The above picture shows Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, (1 June 1563 -- 24 May 1612). who was the son of William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley. Robert Cecil served Queen Elizabeth as her Secretary of State and he later served James I.
The excerpt I found is as follows:
". . . At the end her death was miserable, Terrible and revolting to human nature, In that her melancholy desire of life And impatience of sickness Wore the appearance of lunacy."
"Stay a little, your lordship. I think you mentioned that Cecil Rid her of life. Hasten on to the account. Come, come sir! It is unseasonable and puerile hurry To snatch at the first apple that comes within reach; For though it be true that this beast, By the sufferance of the highest King of kings, By the skillful use of poison did disable her, And then by violent means bereft her of life.. . . "
Francis Bacon is having a discourse with the physician who attended Queen Elizabeth. He recounts their conversation in the cypher as follows:
"Didst thou, doctor, hear this singular speech?"
"O, yes, I heard all, and more too. I heard Master Cecil say, 'Let her not live.' Then they come unto me and commanded me to begone. So I yield, being sore dismayed, And go lamenting out. And I fear me That they killed her after I was expelled."
"But, loyall sir, Was not someone else there? Didst thou leave these varlots alone with her?"
"There was a lady, sir, near her."
"Indeed! What may be her name?"
"I did hear her called Grace."
"I sought out this maid And call at her house, which doth stand By Christ Church, and said to her, 'I hear you did chance to see The death of the queen?'"
"Why, sir, why, man, I understand you not. Speak softly. I will be lost, quite lost, If that devil knew mine eyes Did see him slaying her. Who told you , sir?"
"Be patient; I am loathe to tell you Whence it come, But I must know the truth; therefore Dally not with me, But give me the cruel story."
"Sir, give me leave, I beseech you, To show it by some mighty precedent. Some three ages since the king Had a servant that served him Long and faithfully. Well, one night 'T is said, sir, this good man's life Was taken by his foe."
"But how? Say how. Show not how quaint an orator you are, But answer; who was the man?"
"Sir, you that are so shrewd, cannot you guess Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester's name?"
"Upon my soul, They did kill him in bed."
"Thus didst he, our sovereign, With his hands about the circle of her neck, The villain did stifle her, Sealing the sweet breath that was embounded In her beautious clay."
"Did he with his hands Choke his dear lady sovereign?"
"These two eyes beheld this evil murder."
"I pray thee, what did the creature do first?"
"After the physician had hurried out He locked the doors."
"List to me; If the doors were locked and you Shut out, how did you see?"
"I was not shut out. I did not go when they bid us to, But hid myself under the desk That's covered with Turkish tapestry, Which stands in her chamber, Where I saw The whole vile murder committed. O, dear heaven! I saw him cast her on her back, And in spite of her bootless fight, He with his cruel hands Her fair throat did strongly bind. The shamefast band may not be shaken off, Though she strongly struggled Both with foot and hand, And with all the might she had She strove him to withstand and save her life. The vile villain Reviled her, and bathed in blood and sweat The sunshine of her clear countenance First did win away in luckless death. Still did he hold her Till she was still in death. Then when he discovered that his force Her life had reaved, He, like a dead man, frozen stood. Then in a twinkling, all in deadly fear, He ran unto the closed door, The key did turn, rudely thrust it open And did fly from forth the chamber. Behind his back I crouch as he passed by, And with trembling heart Softly slide after him. I fear his roving eye may on me glance, And sir, I thought How easily the villain might Thrust on me the bloody crime. The very thought turned my blood cold. Ah! Woe is me! I might have tried to call for help And save her life."
"A plague on you! Why did you not?"
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