THE FIRST COPY OF MY DISCOURSE TOUCHING THE SAFETY OF THE QUEEN'S PERSON. THESE be the principal remedies, I could think of, for extirping the principal cause of those conspiracies, by the breaking the nest of those fugitive traitors, and the filling them full of terror, despair, jealousy, and revolt. And it is true, I thought of some other remedies, which, because in mine own conceit I did not so well allow, I therefore do forbear to express. And so likewise I have thought, and thought again, of the means to stop and divert as well the attempts of violence, as poison, in the performance and execution. But not knowing how my travel may be accepted, being the unwarranted wishes of a private man, I leave; humbly praying her majesty's pardon, if in the zeal of my simplicity I have roved at things above my aim. THE FIRST FRAGMENTS OF A DISCOURSE OF THE QUEEN'S PERSON. THE first remedy, in my poor opinion, is that against which, as I conceive, least exception can be taken, as a thing, without controversy, honourable and politic; and that is reputation of good intelligence. I say not only good intelligence, but the reputation and fame thereof. For I see, that where booths are set for watching thievish places, there is no more robbing: and though, no doubt, the watchmen many times are asleep or away; yet that is more than the thief knoweth; so as the empty booth is strength and safeguard enough. So likewise, if there be sown an opinion abroad, that her majesty hath much secret intelligence, and that all is full of spies and false brethren; the fugitives will grow into such a mutual jealousy and suspicion one of another, as they will not have the confidence to conspire together, not knowing whom to trust, and thinking all practice bootless, as that which is assured to be discovered. And to this purpose, to speak reverently, as becometh me, as I do not doubt but those honourable counsellors, to whom it doth appertain, do carefully and sufficiently provide and take order, that her majesty receive good intelligence; so yet, under correction, methinks it is not done with that 114 FIRST FRAGMENTS OF A DISCOURSE, ETC. glory and note of the world, which was in Mr. Secretary Walsingham's time; and in this case, as was said, opinio veritate major. The second remedy I deliver with less assurance, as that, which is more removed from the compass of mine understanding; and that is, to treat and negociate with the king of Spain, or Archduke Earnest,† who resides in the place, where these conspiracies are most forged, upon the point of the law of nations, upon which kind of points, princes' enemies may with honour negociate, viz. that, contrary to the same law of nations, and the sacred dignity of kings, and the honour of arms, certain of her majesty's subjects (if it be not thought meet to impeach any of his ministers) refuged in his dominions, have conspired and practised assassination against her majesty's person, THE SPEECHES DRAWN UP BY MR. FRANCIS BACON FOR THE EARL OF ESSEX, IN A DEVICES EXHIBITED BY HIS LORDSHIP BEFORE QUEEN ELIZABETH, ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF HER ACCESSION TO THE THRONE, NOVEMBER 17, 1595. THE SQUIRE'S SPEECH. MOST excellent and most glorious queen, give me leave, I beseech your majesty, to offer my master's complaint and petition; complaint that, coming hither to your majesty's most happy day, he is tormented with the importunity of * Who died April 6, 1590. After his death the business of secretary of state appears to be chiefly done by Mr. Robert Cecil, who was knighted by Queen Elizabeth at Theobald's, about the beginning of June, 1591, and in August following sworn of the privy council; but not actually appointed secretary of state till July 5, 1596. + Ernest, Archduke of Austria, son of the Emperor Maximilian II. and governor of the Low Countries, upon which government he entered in June, 1594; but held it only a short time, dying February 11, following. It was probably in pursuance of the advice of Mr. Francis Bacon in this paper, that Queen Elizabeth sent to the Archduke, in 1594, to complain of the designs which had been formed against her life by the Count de Fuentes, and Don Diego de Ibarra, and other Spanish ministers concerned in governing the Low Countries after the death of Alexander, Duke of Parma, in December, 1592, and by the English fugitives there; and to desire him to signify those facts to the King of Spain, in order that he might vindicate his own character, by punishing his ministers, and delivering up to her such fugitives as were parties in such designs. Camdeni Annales Eliz. Regina, p. 625. Edit. Lugduni Bat. 1625. Bishop Gibson's Papers, Vol. V. No. 118. An account of this device, which was much applauded, is given by Mr. Rowland Whyte to Sir Robert Sydney, in a letter dated at London, Saturday, the 22d of November, 1595, and printed in the Letters and Memorials of State |