Francis Walsingham Elizabeth's Secret Agent
This man was born to lead he would become the principal secretary to Queen
Elizabeth the first and will always be remembered as her spymaster. He rose
from relative obscurity to become one of the leading statesmen of his time.
He would oversee both foreign and domestic policy, and yet he supported
exploration and colonisation, but intelligence gathering would be his main
role. Join me now as we look at the fascinating world of Francis Walsingham.
Around the year 1532 was born a man who would one day work for Elizabeth the
first On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Francis Walsingham was the one and only
son of William Walsingham, a well connected London lawyer. Francis's mother
was Joyce Denny, the daughter of one of Henry the Eighth courtiers, Sir Edmund
Denny. Francis would enrol at King's College, Cambridge in 1548. However, as
with other undergraduates, he did not sit for a degree. Over the next two
years he had travelled around Europe before returning to Gray's Inn intending
to become a lawyer in 1552. When Edward the sixth died and Mary became queen,
many Protestants fled England, including Walsingham. With fear inside him,
his intentions were to Die Another Day. His travel took him to Basel and Padua,
when he became elected to the governing body in 1555. Mary the first died in
May 1558. She was succeeded by her half sister Elizabeth. Walsingham now returned
to England and with support from an old time friend Sir Frances Russell, the
second Earl of Bedford, he found himself elected to Elizabeth's first parliament.
After a few years inside the constituency lifestyle in January 1562. He met
and married a lady called Anne she was the daughter of Sir George Barn who at the
time was the Lord Mayor of London. Within two years Anne had died and it was No
time to Die. However she had left her son to her first marriage under the care
of Walsingham. But things looked up just four years later, and when he met
another. She was called Ursula St. Barbe, the widow of Richard Worsley. Walsingham
picked up some of her estates. The following year, 1567, they had their first
child Francis, but once again tragedy stroke when his two stepsons to Ursula
had been killed in a gunpowder accident. Yet, while all this was happening,
Walsingham started to climb the ladders of power. In 1569, he began work for
William Cecil, the main man in stopping any potential plots against
Elizabeth. He told Walsingham that whatever he saw was For your eyes Only. His
portfolio was lighting up he'd helped in stopping the Ridolfi plot, which if
that had succeeded would have replaced Elizabeth with Mary, Queen of Scots. By
1570 the Queen had chosen Walsingham to support the Huguenots. He was asked
to negotiate with the French King Charles the ninth and he would replace Sir
Henry Norris as ambassador in Paris one year later. One of the subjects discussed
was in trying to get Elizabeth to marry Charles the ninth's younger brother Henry
of Anjou. But this failed mainly on the grounds of Henry's Catholicism. Other's
came forward eagerly to try and win Elizabeth's hand, but all to no avail. One was
Francis Duke of Alencon, but he was described by Walsingham as ugly and void
of humour. Elizabeth was also 20 years older than Alencon, and you could say
she wasn't amused and thought the whole idea was absurd. Walsingham would turn
his attention away from the marriage agreements and start to look at ways to
serve the country as a whole. His ideas were of alliances with France and turn
against the interest of Spain. This was eventually achieved with the Treaty of
Blois in 1572. Although this left no provision for a royal marriage, even if
Diamonds Are Forever, Elizabeth wouldn't be wearing one, at least not yet.
Battles continued between the Huguenots and the Spanish, mainly in the Netherlands,
which were Spanish provinces. Walsingham's wife Ursula had managed to escape
with their daughter to England, although she was also pregnant again at the
time. In 1573, a second daughter was born Mary. Walsingham returned in April
that year and was looked upon as a competent official, with the Queen and
Cecel could now trust. In December 1573. He achieved a role within the
Privy Council, and was made Secretary of State initially in a joint position with
Sir Thomas Smith. Still he retired in 1576, leaving Walsingham in complete
control. The following year, more adulation would come his way when he was
knighted on December the first 1577. Further posts would follow as he
climbed ever higher up the career ladder.
His new role as principal secretary was never formally defined yet he handled
all correspondence bound for the Queen. His power was felt through all
departments of government both at home and abroad. He would almost single
handedly arrange for new trade routes to be opened his ability to make the
people see the world is not enough, would take him on diplomatic missions
across Europe and neighbouring states. He actively supported the merchants
community and created schemes with investment to ensure they delivered. He
also endorsed Sir Francis Drake in his attempt to circumnavigate the globe. This
was of course part of a bigger plan to upset the Spanish and take control of
whatever could be gained from them.
