Robert Poley facts for kids

Robert Poley, also known as Pooley, was an English secret agent who worked for the government during the time of Queen Elizabeth I. He was known as a "double agent," meaning he pretended to be on one side while secretly working for the other. Poley was very important in finding out about the Babington plot in 1586, which was a plan to harm the Queen. He was also present when the famous writer Christopher Marlowe died in 1593.

Robert Poley's Early Life

We don't know exactly when Robert Poley was born or where he grew up. The first record we have of him is from 1568. He started studying at Clare College at Cambridge University. He was a "sizar," which meant he received financial help and sometimes did small jobs for the college. Most students started university around age 17, so Poley was likely born in the early 1550s. He didn't finish his degree, which might have been because he was secretly a Catholic, a role he used later in his work.

After university, we don't know what Poley did until the early 1580s. He seemed to have a lot of money during this time. In 1582, he got married and had a daughter named Anne in 1583. Around this time, he started trying to work for Sir Francis Walsingham, who was Queen Elizabeth's chief spy. Poley pretended to be a Catholic who could give information. However, Walsingham had him put in prison for a while in 1583.

Starting His Secret Work

After being released from prison, Poley kept trying to get a job with the government. He tried to work for Sir Francis Walsingham again, and also for the Earl of Leicester. He had some success with the Earl of Leicester. In 1585, Poley worked as a special messenger. He pretended to be a Catholic supporter and went to Paris. His job was to contact Thomas Morgan, who was involved in plots against Queen Elizabeth, working for Mary, Queen of Scots.

Later in 1585, Poley was placed with Sir Philip Sidney, who was Sir Francis Walsingham's son-in-law. Sir Philip lived in Walsingham's house. This arrangement allowed Poley to be near Sir Francis Walsingham often. This made it seem normal for Poley to be in Walsingham's house, so no one suspected he was actually working for him.

When Sir Philip Sidney went to fight in the Netherlands in 1585, Poley stayed behind. He remained in Walsingham's house until Sir Philip died in 1586. In January 1586, Poley was asked to help send letters to Mary, Queen of Scots. Even though the Catholics trusted him, Poley secretly gave all the details to Walsingham. He also helped uncover a plan to harm the Earl of Leicester.

The Babington Plot Exposed

In June 1586, Poley's secret role as a Catholic supporter was still working well. He was asked to help Sir Anthony Babington and his friends get travel documents from Walsingham. From then on, Poley became Babington's close helper. They were often seen together, even though some Catholics had doubts about Poley.

In August, the plot was discovered. Poley had been secretly copying some of Babington's papers, but he managed to explain his way out of it when Babington found him. Poley then told Sir Francis Walsingham everything. Even though the plotters tried to escape, they were all caught.

Poley was put in the Tower on August 18, 1586, as part of his cover story. He was supposedly "charged to have dealt treacherously." However, the Catholics were not fooled. Anthony Babington, who was later executed, suspected Poley had betrayed him. He wrote Poley a letter saying, "Farewell sweet Robyn, if as I take thee, true to me. If not adieu, omnius bipedum nequissimus [of all two-footed creatures the vilest]."

Poley stayed in the Tower for two years. During this time, Sir Philip Sidney died, and Mary, Queen of Scots, was put on trial and executed. Poley was released in late 1588. He had managed to stay in touch with his government contacts even while in prison.

Working as a Court Messenger

After his secret identity was known, Poley took on a more official role in Walsingham's service. He worked as a case officer and messenger. He was good at creating secret codes to send messages safely. Records show that between 1588 and 1601, he traveled to Denmark, the Netherlands, France, and Scotland. He carried important and secret documents for members of the Privy Council, which was a group of advisors to the Queen.

Sir Francis Walsingham died in 1590, but Poley continued to receive payments for his work. These payments came from other important government officials, like Sir Thomas Heneage and Lord Burghley. After their deaths, payments came from Lord Burghley's son, Sir Robert Cecil.

The Event with Christopher Marlowe

One of Poley's trips involved an important event with the famous writer Christopher Marlowe. This happened in Deptford in May 1593. Poley had left England on May 8 with messages for The Hague. Records show he delivered the replies to the court on June 8.

In 1925, details about Marlowe's death were found. Poley was one of three people who witnessed the event. The report said that a man named Ingram Frizer caused Marlowe's death. Poley and another man were sitting with Frizer when Marlowe reportedly started a fight over a bill.

Many people today find it hard to believe the official story of Marlowe's death. Some think it was a planned event, though they don't agree on who was behind it or why. There are still many questions about what happened that day.

Later Years of His Career

For the next eight years, Poley continued to work for the Privy Council as a messenger, secret agent, or spy. In September 1593, he was arrested in the Netherlands. He was accused of serious activities, but he was released after a few weeks without any charges.

He was likely imprisoned again in the summer of 1597. It seems he was placed in a prison called the Marshalsea to spy on the playwright Ben Jonson. Jonson's play, The Isle of Dogs, had upset the authorities. Jonson later wrote a poem that seemed to complain about spies like Poley.

The last known payment Poley received was in September 1601. He was paid for carrying messages to and from Paris. The last we hear of him is a letter he wrote in July 1602 to Sir Robert Cecil. In the letter, Poley shares information about Jesuits (a religious group) entering the country. He also suggests that his relationship with Cecil was difficult at that time. We do not know when or where Robert Poley died.