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Bacon, Sir Francis (1561-1626) A Declaration of the Practises & Treasons Attempted and Committed by Robert late Earle of Essex and his Complices.
London: Robert Baxter, 1601.
First edition, second issue, including the 'Confessions' and extending the text by 42 pages; quarto, woodcut device to title page, large woodcut of Elizabeth's crest to verso of title (repeated two more times in the text), with stamps on verso of title and final leaf of University College London and UCLA, marking its sale as a duplicate; bound in full polished calf by Bayntun of Bath; front joint starting; lacking preliminary blank; some headlines cropped with loss; toning; 7 x 5 in.
STC 1133; ESTC S100347; Pforzheimer 26.
Bacon's account of a failed attempt to overthrow Queen Elizabeth brings evidence of political intrigue by way of theater. Elizabeth was considered weak in her 68th year, not unlike Richard II. "I am Richard II, know you not that?" (cf. Nichols, Progresses of Queen Elizabeth). The play's staging at the Globe Theatre by Shakespeare's company was conspicuous to some. It was an old piece, first played as early as 1597, and its subtext did not go unnoticed. Thus, in Bacon's rapportage we find the earliest specific reference in print to the theatrical staging of any Shakespeare play.
Rasmussen-Hines Collection of Shakespeare & Renaissance Literature.
