Edward Stafford

Who was Edward Stafford?

Sir Edward Stafford was an English Member of Parliament, courtier and diplomat to France during the time of Queen Elizabeth I.

He was involved in abortive negotiations for a proposed marriage between Elizabeth and Francis, Duke of Anjou.

After he was appointed ambassador to Paris in 1583, he took money from Henry I, Duke of Guise, in return for access to diplomatic correspondence. He also received money from a Spanish agent, Bernardino de Mendoza, and there is strong evidence that has convinced most historians that Stafford in return for the money passed on secrets to Spain. Further it was his duty to report to London intelligence he possessed on the formation of the Spanish Armada, but did not do so. The English counterspy Francis Walsingham was deeply suspicious but was unable to prove anything, and could not act as long as Stafford was protected by Lord Burghley. No action was taken against him by Elizabeth, although he was not given any posts of consequence after his recall in 1590. McDermott concludes, "The evidence of Stafford's treachery, though substantial, remains circumstantial, and the precise degree of his culpability is difficult to establish." Leimon and Parker are convinced of his guilt and add, " Equally damning is the misinformation about the nonexistence and false destinations of the Armada Stafford forwarded to England."