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Spycraft: Tricks and Tools of the Dangerous Trade from Elizabeth I to the Restoration
A fascinating exploration of the devious tricks and ingenious tools used by early modern spies—from ciphers to counterfeiting, invisible inks to assassination
Early modern Europe was a hotbed of espionage, where spies, spy-catchers, and conspirators pitted their wits against each other in deadly games of hide and seek. Theirs was a dangerous trade—only those who mastered the latest techniques would survive.
In this engaging, accessible account, Nadine Akkerman and Pete Langman explore the methods spies actually used in the period, including disguises, invisible inks, and even poisons. Drawing on a vast array of archival sources, they show how understanding the tricks and tools of espionage allows us to re-imagine well-known stories such as the Babington and Gunpowder plots. Exposing the murky world of spies, they demonstrate how the technological innovations of petty criminals, secretaries, and other hitherto invisible actors shaped the fate of some of history’s most iconic figures.
Spycraft explains how early modern spies sought to protect their own secrets while exposing those of their enemies, showing the reader how to follow in their footsteps.
Early modern Europe was a hotbed of espionage, where spies, spy-catchers, and conspirators pitted their wits against each other in deadly games of hide and seek. Theirs was a dangerous trade—only those who mastered the latest techniques would survive.
In this engaging, accessible account, Nadine Akkerman and Pete Langman explore the methods spies actually used in the period, including disguises, invisible inks, and even poisons. Drawing on a vast array of archival sources, they show how understanding the tricks and tools of espionage allows us to re-imagine well-known stories such as the Babington and Gunpowder plots. Exposing the murky world of spies, they demonstrate how the technological innovations of petty criminals, secretaries, and other hitherto invisible actors shaped the fate of some of history’s most iconic figures.
Spycraft explains how early modern spies sought to protect their own secrets while exposing those of their enemies, showing the reader how to follow in their footsteps.
368 pages, Hardcover
Published June 25, 2024
48 people are currently reading
826 people want to read
About the author
Nadine Akkerman
10 books16 followersNadine Akkerman is a Reader in Early Modern English Literature at Leiden University. She has published extensively on women's history, diplomacy, and masques, and curated several exhibitions. In the academic year 2015/16 she was Fellow at the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study in the Humanities and Social Sciences (NIAS-KNAW). She is the editor of The Correspondence of Elizabeth Stuart, Queen of Bohemia (OUP, 3 volumes, of which the first appeared in 2011), for which her prize-winning PhD (2008) serves at the groundwork. She is currently writing a biography of Elizabeth Stuart (forthcoming from OUP). In 2017, the World Cultural Council recognised the transformative effect of her work in the form of a Special Recognition Award.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 27, 2024
I've just finished this fascinating guide to 16th and 17th century spycraft and loved every second! It's packed full of interesting stories about the intelligencers working behind the scenes through some of the most important events of early modern Europe, from the execution of Mary Queen of Scots to The English Civil War.
Each chapter/section looks at a different skill/technique; I found the chapter on letter locking and seals particularly interesting reading. There's also an appendix at the end of the book - a small guide to spycraft - from poisons to invisible inks. Fascinating stuff!
Each chapter/section looks at a different skill/technique; I found the chapter on letter locking and seals particularly interesting reading. There's also an appendix at the end of the book - a small guide to spycraft - from poisons to invisible inks. Fascinating stuff!
January 3, 2025
Fairly interesting, but didn’t quite do it.
The book takes a look at the most common “spy” techniques practiced in 16th and 17th century England, and walks the reader through their practical use within history. The methods explored can be condensed to the following three subjects: letters (forgery and ciphers), impersonation (disguise), and assassination (chiefly poison).
The material is well researched and historically accurate, however the author falls short of creating excitement. Better storytelling on the historical examples would have helped to keep the reader more engaged. 4/5
The book takes a look at the most common “spy” techniques practiced in 16th and 17th century England, and walks the reader through their practical use within history. The methods explored can be condensed to the following three subjects: letters (forgery and ciphers), impersonation (disguise), and assassination (chiefly poison).
The material is well researched and historically accurate, however the author falls short of creating excitement. Better storytelling on the historical examples would have helped to keep the reader more engaged. 4/5
dnf
August 18, 2024DNF @25%
I've felt absolutely zero desire to pick this back up. I didn't feel like I was learning a lot, nor was it entertaining. And there's a bit in my reading notes that kinda rubbed me the wrong way.
I've felt absolutely zero desire to pick this back up. I didn't feel like I was learning a lot, nor was it entertaining. And there's a bit in my reading notes that kinda rubbed me the wrong way.
July 3, 2024
Good book on a fascinating topic. A little too light on detail but otherwise a great read.
Read
July 29, 2024Tudor and Stuart spies appear to be coming in from the cold this summer. The Cecils – subject of a now-complete trilogy by Stephen Alford – were the most powerful royal ministers for over five decades, a reign begun by William, 1st Baron Burghley and inherited by his son, Robert, who took over the role of spymaster from his father and became secretary of state to both Elizabeth I and James I. Robert’s intimacy with his sovereigns is reflected in Elizabeth’s pet name of ‘pygmy’ for him, a reference to his short stature caused by severe scoliosis. To James, Robert was his ‘Little Beagle’, the smallest of English hunting dogs, but also a word meaning spy. Robert was indeed more than that to the Scottish king: it was he who eased James’ accession in England in 1603. Two years earlier James had urged his ambassadors at the English court to give Robert the full assurance of his favour as the man who, in James’ opinion, was ‘king there in effect’.
