Elizabeth is worried about Mary, Queen of Scots (who she eventually had executed) (played by Noelle Middleton). Walsingham decides it is time to get Mary out of the way and has his henchman, Thomas Phillips (Harvey Hall) forge a letter from her to make it look like she wants Elizabeth dead. Drake is sent to check on this but is imprisoned by her captor, Sir Amyas Paulet (Alfred Burke) who is in on the plot too.