Biography of William Cecil 2nd Earl Salisbury 1591-1668

Paternal Family Tree: Cecil

Maternal Family Tree: Frances Newton Baroness Cobham 1539-1592

1605 New Years Honours

1648 Treaty of Newport

In 1589 [his father] Robert Cecil 1st Earl Salisbury (age 25) and [his mother] Elizabeth Brooke (age 25) were married.

On 28 Mar 1591 William Cecil 2nd Earl Salisbury was born to Robert Cecil 1st Earl Salisbury (age 27) and Elizabeth Brooke (age 28).

On 24 Jan 1597 [his mother] Elizabeth Brooke (age 34) died.

In 1605 [his father] Robert Cecil 1st Earl Salisbury (age 41) was created 1st Earl Salisbury.

Memorials of affairs of state in the reigns of Q Elizabeth and K James I Volume 2 Dudley Carleton to Mr Winwood Jan 1605. The next Day the King plaid in the Presence, and as good or ill Luck seldom comes alone, the Bridegroom (age 20), that threw for the King, had the good Fortune to win £1000 which he had for his Pains; the greatest part was lost by my Lord of Cranborne (age 13).

New Years Honours

Memorials of affairs of state in the reigns of Q Elizabeth and K James I Volume 2 Dudley Carleton to Mr Winwood Jan 1605. On Twelfth-Day we had the Creation of Duke Charles (age 4) now Duke of York; the Interim was entertained with making Knights of the Bath, which was three Days Work. They were eleven in Number, besides the little Duke, all of the King's Choice; namely, the Lords Willoby, Compton, Chandois, and Norres; William Cecyll, Allen Percy, Thomas Somerset (age 26), Francis Manners (age 27), Clifford, young Howard, second Son of my Lord Chamberlaine, and Harrington. The Solemnity of the Creation was kept in the Hall, where first the Duke (age 4) was brought in accompanyed with his Knights, then carried out againe, and brought back by Earles in their Robes of the Garter. My Lord Admiral bare him, two others went as Supporters, and six marched before with the Ornaments. The Patent was read by my Lord of Cranborne (age 13), and drawn in most eloquent Law Latin by Mr. Attorney; but so, that we have a Duke of York in Title, but not in Substance. There was a publick Dinner in the great Chamber, where there was one Table for the Duke and his Earls Assistants, another for his Fellow Knights of the Bath.

Memorials of affairs of state in the reigns of Q Elizabeth and K James I Volume 2 Dudley Carleton to Mr Winwood Jan 1605. Sir Richard Spencer was brought to the King the Morning he went from London, and kneeling down had this ill Encounter, to light with his Knee on a Pin, which lamed him for the present and ever since. They say, malum omen in principio lapsus; and methinks it should be no good signe, to be pinn'd to the Ground at his Entry into his Charge. Upon Complaint that our Merchants were molested in Spaine, Wilson, who is newly come from thence was appointed to return thither, and had Allowance assigned of 30s a Day: But there came News of Reformation, and his Journey was stayed. He is to go with my Lord Admirall, and to remaine there as a Consul for our Merchants. Sir Henry Maynard prepares for France. Sir Thomas Bodeley hath been much laid to by my Lord of Cranborne (age 13) to accept the place of Secretary, and I doubt not but you hear how he refused it. This offer is made an Act so meritorious, that it is brued a son de trompette in all Places, but some malicious Fellows talk as fast of Sir Walter Cope, as if he were designed to that Place, and that the other was only ad faciendum populum. Sir Henry Neville fits by all this while unthought of, but 'tis hoped by many honest Men, the Necesslty of the Time will lay the Place upon him.

On 01 Dec 1608 William Cecil 2nd Earl Salisbury (age 17) and Catherine Howard Countess Salisbury were married. She the daughter of Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk (age 47) and Mary Dacre. He the son of Robert Cecil 1st Earl Salisbury (age 45) and Elizabeth Brooke.

