Introduction

The introduction provides the theoretical framework for the volume's subsequent discussions of intelligence, explaining the nature of spycraft in the late medieval and early modern periods. The introduction discusses the ways in which medieval and early modern spies functioned within both government and society as courtiers, messengers, diplomats, and merchants, and explains some of the methodological approaches used by these agents. The introduction also presents a brief overview of the volume's use of social network mapping as a means of augmenting more traditional historical analysis.