WALSINGHAM, w0I'sing-am, Sir FRANCIS (c.1530-90). An English statesman. He was born either in London or in Kent, about the year 1530. He studied at King's College, Cambridge, but appears not to have graduated. lie was a zealous Protestant and lived abroad during the five years of Mary's reign, acquiring a knowledge of foreign kffiguages and politic, which was of the utmost value to him in his conduct of Eng land's foreign affairs under Elizabeth. Burleigh sent him on a difficult mission to France in August. 1570. He remained in Paris until April, 1573, and acquitted himself so well that he was madw one of the principal secretaries of State. a member of the Privy Council, and knighted. Next after Burleigh he was Elizabeth's most important Minister, but he occupied himself principally with foreign affairs. The keynote of his policy was hostility to Spain. He accordingly labonid incessantly for intervention in the Netherlands and the suppression of Catholic plots which Spain encouraged in England. His administra tion was founded upon a most complete system of bribery, espionage, and deception. Though Eliza beth reeognized his abilities and disinterested ness, she seldom followed his advice, and it was with the greatest difficulty that. she brought her self even to a half-hearted adoption of his policy. In 1578 Walsin)ffiam was sent to the Nether lands with the unwelcome task of trying to pacify the emortry by diplomacy: in 1581 he was sent to France and in 1583 to Seothoul. In 1585 he brought Elizabeth to a momentary sup port of the Dutch, but the results did not meet his expectations. lu 1586 he unearthed the
Bahington plot. the object of which was the mur der of Queen Elizabeth. and Walsingham pro duced letters in (-intim% Whiell, if genuine, proved beyond a doubt Mary's eomplieity in the conspiracy. (See BAruxeixoN, Axrxv.1 \Val singham was one of the commissioners by whom Mary was tried and eondemned, and he was one of the most active in bringing Elizabeth to the point of signing the death-warrant. In 1587 and 1588 Walsingham's secret service kept him coin pletely informed of the plans and progress of the great Armada (q.v.), 1)111, as usual, he was unsuc cessful in persuading the. Queen to take proper InearillreS to meet the emergency. During Walsingham's last years be was greatly em barrassed by debt, time in part to expenditures in the service of the State, hut Elizabeth gave hiin no relief. Ile died April G, 1590, and was buried privately at night in Saint Paul's Church.
1)igges's Comp/ rate mbassador ( London, 1655) eontains Walsingham's dispatches during his first mission to France. Tbe Camden Society has published Nir Francis Walsinyham's Journal from Devember, 1570, to April, 1583 (London, 1870). Consult: Thomas Wright, Queen Eliza beth and Her Times, is Neries of Original Letters lib.. 1838) ; ('Roper, .1 theme rantabriyienses (Cambridge, 1858-61 ) ; 11 ume, The Great Lord Burleiyh (London, 1898).