The Eye of the Crown
The Development and Evolution of the Elizabethan Secret Service
- 360 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
The Eye of the Crown
The Development and Evolution of the Elizabethan Secret Service
About this book
This volume discusses the development of governmental proto-bureaucracy, which led to and was influenced by the inclusion of professional agents and spies in the early modern English government.
In the government's attempts to control religious practices, wage war, and expand their mercantile reach both east and west, spies and agents became essential figures of empire, but their presence also fundamentally altered the old hierarchies of class and power. The job of the spy or agent required fluidity of role, the adoption of disguise and alias, and education, all elements that contributed to the ideological breakdown of social and class barriers. The volume argues that the inclusion of the lower classes (commoners, merchants, messengers, and couriers) in the machinery of government ultimately contributed to the creation of governmental proto-bureaucracy. The importance and significance of these spies is demonstrated through the use of statistical social network analysis, analyzing social network maps and statistics to discuss the prominence of particular figures within the network and the overall shape and dynamics of the evolving Elizabethan secret service.
The Eye of the Crown is a useful resource for students and scholars interested in government, espionage, social hierarchy, and imperial power in Elizabethan England.
Frequently asked questions
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.4M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Information
Table of contents
- Cover Page
- Half-Title Page
- Series Page
- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- Dedication Page
- Contents
- List of figures
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction: Spycraft and Social Networks in Tudor England
- 1 New Monarchs, Reformation, and the Start of English Intelligence to 1553
- 2 Exiles, Diplomats, and William Cecil's Spies, 1553–1570
- 3 Regnans in Excelsis, the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre, and the Foundation of Walsingham's Intelligence Service, 1570–1579
- 4 Jesuit Priests and Double Agents, 1580–1584
- 5 The Problem of Mary Queen of Scots, 1585–1587
- 6 Empire, Armada, and Nonconformity, 1587–1590
- 7 Master Secretaries, 1590–1598
- 8 Kingmaker and Spymaster, 1599–1603
- Conclusion: A New King in the Network
- Appendix
- Bibliography
- Index