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CHAPTER 1  THE FIRST SPIES

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Plotting against the Queen

When Elizabeth I was crowned Queen of England

in 1558, she faced many enemies. As a Protestant

nation, England was threatened by the great

Catholic powers of France and Spain, and within the

country, Catholics secretly worked for the queen’s

downfall. Fortunately for Elizabeth, she was able to

call upon the services of one of the most talented

of spy chiefs.

In 1573, Sir Francis Walsingham was made Elizabeth’s

Secretary of State, an appointment that included running

all aspects of espionage. A man of great intelligence

and energy, Walsingham built up a spying organization

that successfully defeated a series of plots intended to

depose the queen.

THE BABINGTON PLOT

Elizabeth’s main rival to the throne was her Catholic cousin,

Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots. Mary was involved in many of

the political intrigues of the period, which culminated in the

Babington Plot of 1586. The plotters’ intention was to free

Mary, who had been imprisoned in England after fleeing

from Scotland in 1568. This would be followed by an uprising

of English Catholics, invasion by a Spanish army, and the

assassination of Elizabeth.

At the center of the plot was Anthony Babington, a

courier and former page to Mary. Unknown to Babington,

however, his ring of conspirators had been infiltrated by two

double-agents working for Walsingham. They discovered

the details of the plot and were able to intercept

correspondence between Mary and the plotters. The letters

were deciphered by the English cryptographer-in-chief

Thomas Phelippes. Although the messages were already

highly damning, Walsingham unscrupulously forged an

addition that “confirmed” Mary’s involvement in the plot.

The Babington ring were promptly arrested and its members

executed. Mary was beheaded at Fotheringhay Castle on

February 8, 1587.

“THERE IS LESS DANGER IN FEARING TOO MUCH THAN TOO LITTLE.”

Sir Francis Walsingham, Chief Spy to Queen Elizabeth I

Top left:

Sir Francis

Walsingham

Bottom left:

Mary Stuart

Top right:

Elizabeth I