Bond of Association
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The Bond of Association was a document created in 1584 by Francis Walsingham and William Cecil after the failure of the Throckmorton Plot in 1583. Its purpose was to deter attempts to assassinate Elizabeth I.[1][2]
The document obliged all signatories to execute any person that:
- attempted to usurp the throne
- successfully usurped the throne
- made an attempt on Elizabeth's life
- successfully assassinated Elizabeth
In the last case, the document also made it obligatory for the signatories to hunt down the killer.
Royal approval
Elizabeth authorised the Bond to achieve statutory authority.