The rogues gallery

Walsingham’s men were spies who sold their honour and loyalty to the highest bidder

Giordano Bruno

An Italian friar, poet and philosopher, Bruno was close friends with Philip Sydney. While he was in London, it is believed that Walsingham had him deployed as a spy for the court in the French embassy. His information led to the reveal of a plot to dispose of Elizabeth and replace her with Mary Stuart.

Thomas Phelippes

Coming from humble origins as the son of a cloth merchant, Phelippes managed to climb the social ladder thanks to his amazing ability with languages. Speaking French, Italian, Spanish, Latin and German, his skills easily transferred to make him a talented cryptographer and he was snatched up by Walsingham to decipher enemy letters. His work proved that Mary Stuart was involved in a plot to oust Elizabeth, resulting in her execution.

Robert Poley

Poley’s origins are swathed in mystery. In 1580, he appeared almost out of nowhere with a large amount of money. He was determined to find work as a spy and Walsingham ushered him into the network as a Catholic informer. He befriended the masterminds of the Babington plot and was monumental in its undoing.

Gilbert Gifford

Born to a Catholic family, Gifford was ordained as a Catholic deacon. He was actually arrested by Walsingham but agreed to work for him as a double agent. Given the codename ‘number four’, he befriended Mary Stuart and secretly delivered coded letters from her to Walsingham. After the plot was revealed, he quickly fled to France and was ordained as a priest in Rheims. To this day, whether he was allied to Walsingham and Elizabeth or Mary remains a mystery.

Antony Standen

Known by the alias Pompero Pellegrini, Standen was another Catholic who had been convinced by Walsingham to act as a spy. Although he was settled in France, he was able to obtain crucial information about plans for the Spanish Armada for over two years, including a list of ships, supplies and men. Despite his service to England, Standen’s devotion to the Catholic Church resulted in him being imprisoned in the Tower of London.