Walsingham assessed the Netherlands
ongoing problem between the revolt of Protestants against Spain. He said wars
of conquest were totally unjust and a nation had a right to defend itself and
uphold his religious beliefs and freedoms. However, Cecil thought a more
modest approach was needed, and this was confirmed by Elizabeth in that
Walsingham should travel there and try and negotiate a settlement and gather
military intelligence. This may well alleviate any ongoing problems and give
them a Quantum of Solace. The question of marriage though was never far away
from the thoughts of Walsingham. He gave advice to Elizabeth but as we know
that was forgotten. He knew that any marriage must be carefully accounted for.
He was clearly opposed to any form of union with the French one because
Elizabeth was past the age of bearing children, which meant if she died, all
her realm could fall into the hands of French control. He was well aware that
religious riots could begin if word of the proposal got out. It was a
Spectre and a mental image he couldn't accept. Elizabeth however, listened to
him. She knew he could be blunt at times, but her trust in him shone
through. She famously called him her moor who cannot change his colour.
Tensions were rising and Walsingham was collating as much information now as he
could in the belief he had little to no trust in the French King Henry the
third, or even Edward Stafford appointed as the French ambassador in Paris.
Stafford was accused of becoming out to control due to gambling debts. He'd
also been passing sensitive information to the Spanish. For Walsingham, he started to
drip feed false information to Stafford in the hope of fooling the Spanish
regime. Walsingham's attention now turned to Scotland; an attempt was made to
secure a pro English government north of the border. He was sent to see James
the sixth in 1583, but he was reluctant to go at the time. But convincing James through
diplomacy was going to be difficult. As expected, James dismissed Walsingham
on the grounds he was the rightful and true King of Scotland. Walsingham offered
some advice by saying:
One rumour was that James the sixth had
intended on giving Walsingham a gift for his visit. A valuable diamond ring
that would later be withdrawn due to how the negotiations had gone, who
said Diamonds Are Forever, it was replaced by a crystal ring. However, a defence
agreement was obtained and known as the Treaty of Berwick in 1586. Walsingham had
always led a very Protestant lifestyle. With his power this meant he could
literally do whatever he wanted. With the enemy of the state Catholicism. He
would entertain torture against priests and conspirators and Edmund Campion,
was one who fell into these categories which resulted in his execution in
1581. You see, Walsingham could never forget the atrocities he had seen in
France, his view of the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre would live long in his
memory. If Catholic rule ever returned to England, he feared the same outcome
in his own country. Catholics were tracked down priests in particular
interception of letters and plans was the top target for this spymaster.
Conspirators were forced into forgery and encryption, but this didn't get past
Walsingham. He had an ace up his sleeve in the form of Arthur Gregory, his
skills in breaking seals and repairing them to avoid detection. One such move
helps secure the foundations of a plot in 1582. A letter from the Spanish
Ambassador Mendoza in England was sent to several contacts. Sir John Foster was
the messenger he was found and the letters were given to Walsingham. They
showed a growing conspiracy among Catholics to invade England and remove
Elizabeth from the throne.
By April 1583, Walsingham now had a spy; he was placed within London's French
Embassy, it would take six months of investigation and surveillance to bring
forward the culprits. The spy in the French camp brought allegations against Francis
Throckmorton, who had visited the ambassador several times. It was found that
once Elizabeth had been removed, Mary Queen of Scots would be installed as the
new Queen of England. Throckmorton was arrested and had the living daylights
beaten out of him until he admitted the charge. He was executed in 1584. As
for Mendoza, he was quickly expelled from England. In mid 1584, William the
Silent who was the leader of a Dutch revolt against Spain was assassinated. This
single act reinforced concerns against Queen Elizabeth's safety. It would be
Walsingham that would be intervening by creating a bond of association, with
the people who signed it promising to hunt down and give a Licence to Kill to
anyone who conspired against the throne of England. By the following month,
Mary Queen of Scots had been placed under strict custody of Sir Amius Paulet
a close friend to Walsingham. By Christmas she had be moved to Chartley a
moated Manor House. Walsingham instructed Paulet to open any mail that came
her way and to block and report any potential threats. An ingenious plan came
to the mind of Walsingham. He would use covert means to capture her letters in an
attempt to entrap her. This was done by smuggling her mail-in and out through
beer kegs. Mary went along with the plan knowing nothing of the operation.
