Gilbert Gifford
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Gilbert Gifford (1560 – 1590) was a double agent who worked for Sir Francis Walsingham and played a role in the uncovering of the Babington plot.
Born in Staffordshire in 1560, Gifford was the son of a recusant Catholic, John Gifford. In 1577, he entered Cardinal Allen's English College at Douai, hoping to become a missionary priest. Two years later, he transferred to the English College at Rome. He was expelled from there, but was offered a second chance by Allen, and in 1582, he returned to the Allen's college, which was now based at Rheims. He left again, returned to England, and went back to France, and from there to Rome. In October, 1583, he returned to Rheims, and Allen, despite some doubts, readmitted him to the college. Gifford was ordained as a deacon in 1585.
It was around this time that Gifford became friendly with John Savage, a student who was involved in a plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth and put Mary Queen of Scots on the throne. In October 1585 Gifford left Rheims again and went to Paris, where he met Thomas Morgan, an agent of Mary, and Charles Paget, another conspirator in the plot to assassinate the Queen. In December he crossed over to England, where he was arrested and brought to London for questioning by Sir Francis Walsingham, head of the Queen's security forces.
In the course of the interrogation, or beforehand,[1] Gifford agreed to act as double agent. He quickly gained the trust of Queen Mary, and took the role of smuggling letters to and from her, concealing them in beer barrels. The letters were secretly handed to Walsingham, and led to the arrest and execution of Anthony Babington and the other conspirators, as well as to the execution of Queen Mary. Gifford left England around that time, and went to Paris. He was ordained as a priest in March 1587.
In December, 1587, Gifford was arrested in a brothel. He died in prison in Paris in November 1590.
