Bill

Mathew Baynton

— William 'Bill' Shakespeare / Lord Burghley / English Messenger / Customs Official

Simon Farnaby

— Earl of Croydon / Juan Domingo / Sausage / Dmitri Alexandrovitch / Fur Seller

Martha Howe-Douglas

— Anne Hathaway / Molly / Spanish Courtier / Body Collector

Jim Howick

— Christopher Marlowe / Gabriel Montoya / Cynical Jester / Palace Doorman / Mysterious Man / Even Grubbier Thief / Party Planner

Laurence Rickard

— Sir Francis Walsingham / Lope Lopez / Stand-Up Jester / Chatty Guard / Slightly Late Courtier / Ian / Hanging Criminal / Chicken Drumstick

Ben Willbond

— King Phillip II of Spain / Earl of Southampton / Grubby Thief / Alexander Dimitrievitch / Head of Guards

Helen McCrory

— Queen Elizabeth I

Damian Lewis

— Sir Richard Hawkins

Justin Edwards

— Sir Francis Drake

Rufus Jones

— Sir Walter Raleigh

John Henry Falle

— Miguel

Jamie Demetriou

— Sergio

Richard Atwill

— Sevi

George Hewer

— Spanish Servant

Tom Meeten

— Spanish Servant

Stephen Greif

— Spanish Advisor

Gareth Tunley

— Guard

Richard Glover

— Catholic Contact

Andy Gillies

— Boris

Sam Exley

— Spanish Courtier

Samantha Hindman

— Quill and Rapier Landlady

Jared Morgan

— Protestant Bishop

Susy Kane

— Lady in Waiting

Clare Thomson

— Lady in Waiting

Olesja Sidorovich

— Lady in Waiting

Joey Ellis

— Mortal Coil Bandmate

Will Rastall

— Mortal Coil Bandmate

David Crow

— Ramon

Tom Cox

— Mortal Coil Bandmate

Grant Crookes

— Courtier (uncredited)