Read Online Ancient and Medieval Traitors - Back-stabbers, turncoats and conspirators (True Crime) by Gordon Kerr - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Gordon Kerr
Ads: Link
can be seen as a man whose morality was dear to him and who was forced to give his life as a punishment for speaking his views publicly.
Sir Francis Walsingham
As with many of the ‘squealers’ discussed throughout this book, Walsingham grew up with a very privileged lifestyle. His family was very wealthy and in possession of enough capital to invest in a large manor in Kent. The boy’s connections with the royal family came from an early age as they were closely related to one of Henry VIII’s ministers, Sir Anthony Denny. Sir Francis Walsingham’s interest in politics could have stemmed from his early association with this influential family member, but the boy would surely have been steered towards a career in politics with the influence of his father, who was a renowned lawyer.
Following the death of his father, Walsingham’s youth became enriched by more useful connections. His mother was remarried to a relation of Henry Carey, a man closely connected to the Boleyn family, whose daughter Anne would soon become Queen of England. As a consequence, Walsingham spent much of his youth in the company of Anne’s daughter Elizabeth, who would ultimately ascend to the throne of England. Brought up as a staunch Protestant, Walsingham stayed true to his religious convictions and imposed a voluntary exile upon himself after Elizabeth’s older sister, Mary, ascended to the throne. The new ruler was a very strict Catholic and was well known for her violent execution of ‘heretics’ who did not follow the Catholic faith. Walsingham was able to use his self-imposed exile to his own advantage by venturing abroad to pursue other avenues not accessible to him in England.
W ALSINGHAM’S E DUCATION
For the next five years Walsingham lived abroad and began a rigorous training in both foreign languages and law. His goal was to carve a political career out for himself and to offer his services to the British monarchy. Throughout the period of his training two English monarchs had died; both Queen Mary and King Edward, and the ascension to the throne of Elizabeth, pleased Walsingham greatly. Not only had she been a close acquaintance of his throughout his youth, she also held the same religious beliefs as he did, which meant that he would be free to return to England whenever he desired. Throughout the period of his education Walsingham became deeply interested in the idea of constructing a secret service which would act to expose the plans of enemies of the monarch as soon as they had been formulated. These ideas came into the young man’s mind whilst he was continuing his studies in law. He continued to remain abroad in Padua until 1555 when he made the decision to return to his homeland.
Upon return to England Walsingham built up many useful connections which allowed him to rise quickly in the field of politics. He often assisted one of Elizabeth I’s most trusted advisers, Sir William Cecil, who gradually instigated the young man’s return to the Commons. Due to his excellent education, he was able to assist in matters of great importance regarding foreign affairs, and in 1570 was sent to France by the queen on a very important mission to secure favourable terms for the Huguenots in their negotiations with Charles IX. Following a negative experience with the French king he returned to England with a lasting distrust for the man and warned Elizabeth not to enter into any political agreements with him. His skills at dealing with foreign affairs were duly noted by the queen, and he became one of her principal secretaries of state soon after his experience in France. He also proved himself an invaluable assistant to the queen with his intricately masterminded ability to obtain intelligence from abroad. Clearly he had great talents in the field of secret service and he was frequently able to make a great contribution to Elizabeth’s throne by combining information from sources at home and abroad.
W
Sir Francis Walsingham
As with many of the ‘squealers’ discussed throughout this book, Walsingham grew up with a very privileged lifestyle. His family was very wealthy and in possession of enough capital to invest in a large manor in Kent. The boy’s connections with the royal family came from an early age as they were closely related to one of Henry VIII’s ministers, Sir Anthony Denny. Sir Francis Walsingham’s interest in politics could have stemmed from his early association with this influential family member, but the boy would surely have been steered towards a career in politics with the influence of his father, who was a renowned lawyer.
Following the death of his father, Walsingham’s youth became enriched by more useful connections. His mother was remarried to a relation of Henry Carey, a man closely connected to the Boleyn family, whose daughter Anne would soon become Queen of England. As a consequence, Walsingham spent much of his youth in the company of Anne’s daughter Elizabeth, who would ultimately ascend to the throne of England. Brought up as a staunch Protestant, Walsingham stayed true to his religious convictions and imposed a voluntary exile upon himself after Elizabeth’s older sister, Mary, ascended to the throne. The new ruler was a very strict Catholic and was well known for her violent execution of ‘heretics’ who did not follow the Catholic faith. Walsingham was able to use his self-imposed exile to his own advantage by venturing abroad to pursue other avenues not accessible to him in England.
W ALSINGHAM’S E DUCATION
For the next five years Walsingham lived abroad and began a rigorous training in both foreign languages and law. His goal was to carve a political career out for himself and to offer his services to the British monarchy. Throughout the period of his training two English monarchs had died; both Queen Mary and King Edward, and the ascension to the throne of Elizabeth, pleased Walsingham greatly. Not only had she been a close acquaintance of his throughout his youth, she also held the same religious beliefs as he did, which meant that he would be free to return to England whenever he desired. Throughout the period of his education Walsingham became deeply interested in the idea of constructing a secret service which would act to expose the plans of enemies of the monarch as soon as they had been formulated. These ideas came into the young man’s mind whilst he was continuing his studies in law. He continued to remain abroad in Padua until 1555 when he made the decision to return to his homeland.
Upon return to England Walsingham built up many useful connections which allowed him to rise quickly in the field of politics. He often assisted one of Elizabeth I’s most trusted advisers, Sir William Cecil, who gradually instigated the young man’s return to the Commons. Due to his excellent education, he was able to assist in matters of great importance regarding foreign affairs, and in 1570 was sent to France by the queen on a very important mission to secure favourable terms for the Huguenots in their negotiations with Charles IX. Following a negative experience with the French king he returned to England with a lasting distrust for the man and warned Elizabeth not to enter into any political agreements with him. His skills at dealing with foreign affairs were duly noted by the queen, and he became one of her principal secretaries of state soon after his experience in France. He also proved himself an invaluable assistant to the queen with his intricately masterminded ability to obtain intelligence from abroad. Clearly he had great talents in the field of secret service and he was frequently able to make a great contribution to Elizabeth’s throne by combining information from sources at home and abroad.
W
Similar Books
