Elizabeth's Spymaster Read Online Free PDF

protection which I received from your mistress – regard it well.
    But all her powerful pleas for sympathy, all the theatre of her emotional eloquence, were swept away by Walsingham’s carefully constructed web of evidence, like a child’s collapsing tower of playing cards. Her fatal letter, written to Babington on 17 July 1586, was read out – including its final condemning plea: ‘Fail not to burn this privately and quickly.’
    The Scottish queen burst into tears of frustration and despair. But her defiance was undimmed. Wiping her eyes, she pointed at Walsingham, seated down the room from her, beyond the end of the lawyers’ table:
It is easy to imitate ciphers and handwriting, as has been lately done in France by a young man who boasts that he is my son’s brother.
I fear that all of this is the work of Monsieur de Walsingham for my destruction. [He] I am certain, has tried to deprive me of my life and my son of his.
    Her eyes flashing, still gesturing down the room at Elizabeth’s spy master, she issued a challenge: ‘But Mr Walsingham, I think you are an honest man and I pray you say in the words of an honest man whether you have done so or not.’ 44 She then turned her attention to some of the allegations made against her:
As to Ballard, I have heard him spoken of
Information has reached me from France that he was a very firm Catholic and that he wished to serve me but I was also told that he had great intelligence with Monsieur de Walsingham and that I must be on my guard …
I protest that I never even thought of the ruin of the Queen of England and that I would a hundred times rather have lost my life than see so many Catholics suffer for my sake and be condemned to a cruel death through hatred to my person. 45
    Lord Treasurer Burghley was sitting on the settle directly in front of Mary. He jumped to his feet and stated firmly: ‘No faithful subject has ever been put to death on account of religion. Some have been for treason, because they maintained the Bull and the authority of the Pope against that of our Queen.’ Mary retorted: ‘Yet I have heard just the contrary and readso in printed books.’ Burghley replied: ‘The authors of such books also declare that the Queen has forfeited the royal prerogative.’
    At the other end of the room, Walsingham stood up and interrupted these exchanges. Bowing his head respectfully in the direction of the royal prisoner, he was uncharacteristically anxious to answer her accusations against him.
I protest that my soul is free from all malice. God is my witness that, as a private person, I have done nothing unworthy of an honest man and as Secretary of State, nothing unbefitting my duty.
    He paused as if to lend emphasis to his words, and then addressed Mary directly. The two adversaries at last each confronted their own personal deadly enemy:
You have been told that I wish you ill; that I have often said things to your disadvantage; that I have confessed myself to be your enemy – no, even that I planned that the death of yourself and your son should happen on the same day.
But I assure you that I bear no ill-will to no one.
I have attempted no one’s death.
I protest that I am a man of conscience and a faithful servant to my mistress.
I confess that I am ever vigilant regarding all concerning the safety of my queen and country; I have closely watched all conspiracies against either.
As for Ballard, if he had offered me his assistance I could not have refused it, and should probably ha[ve] rewarded him. If I had any secret dealings with him, why did he not declare them in order to save his life? 46
    She had clearly twanged a raw nerve in Walsingham’s psyche, forcing him to speak of his private thoughts and motives. This was an astonishingly frank explanation of his personal and professional creed from Elizabeth’s spy master, although in parts – notably the references to the Scottish queen – suitably weasel-worded for a man of the shadowy worldof