Thomas Morgan (of Llantarnam)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Morgan of Llantarnam (or Bassaleg, a branch of the Morgan of Tredegar) (1546-1606), of the Welsh Morgan of Monmouthshire, was a confidant and spy for Mary, Queen of Scots, and was involved in the Babington plot
to kill Queen Elizabeth I of England
.
In his youth, Thomas, a staunch Catholic, worked as Secretary of the Archbishop of York until 1568, and then for Lord Shrewsbury
who had Mary under his care at this time.
Later on, sent to the Scottish embassy in Paris, Thomas Morgan had a secret correspondence with Mary who was imprisoned in England, and was plotting the assassination of Queen Elizabeth. In 1584 he may have been involved in the production of Leicester's Commonwealth
, a scurrilous tract attacking Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester
, Elizabeth's powerful favourite
. The book was widely circulated in England. It contained a detailed argument that Mary should succeed Elizabeth to the throne. Francis Walsingham
, the chief of Elizabeth's intelligence service, believed him to be the author.
Along with Charles Paget
, Thomas Morgan had met in Paris and recruited Anthony Babington
, a young English nobleman ready to give his life for Mary. However, there was a mole spying for Elizabeth in the embassy, Gilbert Gifford
, who was copying all the letters exchanged between Thomas and Mary and passing them to Walsingham. Elizabeth's top codebreaker, Thomas Phelippes
, was able to decipher the code used by Thomas Morgan.
The plot was discovered, Babington was arrested, and he and his co-conspirators were hung, drawn and quartered. Thomas Morgan, escaping extradition and a dreadful fate, was thrown into the Bastille and then into another prison in Flanders before finally being set free in 1593. He is presumed to have then stayed in the north of France, in the region of Amiens, and to have died there in 1606.
Babington Plot
The Babington Plot was a Catholic plot in 1586 to assassinate Queen Elizabeth, a Protestant, and put Mary, Queen of Scots, a Catholic, on the English throne. It led to the execution of Mary. The long-term goal was an invasion by the Spanish forces of King Philip II and the Catholic league in...
to kill Queen Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
.
In his youth, Thomas, a staunch Catholic, worked as Secretary of the Archbishop of York until 1568, and then for Lord Shrewsbury
George Talbot, 6th Earl of Shrewsbury
George Talbot, 6th Earl of Shrewsbury, 6th Earl of Waterford, 12th Baron Talbot, KG, Earl Marshal was a 16th century English statesman.-Life:...
who had Mary under his care at this time.
Later on, sent to the Scottish embassy in Paris, Thomas Morgan had a secret correspondence with Mary who was imprisoned in England, and was plotting the assassination of Queen Elizabeth. In 1584 he may have been involved in the production of Leicester's Commonwealth
Leicester's Commonwealth
Leicester's Commonwealth is a scurrilous tract that circulated in Elizabethan England and which attacked Queen Elizabeth I's favourite, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester...
, a scurrilous tract attacking Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester
Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester
Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester, KG was an English nobleman and the favourite and close friend of Elizabeth I from her first year on the throne until his death...
, Elizabeth's powerful favourite
Favourite
A favourite , or favorite , was the intimate companion of a ruler or other important person. In medieval and Early Modern Europe, among other times and places, the term is used of individuals delegated significant political power by a ruler...
. The book was widely circulated in England. It contained a detailed argument that Mary should succeed Elizabeth to the throne. Francis Walsingham
Francis Walsingham
Sir Francis Walsingham was Principal Secretary to Elizabeth I of England from 1573 until 1590, and is popularly remembered as her "spymaster". Walsingham is frequently cited as one of the earliest practitioners of modern intelligence methods both for espionage and for domestic security...
, the chief of Elizabeth's intelligence service, believed him to be the author.
Along with Charles Paget
Charles Paget (conspirator)
Charles Paget was a Roman Catholic conspirator, involved in the Babington plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth I of England.He was also a double agent working for Sir Francis Walsingham....
, Thomas Morgan had met in Paris and recruited Anthony Babington
Anthony Babington
Anthony Babington was convicted of plotting the assassination of Elizabeth I of England and conspiring with the imprisoned Mary, Queen of Scots...
, a young English nobleman ready to give his life for Mary. However, there was a mole spying for Elizabeth in the embassy, Gilbert Gifford
Gilbert Gifford
Gilbert Gifford was a double agent who worked for Sir Francis Walsingham and played a role in the uncovering of the Babington Plot. Shortly before his death in Paris, he was ordained as a Catholic priest in Rheims...
, who was copying all the letters exchanged between Thomas and Mary and passing them to Walsingham. Elizabeth's top codebreaker, Thomas Phelippes
Thomas Phelippes
Thomas Phelippes was a forger and intelligence gatherer. He served mainly under Sir Francis Walsingham, in the time of Elizabeth I, deciphering the codes of those plotting against her. He is most remembered for his adding of a postscript to the "bloody letter" sent by Mary, Queen of Scots, to...
, was able to decipher the code used by Thomas Morgan.
The plot was discovered, Babington was arrested, and he and his co-conspirators were hung, drawn and quartered. Thomas Morgan, escaping extradition and a dreadful fate, was thrown into the Bastille and then into another prison in Flanders before finally being set free in 1593. He is presumed to have then stayed in the north of France, in the region of Amiens, and to have died there in 1606.