The Intelligence Activities of English Doctors in Russia in the 16th and 17th Centuries

The article is devoted to the study of one of the pages of the “secret war” that England has been waging against Russia for centuries. The author notes that Russian-British relations have always been characterized by a complex nature due to England’s unfriendly and sometimes openly hostile policies, as evidenced by current events. Intelligence plays an important role in foreign policy. British espionage in Russia began almost immediately after the establishment of diplomatic and economic relations between the two countries in 1556. All kinds of “spies” and intelligence agents were not uncommon in Russia in the 16th and 17th centuries. In addition to diplomats, there were also specialists who were invited to serve by the Russian tsars. Doctors played a special role among them. The author examines the activities of well-known physicians (E. Bomeley, R. Jacob, and S. Collins) who combined their medical practice with espionage. Drawing on previous research, the author also incorporates new works by Russian specialists (F. L. Herman, L. Y. Taimasova, M. B. Mirsky), as well as the former Yugoslav journalist S. Dedijer, in order to present an objective picture of the life and activities of the English physicians at the royal court. The author concludes that the physicians close to the tsars were organically included among the agents capable of obtaining intelligence information. The article confirms the validity of L. Y. Taimasova’s conclusion that none of the invited doctors had an ideal track record, and all of them had financial, administrative, or criminal issues, as well as difficulties in obtaining a license to practice medicine. Some doctors obtained such a license through the patronage of the head of the Privy Council or Queen Elizabeth Tudor. The author concludes that English spy doctors did not limit themselves to gathering information, but often caused significant harm to the reigning Russian monarchs through their professional activities.