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From the acclaimed author of The Watchers, the untold story of Robert Cecil - the ultimate Tudor spy-master Robert Cecil, statesman and spymaster, lived through an astonishingly threatening period in English history. Queen Elizabeth had no clear successor and enemies both external and internal threatened to destroy England as a Protestant state, most spectacularly with the Spanish Armada and the Gunpowder Plot. Cecil stood at the heart of the Tudor and then Stuart state, a vital figure in managing the succession from Elizabeth I to James I & VI, warding off military and religious threats and steering the decisions of two very different but equally wilful and hard-to-manage monarchs. The promising son of Queen Elizabeth's chief minister Lord Burghley, for Cecil there was no choice but politics, and he became supremely skilled in the arts of power, making many rivals and enemies. All His Spies is a wonderfully engaging and original work of history. Many readers are familiar with the great events of this tumultuous time, but All His Spies shows how easily these dramas could have turned out very differently. Cecil's sureness of purpose, his espionage network and good luck all conspired to keep England uninvaded and to create a new 'British' monarchy which has endured to the present day.

Life in Europe was fundamentally changed in the 16th century by the astonishing discoveries of the New World and of direct sea routes to Asia. To start with England was hardly involved and London remained a gloomy, introverted medieval city. But as the century progressed something extraordinary happened. Stephen Alford's evocative, original and fascinating new book brings to life the network of merchants, visionaries, crooks and sailors who changed London forever. London's Triumph is above all about the people who made this possible - the families, the guild members, the money-men who were willing to risk huge sums and sometimes their own lives in pursuit of the rare, exotic and desirable. Their ambitions fuelled a new view of the world - initiating a long era of trade and empire, the consequences of which we still live with today.

Edward VI, the only son of Henry VIII, became king at the age of nine and died wholly unexpectedly at the age of fifteen. This book gives full play to the murky, sinister nature of Edward's reign, and also an account of a boy learning to rule, learning to enjoy his growing power and to come out of the shadows of the great aristocrats around him.

The acclaimed and enthralling story of the dark side of Elizabethan rule, from Stephen Alford Elizabeth I's reign is known as a golden age, yet to much of Europe she was a 'Jezebel' and heretic who had to be destroyed. This title is a portrayal of the secret state that sought to protect the Queen; a shadow world of spies, codebreakers and more.

William Cecil, Lord Burghley (1520-1598) was Elizabeth I's closest adviser. This revealing biography shows, the driving force behind the Queen's reign for four decades. It helps us redefine our understanding of the Elizabethan period.

The book reexamines the kingship and political landscape during Edward VI's reign, challenging the notion of instability due to his youth. It illustrates how Edward was groomed for kingship from a young age and how the political environment adapted to support his growth as a ruler. Additionally, it delves into the political values of his advisors and the intricate relationships within the governing elite, while also evaluating the influence of Edward's reign on the subsequent Elizabethan era.

Exploring the 'succession crisis' during Elizabeth I's early reign, this book presents a fresh perspective on the political and social dynamics of the time. It delves into the intricate relationships and power struggles that influenced the monarchy, offering insights into the motivations and actions of key figures. By challenging traditional narratives, it sheds light on the complexities surrounding Elizabeth's rule and the implications for her legacy. This alternative account invites readers to reconsider the historical context and significance of this pivotal period.