William Cecil Biography and Timeline

Birth of William Cecil

Birth of William Cecil

Birth of William Cecil

William Cecil is born at Bourne and later becomes Elizabeth I's principal secretary and Lord Burghley, dominating much of her civil administration.

Seymour Household

Appointed Seymour Household where much state business is settled

Secretary of State

Appointed Secretary of State

Role range: 1550-1553

Chief Secretary

Appointed Chief Secretary of State

Role range: 1558-1572

Queen's Council

Appointed member of Elizabeth I's Council

Role range: 1558-1572

State Papers Organized

Cecil begins organizing the new queen's correspondence and state papers

Role range: 1558-1572

Treaty of Berwick

Cecil helps shape English policy supporting the Scottish Protestant lords

Role range: 1559-1560 – 1558-1572

Calais Reservation

Cecil protects Elizabeth's claim over Calais while accepting Scottish peace terms

Role range: 1558-1572

Council of Twelve Clause

Cecil supports arrangements for Scottish government by a council of nobles

Role range: 1558-1572

Edinburgh Scottish Settlement

Helps negotiate a settlement reducing French military influence in Scotland and strengthening the position of the Protestant Scottish lords.

Role range: 1558-1572

Treaty Drafting

Cecil helps shape the treaty terms for withdrawal of foreign forces

Role range: 1559-1560 – 1558-1572

Treaty of Edinburgh

Cecil secures terms requiring French troops to leave Scotland

Role range: 1559-1560 – 1558-1572

Post Treaty Planning

Cecil briefs the Privy Council on the consequences of the Edinburgh settlement

Role range: 1558-1572

Treaty of Edinburgh

Elizabeth is rejects the Treaty because France does not recognise Calais as English

Role range: 1559-1560 – 1558-1572

Treaty of Edinburgh

The French agree to leave Scotland. Secures the Treaty of Edinburgh with the French

Role range: 1559-1560 – 1558-1572

Scottish Policy

Cecil manages correspondence on Mary of Scots return and Scottish affairs

Role range: 1558-1572

Le Havre Security Clause

Supports treaty arrangements placing Le Havre in English hands as security while Elizabeth aids the Huguenot cause in France.

Role range: 1558-1572

Council Considers Heirs during Smallpox Crisis

Elizabeth's near-fatal smallpox prompts councillors to consider possible successors, exposing the danger created by the absence of a formally named heir.

Role range: 1558-1572

Statute of Artificers

Cecil supports legislation ordering labour and apprenticeship policy

Role range: 1558-1572

Marriage

Cecil tries to arrange a marriage between Elizabeth I & Archduke Charles

Arrest of Mary of Scots

Urges Elizabeth I to keep Mary Queen of Scots under arrest in England

Role range: 1558-1572

Peerage

Created Lord Burghley, 1st

Cecil Coordinates Investigation Of Plot

William Cecil directed inquiries into secret correspondence and money transfers connected with Mary and Norfolk.

Blois Anti-Spanish Strategy

Supports the French alliance as a means of reducing the risk that England will face Spain without a major continental partner.

Role range: 1572-1598

Lord Treasurer

Appointed Lord Treasurer

Role range: 1572-1598

Bond of Association

Supports the political response to the Throckmorton Plot and foreign threats

Role range: 1598

Death of William Cecil

Death of William Cecil

Role range: 1572-1598

Peerage

Created Lord Burghley, the 2nd

President of the Council

Appointed President of the Council of the North

Role range: 1599-1603