On 24 May 1612 [his father] Robert Cecil 1st Earl Salisbury (age 48) died at Marlborough, Wiltshire [Map]. His son William Cecil 2nd Earl Salisbury (age 21) succeeded 2nd Earl Salisbury. [his wife] Catherine Howard Countess Salisbury by marriage Countess Salisbury.

Before 1616 [his brother-in-law] Henry Howard (age 24) and Elizabeth Bassett Countess Newcastle upon Tyne (age 23) were married. He the son of Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk (age 54) and Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk (age 51).

In 1616 [his son] James Cecil was born to William Cecil 2nd Earl Salisbury (age 24) and [his wife] Catherine Howard Countess Salisbury.

In 1616 [his son] James Cecil died.

Around 1616 [his brother-in-law] Henry Howard (age 24) died in Clun Castle [Map].

In 1619 [his daughter] Elizabeth Cecil Countess Devonshire was born to William Cecil 2nd Earl Salisbury (age 27) and [his wife] Catherine Howard Countess Salisbury.

In 1619 [his son] Charles Cecil was born to William Cecil 2nd Earl Salisbury (age 27) and [his wife] Catherine Howard Countess Salisbury.

In 1622 [his daughter] Diana Cecil was born to William Cecil 2nd Earl Salisbury (age 30) and [his wife] Catherine Howard Countess Salisbury.

In 1624 William Cecil 2nd Earl Salisbury (age 32) was appointed 418th Knight of the Garter by King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland (age 57).

Around 1624 [his brother-in-law] Edward Howard 1st Baron Howard (age 22) and Mary Boteler Baroness Howard were married. He the son of Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk (age 62) and Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk (age 60).

On 21 Jun 1626 [his brother-in-law] Charles Howard (age 35) died.

On 12 Apr 1628 [his brother-in-law] Edward Howard 1st Baron Howard (age 26) was created 1st Baron Howard of Escrick. Mary Boteler Baroness Howard by marriage Baroness Howard of Escrick.

In 1629 [his son-in-law] Algernon Percy 10th Earl of Northumberland (age 26) and [his daughter] Anne Cecil were married. She the daughter of William Cecil 2nd Earl Salisbury (age 37) and Catherine Howard Countess Salisbury. He the son of Henry "Wizard Earl" Percy 9th Earl of Northumberland (age 64) and Dorothy Devereux Countess Northumberland.

In 1633 [his daughter] Diana Cecil (age 11) died.

In 1637 [his daughter] Anne Cecil died.

On 04 Mar 1639 [his son-in-law] William Cavendish 3rd Earl Devonshire (age 21) and [his daughter] Elizabeth Cecil Countess Devonshire (age 20) were married. She by marriage Countess Devonshire. She the daughter of William Cecil 2nd Earl Salisbury (age 47) and Catherine Howard Countess Salisbury. He the son of William Cavendish 2nd Earl Devonshire and Christian Bruce Countess Devonshire.

Evelyn's Diary. 11 Mar 1643. I went to see my Lord of Salisbury's (age 51) Palace at Hatfield, where the most considerable rarity, besides the house (inferior to few then in England for its architecture), were the garden and vineyard, rarely well watered and planted. They also showed us the picture of Secretary Cecil, in Mosaic work, very well done by some Italian hand.

In 1645 [his son-in-law] Philip Sidney 3rd Earl of Leicester (age 25) and [his daughter] Catherine Cecil were married. She the daughter of William Cecil 2nd Earl Salisbury (age 53) and Catherine Howard Countess Salisbury. He the son of Robert Sidney 2nd Earl of Leicester (age 49) and Dorothy Percy Countess Leicester (age 47).

Before 1648 [his son] Charles Cecil (age 29) and [his daughter-in-law] Diana Maxwell were married. She the daughter of James Maxwell 1st Earl Dirletoun. He the son of William Cecil 2nd Earl Salisbury (age 56) and Catherine Howard Countess Salisbury.

In 1648 [his brother-in-law] Robert Howard (age 64) and Catherine Neville (age 22) were married. The difference in their ages was 41 years. He the son of Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk and Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk.

