The documentation surrounding Marlowe’s death does not rule out murder. Marlowe’s rumored work as a spy for Elizabeth likely meant he had sensitive information that may have jeopardized one of the men present, or their employer. Killing Marlowe efficiently erases
Skeres, Nicholas
Nicholas Skeres (March 1563 – c.1601) was a con-man and government informant. Skeres worked as a servant for Thomas Walsingham. He was a government provocateur and a part of discovering the Babington Plot, working as a spy with Francis Walsingham.
Walsingham, Sir Francis
Francis Walsingham (1532-1590) was Queen Elizabeth I’s principal secretary and spymaster. He attended King’s College in Cambridge and continued his studies in France and Italy. As a Member of Parliament for Lyme Regis, Dorset, Walsingham worked with William Cecil and
Babington, Anthony
Anthony Babington (1561-1586) was an English conspirator famous for being the leader of a plot to murder Queen Elizabeth, known afterwards as “The Babington Plot.” He was born October of 1561 and secretly raised a Roman Catholic. He went on
Seaton, Ethel
Seaton, Ethel. “Marlowe, Robert Poley, and the Tippings.” The Review of English Studies, vol. 5, no. 19, 1929, pp. 273–287. JSTOR, jstor.org/stable/507726. Seaton, Ethel. “Robert Poley’s Ciphers.” The Review of English Studies, vol. 7, no. 26, 1931, pp. 137-150. JSTOR, jstor.org/stable/508499.
Furdell, Elizabeth L.
Furdell, Elizabeth. “The Death of Christopher Marlowe.” Sixteenth Century Journal: Journal of Early Modern Studies, vol. 27, no. 2, 1996, pp. 477-482. JSTOR, jstor.org/stable/2544145.
Deloney, Thomas
Deloney, Thomas. A Most Joyfull Songe, made in the Behalfe of All Her Maiesties Faithfull Subjects, of the Great Joy, at the Taking of the Late Trayterous Conspirators: Ballad. Jones, 1586. EEBO, eebo.chadwyck.com.
Gray, Austin K
Gray, Austin K. “Some Observations on Christopher Marlowe, Government Agent.” PMLA, vol. 43, no. 3, 1928, pp. 682–700. JSTOR, jstor.org/stable/457494.
De Kalb, Eugénie
De Kalb, Eugénie. “Robert Poley’s Movements as a Messenger of the Court, 1588 to 1601.” The Review of English Studies, vol. 9, no. 33, 1933, pp. 13–18. JSTOR, jstor.org/stable/508634.
Poley (Pooley), Robert
Robert Poley (Pooley) Robert Poley spied for the Elizabethan government, carried messages, and played a key role in the Babington Plot. Robert Poley worked as a messenger and spy for the British Government, under the employ of Sir Robert Cecil and Sir Francis Walsingham. He was present for
Skeres, Nicholas
Nicholas Skeres Nicholas Skeres (March 1563 – c.1601), was a con-man and government informant. Nicholas Skeres came from a wealthy family, as his father was a member of The Guild of Merchant Taylors. He worked as a servant for Thomas Walsingham. He was a government provocateur and a part