SIR ROBERT CECIL,

EARL OF SALISBURY.

2

THIS man, who had the fortune or misfortune to please both queen Elizabeth and James the first; who, like the son of the duke of Lerma, had the uncommon fate of succeeding his own father as prime-minister, and who (unlike that son of Lerma) did not, though treacherous to every body else, supplant his own father: this man is sufficiently known. His public story may be found in all our histories; his particular, in the Biographia and if any body's curiosity is still unsatisfied about him, they may see a tedious account of his last sickness in Peck's Desiderata Curiosa.

He wrote

"Adversus Perduelles;"

an answer to some Popish libels3.

After a short interval.

[Quære, says Mr. Reed, if not "An Answere to certaine scandalous Papers scattered abroad under colour of a Catholicke Admon'tion," 1606, 4to. In this answer he is stated to have declared, that he despised all the murderous threats of his adversaries, for the service of so good a cause as he was engaged in; namely, that of his religion and country. The author of Aulicus Coquinariæ says, "that most pestilent libel against his birth and honour, was answered by him, wisely,

S ROBERT CECIL ZARL of SALISBURY From a Druring in the Collection of EMalene Esq,"

"Mr. Secretary Cecil, his Negociation into France, with the Instructions for his Guydance therein from Queen Elizabeth, in the Year of our Lord 1597."

"Several Speeches in Parliament;" and " many Letters 4."

"One in the Cabala to his Father."

"Another to Sir Francis Segar 5."

"Some Notes on Dr. Dee's Discourse on the Reformation of the Calendar."

[The Harleian MSS. 305 and 354, contain "The State of a Secretaries Place and the Perill: written by Robert Earle of Salisbury."

This was printed in 1642, 4to. with his lordship's "Excellent Instructions to the late Earle of Bedford, for the Government of Barwick."

In No. 737 of the same repository is

"A Collection of such Things as Robert late Earle of Salisbury thought fitt to offer unto hir Majestie uppon the Occasyon of callinge a Parliamente."

And in No. 36 is

"A Memoriall or Diary, kept by Mr. Secretary Cicill; beginninge Anno primo Elizabeth R. Coppied out of the Originall in Mr. Secretary Cicill's Hand."

learnedly, and religiously," p. 52. Dr. Lort points out a copy of the pamphlet referred to by Mr. Reed, in the public library, Cambridge.]

• Vide Sawyer's Memorials, in three vols. folio. • Vide Howard's Collection, p. 196.

This diary is curious and extensive, comprising a record of political events, or the personages engaged in them; and a chronicle of passing occurrences in the sphere of the court, from Nov. 17, 1558, to April 13, 1603. Much of it might have formed a desirable appendage to his father's diary, published by Murdin. The following articles will convey its general tenour:

"Aug. 4, 1598. In the morninge about seven of the clocke died my lord treasurer Burleigh, at the Strand-house, being Friday.

66

Aug. 29. The lord treasurer Burley's funeral solempnized at Westm. and the dynner was kepte att Cecill-howse in the Stronde."

King James gave to lord Salisbury the familiar appellation of his little beagle; it is presumed, from his unshapely figure, and from the intelligence which he was enabled to procure by means of the secret agents he employed at the different courts of Europe. Sir Anthony Weldon charges him with having induced James the first to raise £.200,000, by making two hundred baronets; telling the king, "He should find his English subjects like asses, on whom he might lay any burden; and should need neither bit nor bridle, but their asses ears;" and when the king said, "It would discontent the generality of the gentry:"-" Tush, sire," he replied, "you want the money; that will do you good, the honour will do them very little "." He is also accused by Osborn of

⚫ Court and Character of King James, p. 12.