queen of Scots

After Throckmorton's return to England, the Queen sent him as an ambassador to Scotland in May 1565. His mission was to prevent a marriage of Queen Mary and Darnley, but he failed. After the murder of Darnley, Elizabeth sent Throckmorton to Scotland in June 1567. The Scottish barons had just imprisoned Queen Mary, and Elizabeth wished the barons to restore Mary to her authority. Throckmorton himself had recommended that Elizabeth should support the Barons. Henry Stuart, Duke of Albany (7 December 1545 – 9 or 10 February 1567), commonly known as Lord Darnley, king consort of Scotland, was the first cousin and second husband of Mary, Queen of Scots, and the father of her son King James VI, who also succeded Elizabeth I of England. ...

Throckmorton was working against his own advice and had contradictory orders from both his Queen and Sir William Cecil. The Scottish barons knew him as a friend of Queen Mary and as a supporter of her claim to be a successor to Elizabeth, so he was an unwelcome quest. Some of Elizabeth's messages also offended the barons. Throckmorton tried to secure the personal safety of the Queen Mary but offended Elizabeth when she showed his instructions to the Scottish barons and was recalled in August.

In 1569 Throckmorton was suspected of involvement in the Duke of Norfolk's conspiracy in favour of Mary, and was imprisoned for a time at Windsor. Throckmorton might have erroneously believed that Norfolk's idea would suit the wishes of the Queen. He was not put to trial but did not regain the Queen's confidence afterwards. Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk (March 10, 1536 — 1572) and 1st Earl of Southampton, was entrusted by Queen Elizabeth I of England with public office despite his family history and his prior support for the Catholic cause, although he claimed to be a... This article is about the castle in Windsor. ...

Nicholas Throckmorton died on 12 February 1571, and is buried in the church of St. Catherine Cree, Aldgate, where there is a monument to his memory. is the 43rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events January 11 - Austrian nobility is granted Freedom of religion. ... Aldgate was a gateway through London Wall to the City of London, located by the East End. ...

Family and legacy

Throckmorton married Anne Carew, daughter of Sir Nicholas Carew, a Knight of the Garter, and they had ten sons and three daughters. Their daughter Elizabeth became the wife of Sir Walter Raleigh. A garter is one of the Orders most recognisable insignia. ... Elizabeth (Bess) Raleigh, or Elizabeth Throckmorton (April 16, 1565 – c. ... This article is about the sixteenth-century explorer. ...

Contemporary political figures regarded Throckmorton with respect. One of these was Sir Francis Walsingham who had worked with Throckmorton in France. In 1560 William Cecil said he would be prepared to resign if Throckmorton would take his place and spoke well of him after his death, in spite of their constant disagreements. Some contemporaries also suspected that he was a gray eminence behind Robert Dudley. Francis Walsingham by John de Critz (detail) Sir Francis Walsingham (c. ... William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley (13 September 1521–4 August 1598), was an English politician, the chief advisor of Queen Elizabeth I for most of her reign. ... An éminence grise (French for grey eminence), is a powerful advisor or decision-maker who operates secretly or otherwise unofficially. ... At least two Robert Dudleys were prominent in history: Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester, and Robert Dudley, styled Earl of Warwick, his illegitimate son. ...

At the time of his death he held the posts of the keeper of Brigstock Park, Northamptonshire; Justice of the Peace in Northamptonshire; and Chief Butler of England and Wales. London's Throgmorton Street is named after him. Northamptonshire (abbreviated Northants or Nhants) is a landlocked county in central England with a population of 629,676 (2001 census). ... Throgmorton Street is a street in the City of London between Lothbury to the west and Old Broad Street to the east. ...

References

• The Trial of Nicholas Throckmorton (ISBN 0-9697512-8-1), by Annabel Patterson (derived from Holinshed's Chronicles)
• Biography from the History of Parliament
• Sebastian Walsh - Most Trusty and Beloved (History Today September 2005)
• Portrait of Sir Nicholas in the National Portrait Gallery]
• This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.