CECIL, ROBERT, Earl of Salisbury, son of the pre ceding., though less eminent than his father, was suffi ciently distinguished to merit a place in British biogra phy. He appears, for the date is by no means free of doubt, to have been born in 1563 ; and, after serving in the English fleet against the armada, and being returned member for Hertfordshire, lie was appointed, in 1596, second secretary of state under Sir Francis Walsing ham. Having the advantage of his father's admirable example and instruction, he was thought worthy to suc ceed him in the high station of lord treasurer, and con tinued to fill it during the remaining years of Elizabeth's life. Though frequently at variance with the Earl of Essex, he did not yield to that impetuous nobleman in rooted antipathy to the Spaniards. Attached as he was to the queen, and zealous in pleading in parliament in defence of her obnoxious measures, he was too knowing a courtier to neglect the rising sun, and ventured on a correspondence with King James, which had at one time been well nigh discovered by his suspicious mistress. Being still a commoner, (for he was a younger son of Lord Burleigh,) King James, on his accession, bestowed on him the honour of a peerage, and soon after made him one of the knights of the garter. Though not con tinued in the post of treasurer, he was confidentially em ployed, and was almost the only minister who resisted the growing influence of the Spaniards at court. On the death of the Earl of Dorset in 1608, he was appointed to succeed hint as treasurer,—a place of great difficulty, in consequence of the king's thoughtless profusion. To this unfortunate disposition he made so much opposition as prudence allowed, and was, on the other hand, inde fatigable in drawing the utmost from the royal demesnes. At the same time, he was by no means unmindful of his own interest, and, though he surrendered the patent for the mastership of the court of wards, he found means to amass a very considerable fortune. He approved him self in parliament an equally zealous advocate for the prerogative under James as under Elizabeth. 'His con stitution, always delicate, was impaired by application to business, and began to give way in 1609. The decay was progressive till 1612, in which year his death took Compared with his father, the Earl of Salisbury will be found a minister of perhaps equal ability, but inferior in candour and probity. 1Iis particular talent was in di
plomacy, for no man could more dexterously penetrate, in a conference, the views of foreign ministers, or con ceal his own. Notwithstanding his hove of money, lie was completely above the reach of corruption from abroad. His exceptionable acts in raising public sup plies, In the sales of titles, and otherwise, are to lie at tributed chiefly to the factious and corrupt character of the court. The great imputations on Ids memory, are hostile measuras against two eminent hut unfortu nate men, the Earl of Essex and Sir Walter Raleigh. In regard to the lOrmer, it is pertly !ea•, that the part he acted was dietatt d by his to his sot ereign and his country ; and ? IS to the latter, it is possible, that when, by the publication of tardier documents, we come fully acquainted w ith the history of the transaction, we shall lied reason to acquit him of vindictive perse cution. 'Thos• who dislike his memory, in consequettre of his subserviency to the crown, may have some satis L.ction in learning, that his life at court was by no means a happy one. In 1603, alter James's accession, he to his friend, Sir John Harrington : n Good knight, I ant from the throne of comfort, and know not where the winds and waves or a court will bear me. 'Tis a great task to prove one's and yet not spoil one's fortune. 1 wish I waited now in your presence-chamber, with ease at my food, and rest in my bed." And, in his last illness, he addressed to his friend, Sir Walter Cope, the following remarkable : Ease and plea sure quake to hear of death ; hut toy life, run of cares and miseries, desireth to be dissolved." In his person the Earl of Salisbury was little indebted to nature, being very crooked but his countenance. was not unbecoming; and he was remarked for the fierceness of his eve. lie was allowed by his enemies to be an ex c•llent speaker, though an indifferent writer. Several of his speeches were printed, as well as a book against the Papists, and Xotes on a Discourse (by Dr John Dee) on the Reformation of the Calendar. His official letters to our foreign ambassadors are very full and explicit. Many of them are to lie found in Sawyer's Memorials of State, a work of 3 vols. folio, published in 1725. (x)