Who was Elizabeth I's true father? Who really murdered the princes in the Tower? Did Buckingham poison James I? And who was the Man in the Iron Mask? These, and a host of other tantalizing mysteries that have caused speculation and scandal down the centuries, are explored in Hugh Ross Williamson's hugely enjoyable book. Using the techniques of modern detection, he has re-evaluated the evidence, examined the characters and motive, and used the known facts of the cases to come up with solutions both controversial and fascinating. Shattering myths and propaganda, he exposes a grisly catalogue of murder, lies, intrigue and conspiracies. Discover, for example, the political frame-up surrounding the Gunpowder Plot, the secret identity of Charles I's executioner and Elizabeth I's involvment in the murder of her lover's wife, among others. This book of whodunnits should appeal to all historical sleuths who find the darker corners of the past a happy hunting ground.