Nick Skeres
From Turtledove
| Nick Skeres | |
| Historical Figure | |
| Timeline: | OTL |
| Nationality: | England |
| Date of Birth: | Unknown |
| Date of Death: | Unknown |
| Occupation: | Criminal, servant, possible spy |
| Timeline: | Ruled Britannia |
| Occupation: | Servant of William Cecil |
| Affiliations: | Pro-Tudor rebels |
Nick Skeres was a petty criminal in London, England. He was involved in criminal endeavors along with Ingram Frizer. Skeres was present when Frizer stabbed playwright Christopher Marlowe to death on May 30, 1593.
Aside from these details, Skeres is an elusive figure historically. He was once in the service of Robert Devereux. His dates of birth and death are lost to history.
[edit] Nick Skeres in Ruled Britannia
Nick Skeres served William Cecil and took part in Cecil's plot to expel the Spanish-backed Queen Isabella and King Albert from England. Skeres, who was at home in London's seedy underworld, contacted William Shakespeare and let him know that Cecil wished to contract him to write Boudicca.
Skeres became Shakespeare's point man for contact with other conspirators, and Shakespeare often considered Skeres an unwelcome visitor. Skeres put Shakespeare in contact with Ingram Frizer, who murdered several people Shakespeare considered security risks.
Skeres lived to see the plot come to fruition under Cecil's son Robert and took part in the popular uprising which expelled the Spaniards and restored Queen Elizabeth to the throne. In gratitude, Elizabeth knighted Skeres.