Treaty of Newport

Between 15 Sep 1648 and 27 Nov 1648 the Treaty of Newport attempted to reconcile King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland (age 47) (who was imprisoned at nearby Carisbrooke Castle [Map]) with Parliament. Denzil Holles 1st Baron Holles (age 48) and Henry Vane "The Younger" (age 35) represented Parliament. James Butler 1st Duke Ormonde (age 37) represented King Charles. The Treaty eventually came to nothing.

Parliament was also represented by John Crew 1st Baron Crew (age 50), John Glynne (age 46), Nathaniel Fiennes (age 40), William Pierrepont of Thoresby (age 40), [his former son-in-law] Algernon Percy 10th Earl of Northumberland (age 45), William Fiennes 1st Viscount Saye and Sele (age 66), Philip Herbert 4th Earl Pembroke 1st Earl Montgomery (age 63), William Cecil 2nd Earl Salisbury (age 57), James Cranfield 2nd Earl Middlesex (age 27) and Thomas Wenman 2nd Viscount Wenman (age 52).

In 1652 [his daughter] Catherine Cecil died.

On 22 Apr 1653 [his brother-in-law] Robert Howard (age 69) died at Hall in the Forest, Clun [Map]. He was buried at St George's Church, Clun [Map].

In 1660 [his son] Charles Cecil (age 41) died.

Pepy's Diary. 18 Feb 1660. Saturday. A great while at my vial and voice, learning to sing "Fly boy, fly boy", without book. So to my office, where little to do. In the Hall I met with Mr. Eglin and one Looker, a famous gardener, servant to my Lord Salsbury (age 68), and among other things the gardener told a strange passage in good earnest.... Home to dinner, and then went to my Lord's lodgings to my turret there and took away most of my books, and sent them home by my maid. Thither came Capt. Holland to me who took me to the Half Moon tavern [Map] and Mr. Southorne, Blackburne's clerk. Thence he took me to the Mitre in Fleet Street, where we heard (in a room over the music room) very plainly through the ceiling. Here we parted and I to Mr. Wotton's, and with him to an alehouse and drank while he told me a great many stories of comedies that he had formerly seen acted, and the names of the principal actors, and gave me a very good account of it. Thence to Whitehall, where I met with Luellin and in the clerk's chamber wrote a letter to my Lord. So home and to bed. This day two soldiers were hanged in the Strand [Map] for their late mutiny at Somerset-house [Map].

Pepy's Diary. 16 Oct 1664. Lord's Day. It raining, we set out, and about nine o'clock got to Hatfield, Hertfordshire in church-time; and I 'light and saw my simple Lord Salsbury (age 73) sit there in his gallery.

In or before 1668 [his son-in-law] William Sandys 6th Baron Sandys and [his daughter] Mary Cecil were married. No issue. She the daughter of William Cecil 2nd Earl Salisbury (age 76) and Catherine Howard Countess Salisbury. They were fourth cousins.

On 03 Dec 1668 William Cecil 2nd Earl Salisbury (age 77) died. His grandson James Cecil 3rd Earl Salisbury (age 20) succeeded 3rd Earl Salisbury. Margaret Manners Countess of Salisbury by marriage Countess Salisbury.

Pepy's Diary. 22 Mar 1669. Thence with W. Hewer (age 27) at noon to Unthanke's, where my wife stays for me and so to the Cocke (age 52), where there was no room, and thence to King Street, to several cook's shops, where nothing to be had; and at last to the corner shop, going down Ivy Lane, by my Lord of Salisbury's, and there got a good dinner, my wife, and W. Newer, and I: and after dinner she, with her coach, home; and he and I to look over my papers for the East India Company, against the afternoon: which done, I with them to White Hall, and there to the Treasury-Chamber, where the East India Company and three Councillors pleaded against me alone, for three or four hours, till seven at night, before the Lords; and the Lords did give me the conquest on behalf of the King (age 38), but could not come to any conclusion, the Company being stiff: and so I think we shall go to law with them. This done, and my eyes mighty bad with this day's work, I to Mr. Wren's, and then up to the Duke of York (age 35), and there with Mr. Wren (age 40) did propound to him my going to Chatham, Kent [Map] to-morrow with Commissioner Middleton, and so this week to make the pay there, and examine the business of "The Defyance" being lost, and other businesses, which I did the rather, that I might be out of the way at the wedding, and be at a little liberty myself for a day, or two, to find a little pleasure, and give my eyes a little ease. The Duke of York (age 35) mightily satisfied with it; and so away home, where my wife troubled at my being so late abroad, poor woman! though never more busy, but I satisfied her; and so begun to put things in order for my journey to-morrow, and so, after supper, to bed.

