Christopher Marlowe

Background

Born in Canterbury the son of a shoemaker, he attended the King's School, Canterbury and Corpus Christi College, Cambridge on a scholarship and received his bachelor of arts degree in 1584. In 1587 the university hesitated to award him his master's degree because of a rumor that he had converted to Catholicism and gone to the English college at Rheims to prepare for the priesthood. However, his degree was awarded on schedule when the Privy Council intervened on his behalf, commending him for his "faithful dealing" and "good service" to the queenhttp://www2.prestel.co.uk/rey/pc_cert.htm. The nature of Marlowe's service was not specified by the Council, but their letter to the Cambridge authorities has provoked much sensational speculation, notably the theory that Marlowe was operating as a secret agent working for Sir Francis Walsingham's intelligence service. No direct evidence supports this theory, although Marlowe obviously did serve the queen in some capacity.

Related Topics:
Canterbury - King's School, Canterbury - Corpus Christi College, Cambridge - 1584 - 1587 - Catholic - Privy Council - Francis Walsingham

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