Walsingham, Francis

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English politician and principal secretary of state to Elizabeth I from 1573 until his death. A staunch Puritan, he advocated a strong anti-Spanish foreign policy and controlled an efficient government spy network to identify and forestall Roman Catholic conspiracies against the queen. Walsingham's spies uncovered planned assassinations by Francis Throckmorton (1584) and Antony Babington (1586). His exposure of the involvement of Mary Queen of Scots in the latter plot persuaded Elizabeth to order her execution. Walsingham was knighted for his services in 1577.

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