CECIL, WILLIAM, BARON 13URLEIGH, was born at Bourne in Lincoluehire, on the 13th of September, 1520. His father was master of the robes to Henry VIII. He was placed successively at the grammar schools of Grantham and Stamford, and at the age of fifteen ho was removed to St. John', College, Cambridge, where he was dis tinguished for the regularity of hie conduct and the intensity of hie application. At the age of sixteen he delivered a lecture ou the logic of the school., and three years afterwards another on the Greek language. At twenty-one ho entered at Gray's-inn, and applied him self to the study of the law, the history of his own country, and especially the genealogy of its principal families. Iu August 1541 he married a sister of Sir John Cheke, who died in the second year of their marriage, leaving one son, Thomas, afterwards earl of Exeter.
In the same year, having successfully contended in an argument on the supremacy of the pope and the Catholic faith, with two priests, chaplains of O'Neil the Irish chief, he was at the king's desire brought into his presence. Conceiving a favourable opinion of Cecil's abilities, the king, in order to secure his services, conferred upon him the reversion of the office of custos brevium in the Common Pleas, an office of considerable emolument, and which fell into his possession about five years afterwards. Shortly after the accession of Edward VI., Cecil married Mildred, daughter of Sir Anthony Cook, the director of the king's studies, which connection, together with his acknowledged high talents and habits of application, and his known attachment to the principles of the Reformation, procured him the friendship of the lord protector, to whose notice he had already been recommended by the Cheke family. In 1547 the lord protector appointed him his master of requests, an office not only of distinction but of great trust. In the same year he accompanied the lord protector in the Scotch expedition, and was present at the battle of Musselburgh. Cecil quickly acquired the esteem and confidence of the young king, and in the year 1548 was appointed secretary of state.
On the fall of the lord protector, Cecil was committed to the Tower, but 1111.4 discharged after an imprisonment of three months; and in October 1551, was by the Duke of Northumberland restored to his office, knighted, and sworn of the privy council. It does not appear that he was in any way privy to the fall of his early patron the lord protector ; but the extreme caution of his subsequent behaviour to his fallen friend borders closely on ingratitude.
Soon after his re-appointment as secretary of state, Cecil effected several important measures. The abolition of the exclusive privileges of the merchants of the Steel-yard seems to have sprung from that large and enlightened policy which distinguished his whole career. He further proposed to abolish the staple or regular market for the wool and chief productions of England, then existing at. Antwerp, and to open two free porta iu England, one at Southampton, the other at Hull; but from the then low state of commercial knowledge, and the perplexities arising from state-intrigues, the plan was notaccom plished.
Cecil took no part in Northumberland's designs for altering the succession to the throne on the death of Edward VI., though he affixed his name to the instrument of settlement as witness to the king's signature, at his earnest request. On Northumberland's march into Cecil joined Mary, who had already been declared queen, and by whom he was graciously received. Under the new reign he gave up his employments because he would not change his religion, but he continued in his usual cautious policy, and carefully abstained from joining in any of the proceedings of the opponents of the court. He even cultivated the friendship of many of Mary's ministers, and became attached to the party of Cardinal Pole, who, in opposition to Gardiner, advised moderation and mildness in matters of religion.