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What evidence connects Christopher Marlowe with Queen Elizabeth I’s secret service?

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Marlowe or not Marlowe? — Christopher Marlowe Detail of a portrait thought to be of Christopher Marlowe, dated 1585, artist unknown; in the collection of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, England.

The primary evidence connecting Christopher Marlowe to Queen Elizabeth I’s secret service stems from a 1587 letter issued by the Privy Council.1

When the University of Cambridge hesitated to grant Marlowe his master’s degree due to his frequent absences, the Privy Council intervened. They sent a letter to the university declaring that Marlowe had been employed "on matters touching the benefit of his country," which is widely interpreted as evidence of his service to the crown.1

Additionally, historians note that Marlowe likely engaged in government service periodically throughout his time in London while writing for the theater. His connections to the world of espionage are further underscored by his associations; he was killed in 1593 while in the company of individuals linked to the network of Francis Walsingham, the Queen's spymaster.23