CECIL, William (1520/21-1598), of Little Burghley, Northants.; Stamford, Lincs.; Wimbledon, Surr.; Westminster, Mdx. and London.

Family and Education

b. 13 Sept. 1520 /21, o. s. of Richard Cecil educ. Grantham and Stamford g. schools; St. John’s, Camb. adm. May 1535; G. Inn, adm. 6 May 1541. m. (1) 8 Aug. 1541, Mary (d. 22 Feb. 1544), da. of Peter Cheke of Cambridge, 1s. Thomas; (2) 21 Dec. 1545, Mildred (d. 5 Apr. 1589), da. of Sir Anthony Cooke of Gidea Hall, Essex, 2s. inc. Robert 3da. Kntd. 11 Oct. 1551; suc. fa. 19 Mar. 1553; cr. Baron of Burghley 25 Feb. 1571. KG nom. 23 Apr., inst. 17 June 1572.In old age Cecil gave his birthdate sometimes as 13 Sept. 1520 and sometimes as 13 Sept. 1521. In his will he gave the earlier year, and because ‘he spoke the official word’ there C. Read considered it to be correct. This biography rests upon C. Read, Cecil; DNB; CP; Vis. Northants. ed. Metcalfe, 78-79; D. Powel, The historie of Cambria (1584), 142-7; SP10/13/56; N. and Q. ccxx. 294-5.

Offices Held

Recorder, Boston 14 May 1545 – d., Stamford by 1580; j.p. Lincs. (Holland, Kesteven) 1547, Mdx. 1558/59, q. Lincs. (Holland, Kesteven, Lindsey) 1554 – d., Mdx., Northants., Surr. 1558/59, Mdx. 1561 – d., Rutland 1574 – d.; keeper, writs and rolls c.p. 6 May 1548; sec. to Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset 1548; commr. chantries, Lincs. 1548, heresy 1549, 1550, 1552, eccles. laws 1552, relief, Lincs. (Kesteven, Lindsey), London 1550, goods of churches and fraternities, Lincs. (Kesteven), Surr., Westminster 1553; custos rot. Lincs. 6 July 1549, Northants. by 1573; sec. of state 5 Sept. 1550 – July 1553, 20 Nov. 1558–72; PC 5 Sept. 1550 – July 1553, 20 Nov. 1558 – d.; surveyor, estates of Princess Elizabeth by 1550, ct. augmentations, Lincs. by 1552; chancellor, order of the Garter 12 Apr. 1553; steward, Stamford by 1560, duchy of Lancaster, Dunstanburgh, Northumb. 1570 – d., Bolingbroke honor, Lincs. 1585 – 97; high steward, Westminster 1561, Bristol 1588, St. Albans temp. Eliz.; master, ct. wards 10 Jan. 1561 – d.; ld. lt. Mdx. 1568, Lincs. 1587, Essex, Herts. 1588; keeper, privy seal Apr. – June 1571, ?1590; ld. treasurer July 1572 – d.; trier of petitions in the Lords, Parlt. of 1572; numerous minor offices. CPR, 1547–8 to 1572–5 passim; Somerville, Duchy, i. 537, 577; Rep. Roy. Comm. of 1552 (Archs. of Brit. hist. and culture iii), xxv.n.54: W. G. Richardson, Ct. Augmentations, 382; Bristol AO, 04720/2/i; Stamford hall bk. 1461–1657, f. 172; LJ, i. 703.

Parlimentarian

CECIL, William (1520/21-1598), of Little Burghley, Northants.; Stamford, Lincs.; Wimbledon, Surr.; Westminster, Mdx. and London.

Main residence: Little Burghley, Northants.; Stamford, Lincs.; Wimbledon, Surr.; Westminster, Mdx. and London.

Author

A.D.K.H.

Volume

Commons 1509-1558

Web Title

CECIL, William (1520/21-1598)

Will

Estates

Oxford 1644

Addresses

Religion

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