The nature of Marlowe's service was not specified by the Council, but its letter to the Cambridge authorities has provoked much speculation, notably the theory that Marlowe was operating as a secret agent working for Sir Francis Walsingham's intelligence service.
Rådet specificerar inte vad det var för slags tjänst, men brevet ledde till många spekulationer, särskilt teorin att Marlowe arbetade som hemlig agent i Sir Francis Walsinghams underrättelsetjänst.