Table of Contents
List of Illustrations x
Preface xi
Acknowledgements xiv
Family Trees xvi
Part 1 Apprenticeships
1 The Cyssylls of Stamford 3
2 St John the Evangelist 12
3 London and Court 24
4 Servant and Secretary 33
5 Conscience or Treason? 50
6 'Some Fruit Made of an Evil Time' 65
Part 2 'A Shop for Cunning Men'
7 Master Secretary's Device 85
8 'This Famous Isle' 103
9 'As Sheep without a Shepherd' 121
10 Household and Family 139
11 Conspiracy and Rebellion 151
12 Vomiting up a Poison 167
13 To Kill a Duke 184
Part 3 Burghley's Commonwealth
14 'The Poorest Lord in England' 205
15 A Gaping Gulf 223
16 The Execution of Justice 241
17 The Commission 260
18 To Kill a Queen 279
19 Burghley Triumphant 296
20 'Better for Heaven than for the World' 315
Epilogue 332
Reflections 335
Notes 348
Select Bibliography 372
Index 389