Despite his prominence at not one but two royal courts, Robert Cecil’s life has been obscured, both by the dominance of his father and by his own instinctive caution and secrecy when committing pen to paper. His father’s close attention to Robert’s education was aimed at preparing him for royal service; his easy passage into Elizabeth’s confidence was resented by many of his contemporaries. From his late 20s, Robert increasingly took on the work of the secretary of state in tandem with his father, who died in 1598. Robert became the leading English minister until his own death in 1612, aged 48.
These were years when fears and rumours of treason, imminent Spanish invasion and Catholic assassination plots against Elizabeth were rife. Robert was at the centre of the intelligence gathering and policy-making intended to protect the queen. He took decisive action in bringing traitors to justice and was instrumental in securing evidence against Elizabeth’s personal physician-in-chief, Dr Ruy Lopez, accused of conspiring to poison her in 1594. Robert also participated in the trials of both Robert Devereux, 2nd earl of Essex after his failed coup against Elizabeth in 1601, and of the Jesuit priest Henry Garnet for complicity in the Gunpowder Plot. Much of the evidence against these men was obtained from Robert’s network of spies, an unreliable group of chancers, double, even triple, agents and Catholics, who were given a certain amount of immunity for ratting on their contacts abroad. Spies could not always rely on their patrons for help and their masters often did not much care for them. When George Nicolson, Robert’s agent at the Scottish court, sent him a ‘fair standing bowl’ as a New Year’s gift, Cecil promptly sold it.
Read the rest of the review at HistoryToday.com.
Jackie Eales is President of the British Association for Local History and a Professor of Early Modern History at Canterbury Christ Church University.
Despite his prominence at not one but two royal courts, Robert Cecil’s life has been obscured, both by the dominance of his father and by his own instinctive caution and secrecy when committing pen to paper. His father’s close attention to Robert’s education was aimed at preparing him for royal service; his easy passage into Elizabeth’s confidence was resented by many of his contemporaries. From his late 20s, Robert increasingly took on the work of the secretary of state in tandem with his father, who died in 1598. Robert became the leading English minister until his own death in 1612, aged 48.
These were years when fears and rumours of treason, imminent Spanish invasion and Catholic assassination plots against Elizabeth were rife. Robert was at the centre of the intelligence gathering and policy-making intended to protect the queen. He took decisive action in bringing traitors to justice and was instrumental in securing evidence against Elizabeth’s personal physician-in-chief, Dr Ruy Lopez, accused of conspiring to poison her in 1594. Robert also participated in the trials of both Robert Devereux, 2nd earl of Essex after his failed coup against Elizabeth in 1601, and of the Jesuit priest Henry Garnet for complicity in the Gunpowder Plot. Much of the evidence against these men was obtained from Robert’s network of spies, an unreliable group of chancers, double, even triple, agents and Catholics, who were given a certain amount of immunity for ratting on their contacts abroad. Spies could not always rely on their patrons for help and their masters often did not much care for them. When George Nicolson, Robert’s agent at the Scottish court, sent him a ‘fair standing bowl’ as a New Year’s gift, Cecil promptly sold it.
Read the rest of the review at HistoryToday.com.
Jackie Eales is President of the British Association for Local History and a Professor of Early Modern History at Canterbury Christ Church University.
November 27, 2025
***Spoilers***
It was refreshing to read about women’s participation in conspiratorial politics and warfare, from queens battling each other through intelligencers and spy rings to noblewomen couriers transporting messages because lower status males could get in trouble searching them.
Reading about 15th-17th century tech was also flabbergasting, from early cameras and copy machines to early pistols and poisons. I don’t think they use the term dark artificer lightly, any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic and to a commoner at the time those were literally dark arts. Oftentimes self appointed, as the often cited magia naturalis book in it gives it a natural magic flair.
Makes me wonder what type of magic today’s governments hide from us commoners.
10/10 would recommend
It was refreshing to read about women’s participation in conspiratorial politics and warfare, from queens battling each other through intelligencers and spy rings to noblewomen couriers transporting messages because lower status males could get in trouble searching them.
Reading about 15th-17th century tech was also flabbergasting, from early cameras and copy machines to early pistols and poisons. I don’t think they use the term dark artificer lightly, any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic and to a commoner at the time those were literally dark arts. Oftentimes self appointed, as the often cited magia naturalis book in it gives it a natural magic flair.
Makes me wonder what type of magic today’s governments hide from us commoners.
10/10 would recommend
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 12, 2024
"Spycraft" by Nadine Akkerman and Pete Langman offers an engaging dive into early espionage, revealing the ingenious methods and tools used by spies. I learned a lot through the authors' archival research. It was illuminating. History's clandestine operations were made vivid and accessible. I recommend this captivating read for history and/or espionage enthusiasts.
January 18, 2025
A pretty good overview of how letters were forged in the old days. Detailed information about different inks and methods to prevent letter openings. And an even more thorough overview of how everything was still read and forged again.
No action, just pure science book ;)
No action, just pure science book ;)
October 14, 2024
A handsome book but, despite the subject matter, it's flat.
February 1, 2025
Excellent!
December 8, 2025
Deeply interesting from a technical and historical standpoint and gives a lot of life to Walsingham’s spy operations in particular, but needed a better story telling and narrative flow.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews