Biography of Robert Cecil 1st Earl Salisbury 1563-1612

In 1541 [his father] William Cecil 1st Baron Burghley [aged 20] and Mary Cheke were married.

On 21st December 1546 [his father] William Cecil 1st Baron Burghley [aged 26] and [his mother] Mildred Cooke Baroness Burghley [aged 20] were married.

On 1st June 1563 Robert Cecil 1st Earl Salisbury was born to [his father] William Cecil 1st Baron Burghley [aged 42] and [his mother] Mildred Cooke Baroness Burghley [aged 37].

On 17th September 1563 Henry Manners 2nd Earl of Rutland [aged 36] died. He was buried at St Mary the Virgin Church, Bottesford, Leicestershire [Map]. His son Edward [aged 14] succeeded 3rd Earl of Rutland, 14th Baron Ros Helmsley. Edward Manners 3rd Earl of Rutland became a ward of Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland [aged 30] and was specially under the charge of [his father] William Cecil 1st Baron Burghley [aged 43].

In or before 1566 [his half-brother] Thomas Cecil 1st Earl Exeter [aged 23] and [his sister-in-law] Dorothy Neville Countess Exeter [aged 17] were married.

On 25th February 1571 [his father] William Cecil 1st Baron Burghley [aged 50] was created 1st Baron Burghley. [his mother] Mildred Cooke Baroness Burghley [aged 45] by marriage Baroness Burghley.

On 4th October 1581 Henry Wriothesley 2nd Earl of Southampton [aged 36] died. His son Henry [aged 7] succeeded 3rd Earl of Southampton. His wardship was sold by the Queen to her kinsman, Charles, Lord Howard of Effingham [aged 45], for £1000. Howard then transferred his wardship to [his father] William Cecil 1st Baron Burghley [aged 61].

In 1584 Robert Cecil 1st Earl Salisbury [aged 20] was elected MP Westminster.

In 1586 Robert Cecil 1st Earl Salisbury [aged 22] was elected MP Westminster.

On 5th June 1588 [his sister] Anne Cecil Countess of Oxford [aged 31] died. She was buried at the Chapel of St Nicholas, Westminster Abbey [Map]. She shares a monument with her mother Mildred Cooke Baroness Burghley [aged 62]. The monument rises to twenty-four feet, and is constructed of various coloured marbles, after a design of the Corinthian order. The Latin inscriptions, which are very long, were written by Lord Burleigh [aged 67] himself, and set forth the varied accomplishments and the virtues of the two ladies who are represented in effigy in the lower part of the monument. The figure of Lord Burleigh, in his robes, and in a kneeling attitude, appears in the upper part of the monument.

In 1589 Robert Cecil 1st Earl Salisbury [aged 25] and Elizabeth Brooke [aged 25] were married.

In 1589 Robert Cecil 1st Earl Salisbury [aged 25] was elected MP Hertfordshire.

On 4th April 1589 or 5th April 1589 [his mother] Mildred Cooke Baroness Burghley [aged 63] died. She was buried at the Chapel of St Nicholas, Westminster Abbey [Map].

On 28th March 1591 [his son] William Cecil 2nd Earl Salisbury was born to Robert Cecil 1st Earl Salisbury [aged 27] and [his wife] Elizabeth Brooke [aged 28]. He married 1st December 1608 his fifth cousin Catherine Howard Countess Salisbury, daughter of Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk and Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk, and had issue.

In 1593 Robert Cecil 1st Earl Salisbury [aged 29] was elected MP Hertfordshire.

In 1593 [his daughter] Frances Cecil Countess Cumberland was born to Robert Cecil 1st Earl Salisbury [aged 29] and [his wife] Elizabeth Brooke [aged 29]. She married 25th July 1610 her half sixth cousin Henry Clifford 5th Earl of Cumberland, son of Francis Clifford 4th Earl of Cumberland and Grisold Hughes Countess Cumberland, and had issue.

Calendar of State Papers Domestic Series Elizabeth I Addenda. 22nd May 1594, Newcastle. 17. Lionel Maddison [aged 57], Mayor of Newcastle, to Sir Robt. Cecil [aged 30]. The persons who robbed the Scottish Queen [Anne of Denmark Queen Consort Scotland England and Ireland [aged 19]] of her jewels, have been apprehended by the Captain of Tynemouth castle, whom I have dealt with in your name, to stay them and such of the jewels as have come to his hands, until Her Majesty's pleasure is further known, which he has promised. ½ page.