Walsingham was carrying out. In contrast, Walsingham was now busily
deciphering all the content.
Anthony Babington had written to Mary with views about
the impending plot to kill Elizabeth. Mary replied not only encouraging but
sanctioning his efforts. The end was nigh, though, and Walsingham was way ahead of
the game. He had all the conspirators rounded up including Babbington, with 14
executions taking place in September 1586. As for Mary, she would Die
Another Day, her trial took place in October, the charge being the Act of
Surety of the Queen's person. Mary broke down at the trial, but Walsingham was
happy to retort his disbelief at her uncooperative nature. He stated he was
just doing his duty, Mary was found guilty and she would be executed. Although
Elizabeth paused to sign the death warrant against her initially, she signed it
on February the first 1587. Within a week, Mary was beheaded. One of the
greatest moments for Elizabeth came against Spain and the Armada. Walsingham was
once again at the forefront of much that was set in place to quell the enemy.
He directed Edward Standen a close friend to take up the role as his latest
agent. He would befriend the Tuscan ambassador to Madrid, who would reveal some
very juicy and potentially dangerous dispatches. This was all Walsingham
needed. He now was encouraging a more aggressive strategy to thwart the
Spaniards. He tried in vain to get the Ottoman Sultan to attack some Spanish
forces in the Mediterranean, which would hopefully distract them further for a
while. But when Francis Drake attacked Cadiz in 1587, this was right at
Walsingham Street. He loved that now England was at last taking the bull by
the horns, and there was little in the way of Ole from the Spaniards at this
move. This didn't stop any invasion attempt. It just merely paused it for a
while so Spain could regroup and begin their attack. They set sail for
England in July 1588 Canon shot and Thunderball rang out across the English
Channel. By the 18th of August the battle was won and the Spanish forces were
sent away. Lord Henry Seymour wrote to Walsingham saying "you have fought more
with your pen than many have in our English navy fought with their enemies."
It was a momentous time for Walsingham; his hard work had brought down plots,
conspirators and countries all intent on bringing harm to England and its
royalty. He had a force of intelligent officers strewn everywhere. Not much got
by without his knowledge, and he was indeed a top class leader in the secret
world of espionage and counterintelligence, he had managed to exploit
weaknesses in others in which he cast his net far and wide. He knew exactly
how to extract and use the levels of knowledge he was gaining, but more
importantly, how to collate and use this to bring down all who failed to show
respect and loyalty to Elizabeth and the country.
Walsingham was a cult hero. His tactics certainly made people think at times,
but without his concerns, we could well have seen a very different outcome
than the one we were left with. Francis Walsingham died on April the 6 1590,
he was buried beside his son at a private ceremony the following day. His
grave and monument were destroyed in the Great Fire of London. But his name
still remains today on a modern monument listing the graves that were lost.
Walsingham managed to pen a will; he had been given land grants by Elizabeth.
he also received donations of cloth. His principal residences today no longer
exist, and his lack of money at the end was mainly due because he spent it all
on espionage to help his Queen Elizabeth and the Protestant cause over those
trying times. His debt was eventually calculated, it wasn't pleasant reading
for he had become 43,000 pounds in the red. Due to his diligence and loyalty
throughout his life. His debts were cancelled. Walsingham's only surviving
daughter, Francis gained a 300 pound per year annuity. His wife Ursula
continued living at Barn Elms knowing that her husband was the spy who loved me,
she died in 1602. Walsingham was lauded by his Protestant fans a sound pillar
of the Commonwealth, chief patron by virtue. He had poems and sonnets written
about him. It wasn't all glad tidings for him, some thought him to be
inhumane and cruel, and the Catholics portray him as ruthless, devious and
driven by intolerance. Whatever your thoughts on Francis Walsingham, maybe
it's a miraculous story and a career that encompassed the early days of espionage. He
wasn't The Man with the Golden Gun, but he indeed held a Licence to Kill