Biography of William Cecil 2nd Earl Salisbury 1591-1668

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

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

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

Memorials of affairs of state in the reigns of Q Elizabeth and K James I Volume 2. 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).

Memorials of affairs of state in the reigns of Q Elizabeth and K James I Volume 2. 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 1st December 1608 William Cecil 2nd Earl Salisbury (age 17) and Catherine Howard Countess Salisbury (age 18) were married. She the daughter of Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk (age 47) and Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk (age 44). He the son of Robert Cecil 1st Earl Salisbury (age 45) and Elizabeth Brooke. They were sixth cousins.

In 1610 [his brother-in-law] Theophilus Howard 2nd Earl Suffolk (age 27) by writ of acceleration 2nd Baron Howard de Walden.

Letters of John Chamberlain Volume 1 199. [2nd May 1610] The [his father] Lord Treasurer (age 46) hath sent over his secretarie Kirkham to take order to furnish the Lord Cranbourne (age 19) with all necessaries to follow the French king in this journy, and more of our court gallants talke of taking the same course yf the viage hold. Indeed yt were fitter they had some place abrode to vent theyre superfluous valour then to brabble so much as they do here at home: for in one weeke we had three or fowre great quarrells, the first twixt the earles of Southampton (age 36) and Mongomerie (age 25) that fell out at tennis, where the racketts flew about theyre cares, but the matter was taken up and compounded by the King without further bloudshed, but the matter was not so easilie ended twixt younge Egerton eldest¹ sonne to Sir John (age 59), and one Morgan (age 34) a lawiers sonne of goode state: the first beeing left dead in the feild, and the other sort hurt, and yet cannot be bailed nor dispensed withall but that he lies still by yt in Newgate. The Lord Norris (age 30) likewise went into the feild with Peregrin Willoughby (age 26) upon an old reckening, and hurt him daungerously in the shoulder.

Note 1. McClure has this as 'James' rather than 'John'. He was a younger son.

In 1612 [his brother-in-law] Theophilus Howard 2nd Earl Suffolk (age 29) and Elizabeth Home Countess Suffolk (age 13) were married. She the daughter of George Home 1st Earl Dunbar and Elizabeth Gordon Countess Dunbar (age 37). He the son of [his father-in-law] Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk (age 50) and [his mother-in-law] Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk (age 48).

On 24th May 1612 [his father] Robert Cecil 1st Earl Salisbury (age 48) died at Marlborough, Wiltshire [Map]. His son William (age 21) succeeded 2nd Earl Salisbury. [his wife] Catherine Howard Countess Salisbury (age 22) by marriage Countess Salisbury.

On 25th September 1613 Robert Devereux 3rd Earl Essex (age 22) and [his sister-in-law] Frances Howard Countess Essex and Somerset (age 23) marriage annulled by King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland (age 47). She married Robert Carr 1st Earl Somerset (age 26) three months later.

In 1614 [his brother-in-law] Thomas Howard 1st Earl Berkshire (age 26) and Elizabeth Cecil Countess Berkshire (age 18) were married. She the daughter of William Cecil 2nd Earl Exeter (age 48) and Elizabeth Drury Countess Exeter (age 35). He the son of [his father-in-law] Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk (age 52) and [his mother-in-law] Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk (age 50). They were fourth cousins.

In 1616 [his son] James Cecil was born to William Cecil 2nd Earl Salisbury (age 24) and [his wife] Catherine Howard Countess Salisbury (age 26).

In 1616 [his son] James Cecil died.

In 1616 William Knollys 1st Earl Banbury (age 72) was created 1st Viscount Wallingford. [his sister-in-law] Elizabeth Howard Countess Banbury (age 33) by marriage Viscountess Wallingford.

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 (age 29).

In 1619 [his son] Charles Cecil was born to William Cecil 2nd Earl Salisbury (age 27) and [his wife] Catherine Howard Countess Salisbury (age 29).

In 1621 [his brother-in-law] Thomas Howard 1st Earl Berkshire (age 33) was created 1st Viscount Andover in Hampshire, 1st Baron Howard of Charlton in Wiltshire. Elizabeth Cecil Countess Berkshire (age 25) by marriage Baroness Howard of Charlton in Wiltshire.

In 1622 [his daughter] Diana Cecil was born to William Cecil 2nd Earl Salisbury (age 30) and [his wife] Catherine Howard Countess Salisbury (age 32).

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).

In 1625 [his brother-in-law] Thomas Howard 1st Earl Berkshire (age 37) was appointed 422nd Knight of the Garter by King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland (age 24).

1626. George Geldorp (age 46). Portrait of William Cecil 2nd Earl Salisbury (age 34).

In 1626 William Knollys 1st Earl Banbury (age 82) was created 1st Earl Banbury. [his sister-in-law] Elizabeth Howard Countess Banbury (age 43) by marriage Countess Banbury.

