Shift from Amateur to Professional Spying

During the transition from Elizabeth I to the Restoration period, espionage evolved from a more amateurish practice to a professional pursuit. Initially driven by the need to thwart plots against Queen Elizabeth I and ensure her safety due to religious and political tensions, spying progressed into a more organized system during the civil wars. Various government figures, including Walsingham and Cecil, employed a diverse range of individuals, from criminals with useful skills to intellectuals like Francis Bacon, reflecting the wide spectrum of spies.