About the book: 2010 / Europe of the 16th century could rightfully be called an "espionage fair". Secret agents flooded the courts of Italy, Spain, Germany, France, the Netherlands and England. State rulers, diplomats and private individuals did not even hide the sources of their information in official and personal correspondence. In the 1550s. There were rumors at the court of the French king that “every country has its own network of informants abroad, except England.” However, in reality, the British did not lag behind their neighbors, and by the end of the 16th century. were already leaders in the art of espionage. London's secret agents operated in all countries of Western Europe. London watched Russia especially closely... The book by historian L. Taimasova tells about the British network of informants in Russia in the 16th century, about the diplomatic war between London and Moscow, and about the secrets of British trade and medicine..