Calendar of State Papers Domestic Series Elizabeth I Addenda. 29th May 1594. Newcastle. 18. Lionel Maddison [aged 57], Mayor of Newcastle, to Sir Robt. Cecil [aged 30]. Earl Bothwell [aged 31] was lately in Newcastle, but he did not take jewels from those thieves there that robbed the Scottish Queen, as your letter pretends; the manner of taking those jewels and staying the thieves I liave formerly made known to you. According to Her Highness' pleasure, I have inquired who lodged the Earl here, and find that at his last being in this town, he was lodged in the house of John Carr, a common inn; Carr being in prison at York, I have committed his wife to prison till Her Majesty's pleasure is known.

I find that the Earl has heretofore lodged at Wm. Selby's house, but did not lodge there at his last coming. The Earl left on the 14th inst., and I cannot learn that he has lodged in any other houses in this town, save these two. 2/3 page.

In 1597 Robert Cecil 1st Earl Salisbury [aged 33] was elected MP Hertfordshire.

On 24th January 1597 [his wife] Elizabeth Brooke [aged 34] died.

Letters from Sir Robert Cecil to Sir George Carew Section 8 XVII. 5th February 1600. Court. To George Carew 1st Earl Totnes [aged 44].

We have no news but that there is a misfortune befallen Mistris Fitton [aged 21] for she is proved with child, and the E. of Pembroke [aged 19] being examyned confesseth a ffact, but utterly renounceth all marriage. I fear they will both dwell in the Tower [Map] awhyle, for the Queen [aged 66] have vowed to send them thether.

When you thing fit you may send over 1076 [Desmond] but retain his patent with yourself. You shall not need to send to know her Ma'ties further pleasure. In many wayes lett not Cashell come over. The more excpectation which 1076 leaveth behynd him o returne the better construction wilbe made of his departure.

Robert Cecil 1st Earl Salisbury [aged 36].

In 1601 Robert Cecil 1st Earl Salisbury [aged 37] was elected MP Hertfordshire.

In 1601 [his half-brother] Thomas Cecil 1st Earl Exeter [aged 58] was created 1st Earl Exeter. [his sister-in-law] Dorothy Neville Countess Exeter [aged 53] by marriage Countess Exeter.

In July 1601 Nicholas Hilliard [aged 54] wrote to Robert Cecil 1st Earl Salisbury [aged 38], asking permission to retire from London and live more cheaply in the countryside. He explained that he had trained apprentices who now competed with him in the private painting market. Hilliard asked that Cecil employ his son as a clerk, because he could not keep him in his own trade.

Around 1602 John Critz [aged 51]. Portrait of Robert Cecil 1st Earl Salisbury [aged 38].

In 1605 Robert Cecil 1st Earl Salisbury [aged 41] was created 1st Earl Salisbury.

On 4th March 1605 Maximilian Colt [aged 30] signed an agreement with the lord treasurer, Sir Robert Cecil [aged 41], to carve a monument above the grave of Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland in the King Henry VII Chapel, Westminster Abbey [Map] for 600l. The work was completed at the end of 1606.

In 1606 Robert Cecil 1st Earl Salisbury [aged 42] was appointed 401st Knight of the Garter by King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland [aged 39].

On 1st December 1608 William Cecil 2nd Earl Salisbury [aged 17] and Catherine Howard Countess Salisbury [aged 18] were married. She the daughter of Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk [aged 47] and Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk [aged 44]. He the son of Robert Cecil 1st Earl Salisbury [aged 45] and Elizabeth Brooke. They were fifth cousins.

In 1610 [his half-brother] Thomas Cecil 1st Earl Exeter [aged 67] and [his sister-in-law] Frances Brydges Countess Exeter [aged 30] were married. She by marriage Countess Exeter. The difference in their ages was 37 years.

In 1610 Robert Cecil 1st Earl Salisbury [aged 46] developed St Martin's Lane when he was granted five acres of its west side. It was originally called West Church Lane. Its name was changed in 1618.

