CECIL, ROBERT (1550-1612), son of the preceding, was delicate in constitution, and deformed in person, but early
distinguished himself in parliament, to which he was sent as member for Westminster. In 1588, he went on board the fleet which was sent by Elizabeth against the Spanish Armada, and on his return was rapidly promoted to places of honour and trust at court. Having been knighted by the queen, he was sent as an attaché to the English embassy in France, and afterwards sworn a member of the privy-council. He held the office of second secretary of state till the death of Sir Francis Walsingham, when he was appointed principal secretary—an office which he held till his death. During the reign of Elizabeth, he was intrusted with the conduct of numerous delicate negotiations abroad, and on the death of his father in 1598, was appointed prime minister. Having previously kept up a secret correspondence with James I., he was not only confirmed in his office, but raised to additional dignities on the accession of that monarch. It is well remarked by Lord Hailes, that this consummate politician "was no less solicitous to maintain his own power than to settle the succession to his aged benefactress Queen Elizabeth." (Pref. to Cecil's Correspond.) He was created successively Baron of Essenden, Viscount Cranbourne, and Earl of Salisbury, and notwithstanding the efforts of the Spanish court through their ambassadors to bring him into disgrace on account of his attachment to the interests of the United Provinces, he continued to rise in popular estimation. On the death of Sir Thomas Sackville, he was appointed lord high treasurer, in which capacity he effected considerable reforms in the exchequer. He died at Marlborough in 1612, and was buried at Hatfield. He wrote A Treatise concerning the State and Dignity of a Secretary of State, with the care and peril thereof; A Treatise against the Papists; and Notes on Sir John Dee's Discourse about the Reformation of the Calendar.