Early Career; Devise of Succession

I was puzzled to read that Cecil was responsible for this illegal document, as I happen to be reading a biography of Cecil that has Northumberland writing it and is quite specific.  So I rewrote most of this paragraph, citing my source.  I hope that, if there is more than one credible account of this incident, as I've found to be the case for other aspects of the reign, they'll be added.

This perspective illumunates the nature of Cecil's courage (scroll down).  He had principles, but would retreat from them under duress, either in the interest of the state or to preserve himself.