UKTV - Historys Ultimate Spies (2015) Part 2 Sir Francis Walsingham

Treason has always been one of the most severly punishable crime. Every country, state, crown or government has its enemies, even when they're not at war. These battles are fought in the murky shadows and grey underworld, in obscure buildings and hidden rooms, where the prize is not territory or land…..but information. Long before any forms of mass communication, history's spymasters invented and established any number of sophisticated spy networks, many of which formed the basis for the rules of modern day espionage. It was these men and women who pulled the invisible strings, chose the operatives and established the methods used by the first secret services of the world. They were the cold eyed, ruthless servants prepared to do anything to serve their political or royal masters. The stories of History's Ultimate Spies are woven around many notorious plots and infamous characters, and they'll feature in a series that delves into the psyche of the men and women who set up the networks - or destroyed them. Scenes like these have been played out for centuries by infamous figures who wielded the power behind the throne. It is these men and women and their methods that are the subject of this series. From Tudor times to the early 20th Century, It is the stories of these spymasters and their methods that feature in this six part series.

Part 2 Sir Francis Walsingham

History's scheming spymasters in profile. Hear all about the remarkable cunning of Francis Walsingham, whose spy network foiled many plots against Queen Elizabeth I. As a Protestant, Queen Elizabeth I lived with the threat of assassination from Catholics throughout her reign. Thankfully, there was an army of men available to work in secret under spy master Francis Walsingham with the sole aim of protecting her. As this documentary reveals, Walsingham was able to demonstrate remarkable cunning in his role. In the face of conspiracies to replace or even kill the Queen, Walsingham established a network of spies and informants in England and Europe. The use of ciphers, coded documents and invisible ink was legendary.

Full Version Available Upon Request
Episode One Shown Here