Letters of John Chamberlain Volume 1.199. [2nd May 1610] The Lord Treasurer [aged 46] hath sent over his secretarie Kirkham to take order to furnish the Lord Cranbourne [aged 19] with all necessaries to follow the French king in this journy, and more of our court gallants talke of taking the same course yf the viage hold. Indeed yt were fitter they had some place abrode to vent theyre superfluous valour then to brabble so much as they do here at home: for in one weeke we had three or fowre great quarrells, the first twixt the earles of Southampton [aged 36] and Mongomerie [aged 25] that fell out at tennis, where the racketts flew about theyre cares, but the matter was taken up and compounded by the King without further bloudshed, but the matter was not so easilie ended twixt younge Egerton eldest¹ sonne to Sir John [aged 59], and one Morgan [aged 34] a lawiers sonne of goode state: the first beeing left dead in the feild, and the other sort hurt, and yet cannot be bailed nor dispensed withall but that he lies still by yt in Newgate. The Lord Norris [aged 30] likewise went into the feild with Peregrin Willoughby [aged 26] upon an old reckening, and hurt him daungerously in the shoulder.

Note 1. McClure has this as 'James' rather than 'John'. He was a younger son.

On 25th July 1610 [his son-in-law] Henry Clifford 5th Earl of Cumberland [aged 19] and Frances Cecil Countess Cumberland [aged 17] were married. She the daughter of Robert Cecil 1st Earl Salisbury [aged 47] and Elizabeth Brooke. He the son of Francis Clifford 4th Earl of Cumberland [aged 51] and Grisold Hughes Countess Cumberland. They were half sixth cousins.

On 24th May 1612 Robert Cecil 1st Earl Salisbury [aged 48] died at Marlborough, Wiltshire [Map]. His son William [aged 21] succeeded 2nd Earl Salisbury. Catherine Howard Countess Salisbury [aged 22] by marriage Countess Salisbury.

St Etheldreda's Church, Hatfield [Map]. After 24th May 1612. Monument to Robert Cecil 1st Earl Salisbury [deceased].

The cadaver beneath the monument.

The insignia of the Order of the Garter being the shoulder emblem, the small St George pendant hanging from his chain, and the leg garter.

The four ladies at each corner.

His feet resting on a sheaf of arrows.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 11th August 1667. Lord's Day. Up by four o'clock, and ready with Mrs. Turner [aged 44] to take coach before five; which we did, and set on our journey, and got to the Wells at Barnett [Map] by seven o'clock, and there found many people a-drinking; but the morning is a very cold morning, so as we were very cold all the way in the coach. Here we met Joseph Batelier, and I talked with him, and here was W. Hewer [aged 25] also, and his uncle Steventon: so, after drinking three glasses and the women nothing, we back by coach to Barnett, where to the Red Lyon, where we 'light, and went up into the great Room, and there drank, and eat some of the best cheese-cakes that ever I eat in my life, and so took coach again, and W. Hewer on horseback with us, and so to Hatfield, to the inn, next my Lord Salisbury's house [Map], and there rested ourselves, and drank, and bespoke dinner; and so to church [Map], it being just church-time, and there we find my [his grandson-in-law] Lord and my [his granddaughter] Lady Sands and several fine ladies of the family, and a great many handsome faces and genteel persons more in the church, and did hear a most excellent good sermon, which pleased me mightily, and very devout; it being upon, the signs of saving grace, where it is in a man, and one sign, which held him all this day, was, that where that grace was, there is also the grace of prayer, which he did handle very finely. In this church [Map] lies the former Lord of Salisbury, Cecil, buried in a noble tomb.

Survey London Volume 4 Chelsea Part II. More's estate was granted to Sir William Paulet [See Patent Roll, I Edward VI., pt. 3.] (first Marquess of Winchester): it was inherited by his son the second Marquess, and in 1575 passed to Gregory Fiennes, Lord Dacre of the South, and his wife Anne - the foundress of those charming almshouses, Emmanuel Hospital, Westminster, now destroyed - who was a daughter of the Marchioness of Winchester by her former husband, Sir Robert Sackville. Baroness Dacre, who died in 1595, left the house to [his father] Lord Burleigh, who is said to have lived here, and he was followed by his youngest son, Sir Robert Cecil, afterwards Earl of Salisbury, who took possession in 1597. It is to Cecil's passion for building, which was not exhausted until he had parted with his fortune in completing Hatfield, that we owe the earliest representations on paper of the house at Chelsea. In his Chelsea Old Church Mr. Randall Davies published a reproduction of a beautiful plan of the Chelsea Estate, preserved among the Hatfield papers, and the present writer in some further research among Lord Salisbury's MSS. found five plans to a larger scale, all of which have reference to Cecil's schemes for rebuilding Sir Thomas More's house. For a detailed examination of these plans, the reader is referred to the Architectural Review of March and May, 1911, but by the courtesy of the proprietors of the Review, the reproductions are included here.