Elizabethan Secret Agent: The Untold Story of William Ashby (1536-1593)

by Ashby, Timothy

• ISBN13: 9781910895597
• ISBN10: 1910895598
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2022-03-30
• Publisher: Scotland Street Press

Summary

The only biography of William Ashby, an Elizabethan intelligence agent and diplomat who served as ambassador to Scotland during the Spanish Armada crisis.

Focusing on the Anglo-Scottish geo-political relationship during the decade of 1580-1590, with its machinations and bizarre background stories, it provides fresh social, political and foreign policy insight from the perspective of a gentleman spy who took part in some of the most important events of his time. Prior to Ashby’s ambassadorial appointment, he served as a senior ‘intelligencer’ for Sir Francis Walsingham, Elizabeth’s spymaster.

Author Biography

Timothy Ashby worked in Washington, D.C. as a counter-terrorism consultant to the US State Department, and a senior official at the US Commerce Department. He held two Top Secret security clearances and worked with a number of colourful characters, including members of the U.S. military’ s Joint Special Operations Command.

Table of Contents

CONTENTS List of Illustrations Introduction Prologue – ‘ the benefits conferred on us by our ancestors’ Part One – Early Life Chapter I - Education Chapter II - Exile Chapter III – Return to an unhappy land Part Two – On Her Majesty’ s Service Chapter IV – Walsingham’ s Intelligencer Chapter V – The Queen’ s vacillation Chapter VI – Low Countries reconnaissance operation Chapter VII - Purgatory in the Low Countries Chapter VIII – Brigands on the Rhine Part Three – Scotland Chapter IX - Anglo-Scottish animosity Chapter X – Walsingham’ s failed diplomatic mission Chapter XI - Universal miscontent in the country Chapter XII – The Armada cometh Chapter XIII – Ashby’ s ambassadorship to Scotland Chapter XIV – The approach of the Spaniards causes Ashby to make offers to the King Chapter XV – A necessary play of penitence Chapter XVI – ‘ ... the great ship was blown in the air’ Chapter XVII – Ashby reveals to James a plot against him by his own lairds Chapter XVIII - The lairds’ open insurrection Chapter XIX – Fowler’ s defamation of Ashby Chapter XX - Ashby tarries in Edinburgh while the King seeks his bride Chapter XXI – Vindication Chapter XXII – A last plot foiled before death’ s gloomy shade Appendix I - Sir Robert Naunton Appendix II - Dramatis Personae Bibliography Notes