[his daughter] Anne Cecil was born to William Cecil 2nd Earl Salisbury and Catherine Howard Countess Salisbury.

[his son] Algernon Cecil was born to William Cecil 2nd Earl Salisbury and Catherine Howard Countess Salisbury.

[his daughter] Mary Cecil was born to William Cecil 2nd Earl Salisbury and Catherine Howard Countess Salisbury.

[his daughter] Catherine Cecil was born to William Cecil 2nd Earl Salisbury and Catherine Howard Countess Salisbury.

Royal Ancestors of William Cecil 2nd Earl Salisbury 1591-1668

Kings Wessex: Great x 17 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England

Kings Gwynedd: Great x 14 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd

Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 20 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth

Kings Powys: Great x 15 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys

Kings England: Great x 7 Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Kings Scotland: Great x 13 Grand Son of William "Lion" I King Scotland

Kings Franks: Great x 13 Grand Son of Louis VII King Franks

Kings France: Great x 9 Grand Son of Philip "The Fair" IV King France

Royal Descendants of William Cecil 2nd Earl Salisbury 1591-1668

Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom x 1

Diana Spencer Princess Wales x 2

Ancestors of William Cecil 2nd Earl Salisbury 1591-1668

Great x 4 Grandfather: Philip Cecil

Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Cecil

Great x 2 Grandfather: David Cecil

Great x 1 Grandfather: Richard Cecil

Great x 2 Grandmother: Alice Dicons

GrandFather: William Cecil 1st Baron Burghley

Great x 2 Grandfather: William Heckington

Great x 1 Grandmother: Jane Heckington

Father: Robert Cecil 1st Earl Salisbury 12 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Cooke

Great x 3 Grandfather: Philip Cooke

Great x 2 Grandfather: John Cooke of Gidea Hall

Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Belnap

Great x 1 Grandfather: Anthony Cooke

Great x 3 Grandfather: William Saunders of Banbury in Oxfordshire

Great x 2 Grandmother: Alice Saunders

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Spencer of Hodnell in Warwickshire

Great x 3 Grandmother: Jane Spencer

GrandMother: Mildred Cooke Baroness Burghley 11 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Fitzwilliam 7 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: John Fitzwilliam 8 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: William Fitzwilliam 9 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 1 Grandmother: Anne Fitzwilliam 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

William Cecil 2nd Earl Salisbury 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Edward Brooke 6th Baron Cobham 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: John Brooke 7th Baron Cobham 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Tuchet Baroness Cobham 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Brooke 8th Baron Cobham 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Edward Neville 1st Baron Bergavenny Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Neville Baroness Cobham 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Katherine Howard Baroness Bergavenny 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 1 Grandfather: George Brooke 9th Baron Cobham 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Henry Heydon

Great x 2 Grandmother: Dorothy Heydon Baroness Cobham

Great x 4 Grandfather: Geoffrey Boleyn

Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne Boleyn

Great x 4 Grandmother: Ann Hoo

GrandFather: William Brooke 10th Baron Cobham 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: John Bray of Eaton Bray

Great x 2 Grandfather: Edmund Braye 1st Baron Braye

Great x 1 Grandmother: Anne Braye Baroness Cobham 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Halwell of Halwell in Devon

Great x 2 Grandmother: Jane Halwell Baroness Bray 11 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John IV Norbury 9 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Jane Norbury 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Mother: Elizabeth Brooke 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

GrandMother: Frances Newton Baroness Cobham