Edmund Tremayne (c. 1525–1582) was an English conspirator and official who was dedicated to Protestant causes, in opposition to the policy of the Catholic Queen Mary Tudor. He was elected a Member of Parliament for Tavistock, and was later made commissioner of Lancaster. In 1571 Tremayne was made clerk of the Privy Council.

Robert Beale (1541-1601) served as ambassador to France starting in 1570, special envoy of queen Elizabeth to the German Lutheran princes 1576, Secretary of State 1578 and 1581-1583, and was in parliament from Dorchester in 1586 and 1588. In addition, he served under Leicester in 1588 in the Netherlands probably with the transport department. As a scholar he is known for two books which maintain the principle of toleration and for works glorifying marriage and women.

The Privy Council of England and Wales was the British sovereign's private council. During Elizabeth I's reign, the Privy Council were a group of 19 powerful noblemen who advised but did not control the Queen. They met daily and advised on domestic and foreign issues.