On 7th February 1626 [his brother-in-law] Thomas Howard 1st Earl Berkshire (age 38) was created 1st Earl Berkshire. Elizabeth Cecil Countess Berkshire (age 30) by marriage Countess Berkshire.

On 28th May 1626 [his father-in-law] Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk (age 64) died at Charing Cross [Map]. He was buried at Waldon Priory and Abbey [Map]. His son [his brother-in-law] Theophilus (age 43) succeeded 2nd Earl Suffolk. Elizabeth Home Countess Suffolk (age 27) by marriage Countess Suffolk.

In 1627 [his brother-in-law] Theophilus Howard 2nd Earl Suffolk (age 44) was appointed 426th Knight of the Garter by King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland (age 26).

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 [his wife] Catherine Howard Countess Salisbury (age 39). He the son of Henry "Wizard Earl" Percy 9th Earl of Northumberland (age 64) and Dorothy Devereux Countess Northumberland. They were fourth cousin once removed.

On 25th May 1632 William Knollys 1st Earl Banbury (age 88) died. His son Edward (age 5) de jure 2nd Earl Banbury, 2nd Viscount Wallingford, 2nd Baron Knollys. Parliament disallowed the succession on the basis that Edward had been born when William was some eighty-two years old and Edward was, in fact, the son of Edward Vaux 4th Baron Vaux Harrowden (age 43) whom Edward's [his sister-in-law] mother (age 49) subsequently married around a month after William's death.

Around 30th June 1632 Edward Vaux 4th Baron Vaux Harrowden (age 43) and [his sister-in-law] Elizabeth Howard Countess Banbury (age 49) were married some five weeks after the death of her first husband William Knollys 1st Earl Banbury (deceased) on 25th May 1632. They, Edward and Elizabeth, when teenagers, had been subject to marriage negotiations which broke down as a consequence of the Gunpowder Plot and she had married William Knollys 1st Earl Banbury some thirty-nine years her senior. She the daughter of [his father-in-law] Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk and [his mother-in-law] Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk (age 68). They were fifth cousin once removed.

On 23rd August 1632 [his sister-in-law] Frances Howard Countess Essex and Somerset (age 42) died.

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

In 1637 [his daughter] Anne Cecil died.

On 4th March 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 [his wife] Catherine Howard Countess Salisbury (age 49). He the son of William Cavendish 2nd Earl Devonshire and Christian Bruce Countess Devonshire.

On 3rd June 1640 [his brother-in-law] Theophilus Howard 2nd Earl Suffolk (age 57) died at Suffolk House, Suffolk Street. He was buried at Waldon Priory and Abbey [Map]. His son James (age 21) succeeded 3rd Earl Suffolk, 3rd Baron Howard de Walden.

John Evelyn's Diary. 11th March 1643. I went to see my Lord of Salisbury's (age 51) Palace [Map] 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 [his wife] Catherine Howard Countess Salisbury (age 55). He the son of Robert Sidney 2nd Earl of Leicester (age 49) and Dorothy Percy Countess Leicester (age 47). They were fifth cousins.

Before 1648 [his son] Charles Cecil (age 28) 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 [his wife] Catherine Howard Countess Salisbury (age 57).

In 1652 [his daughter] Catherine Cecil died.

On 17th April 1658 [his sister-in-law] Elizabeth Howard Countess Banbury (age 75) died.

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

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 18th February 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].

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 16th October 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.

On 3rd December 1666 James Stewart 1st Duke Cambridge (age 3) was created 1st Duke Cambridge by James, Duke of York (age 33). See Samuel Pepys' Diary 1666 December 06.

Those present included King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland (age 36), James, Duke of York, Prince Rupert Palatinate Simmern 1st Duke Cumberland (age 46), William Cecil 2nd Earl Salisbury (age 75), George Monck 1st Duke Albemarle (age 57), [his brother-in-law] Thomas Howard 1st Earl Berkshire (age 79), Charles Stewart 6th Duke Lennox 3rd Duke Richmond (age 27), Edward Montagu 2nd Earl Manchester (age 64), James Scott 1st Duke Monmouth 1st Duke Buccleuch (age 17).

In or before 1668 [his son-in-law] William Sandys 6th Baron Sandys and [his daughter] Mary Cecil were married. There was no issue from the marriage. She the daughter of William Cecil 2nd Earl Salisbury (age 76) and [his wife] Catherine Howard Countess Salisbury (age 77). They were fourth cousins.

On 3rd December 1668 William Cecil 2nd Earl Salisbury (age 77) died. His grandson [his grandson] James (age 20) succeeded 3rd Earl Salisbury. [his granddaughter-in-law] Margaret Manners Countess of Salisbury by marriage Countess Salisbury.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 22nd March 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 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.

In January 1673 [his former wife] Catherine Howard Countess Salisbury (age 83) died.

[his daughter] Anne 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.

[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.