Page 86 - All About History 58 - 2017 UK

The Dark Arts of Elizabeth’s Spymaster

as a member of parliament, though he had very Walsingham had already been plucked by
little enthusiasm for this role despite holding William Cecil, Elizabeth’s most trusted secretary,
it until his death. There was something he did to perform ‘confidential’ tasks. He was a talented
have an interest in, however, and with Elizabeth’s linguist and used his skills to spy on foreigners in
ascension the age of it had begun — espionage. London who may have borne ill will towards the
England’s relationship with Spain had been monarch. Walsingham was not only good at this —
good under Mary I — she had even attempted a his skills were unparalleled. He developed his own
marriage with King Philip — and there was talk resources, recruiting talented men to work for him
of Elizabeth continuing this trend. However, this throughout the country, as well as in the major
was not to be. Rather than strengthening the bond cities of Europe.
between the two nations, the countries drifted He was already hearing whispers of a plan by
further apart. Of course, the very Catholic king of Spanish and French Catholics to place the Catholic
Spain was not overly fond of Elizabeth’s Protestant Mary Stuart — also known as Mary, Queen of Scots
allegiances and when Protestant rebellions sparked — on the throne and he urged Cecil to take these
in Spanish-owned countries, England’s calls for rumours seriously, saying that “there is less danger
Protestant unity were not unheard by Philip. in fearing too much than too little.” This mantra
These tensions eventually mounted into Spanish would follow him throughout his career and see
ships attacking English privateers and any chance him foil some of the most dangerous conspiracies
of an amicable alliance was lost. against a monarch in English history.
The king himself, Philip II, did little to help Walsingham’s persuasion skills did not go
relations. He was an infamously suspicious man, unnoticed and between 1570 and 1573 he served
untrusting even of his own faithful servants, and as the ambassador to the French court. Here he As a Protestant, Elizabeth
d h
b h
he often disgraced men and women loyal to him. tried to obtain a union between El Elizabeth and the faced plots to put Catholic
royals on the English throne
He was dubbed the ‘spider king’ due to the many duke of Anjou, hoping that an alli iance between
plots he would weave from the shadows. the two old enemies would stop F France
His own court historian wrote that “his smile from siding with Spain against Walsi ingham knew enemies — he
and his dagger were very close.” This caused bitter England. However, he merely knew
w how to spy on them and how to
infighting within the Spanish court, which seeped became convinced that an accord deal with them. He knew how to be
into government and the country itself. This between the two nations with distr rustful. What he wasn’t so good at
court of distrust and betrayal created the perfect their dividing religious beliefs was s was cultivating friendships. He was dry,
atmosphere for foreign powers to take advantage — now impossible, and that instead dark, , sallow and brutally honest with his
and England intended to expose and extort of all it is “less peril to live with them as compa anions. For many, Walsingham was
of the king’s weaknesses. enemies, than as friends.” a difficult t pill to swallow and he even had
y encounte
fiery ers with Elizabeth herself. However,
The Babington plot played right into Elizabeth’s hands, all this was tol lerated due to his supreme political
allowing her to eliminate the main contender to her throne and intelligence-gathering skills. Elizabeth knew
she faced one of the greatest political schemers in
Philip II and she needed her own weaver of plots
in order to best him.
Walsingham returned to England towards the
end of 1573 and was made a principal secretary,
handling domestic and foreign affairs — but his
attention was drawn to one person. He knew that
all Catholic hope now rested on Mary Stuart and
as long as she remained alive, schemes would
rise up to put her on the throne. Walsingham was
determined to squash every single one of them.
The spymaster concentrated on expanding
his ring. Walsingham had eyes not only in
every major county of England, but also France,
Scotland, Spain, Italy, Turkey and even as far as
North Africa. It is rumoured that at one time he
had 53 agents in foreign courts and 18 more with
undefined roles.
Almost all of these spies were Catholics willing
to betray each other and he obtained his men by
any means necessary. Walsingham used prison

86