Susan Hyde (spy)

Susan Hyde (c. July 1607 – 23 September 1656) was an English noblewoman and spy. Hyde was active during the time of the Protectorate after the English monarchy had been overthrown in the English Civil War (1642–1651). She worked as an intelligence-gatherer for the exiled royal claimant Charles II as part of the secret organization the Sealed Knot and was instrumental in organizing communication between England and its members. Hyde was captured in September 1656 and died after being subjected to psychological and perhaps physical torture.