Main adviser to Elizabeth, chief councillor, and served her from her accession in November 1558 until his death in August 1598
Believed the Catholic powers of Europe were conspiring to overthrow her, and thought she should marry to solve this problem
Wrote ‘The execution of justice in England’ in 1583, showing his loyalty to the Queen and hatred of the Church of Rome
Wrote ‘The execution of justice in England’ in 1583, showing his loyalty to the Queen and hatred of the Church of Rome
1561 - made Master of Wards, receiving 100 letters a day and in 1569 - survived a plot to overthrow him
Elizabeth was godmother to Cecil’s daughter and from 1548 he was overseer of Elizabeth’s estate
Served as MP for Stamford since 1547 and a former Privy Councillor and Secretary of State; not a Marian exile, and was briefly imprisoned under Mary
Dedicated protestant and a he was a strong believer of upholding laws, neither Cecil nor Elizabeth were fond of drastic change
Qualities that made him a good advisor: faithful (loyal), not corrupt, intelligent (legally trained), hard-worker and determined but not separately power-hungry
William Cecil and Elizabeth corresponded at least intermittently from 1547, and Elizabeth seems to have sought Cecil’s advice during the often-difficult years of her siblings’ reigns
Cecil was at her side when news came of her accession in 1558, and he was appointed Secretary of State on 17 November, the first day of the new reign
