1. WILLIAM CECIL

2.  This was Elizabeth’s most important political relationship  Many of her councillors served the queen until they died

3.  Secretary of State 1558-72  Lord Treasurer 1572-1598  Privy Councillor 1558-98  Master of the Court of Wards 1561-1598

4.  A secretary was expected to negotiate at home and abroad – foreign affairs  He also had to deal with the Queen which gave him special access

5. WHY CECIL?  Similar education to Elizabeth  Both enjoyed Protestantism during Edward’s reign  Both outwardly conformed during Mary’s reign  From 1550 Cecil was an officer in Elizabeth’s household

6. THEIR RELATIONSHIP  Mutual trust and respect  He always put God first  He believed in obedience

7. DISAGREEMENT  Over giving military aid to Scottish Protestants against Catholic military  Over her relationship with Robert Dudley  Over her refusal to consider changes to her church  Her refusal to name a successor or get married  Her slowness in dealing with Mary Stuart

8.  He always gave honest advice  Loyal and always carried out her policies  Used less prominent men to push through unpopular policies to preserve their positions

9.  Elizabeth took advice from other councillors to keep them all on their toes

10. SHARING  Elizabeth and Cecil were both cautious conservatives  Elizabeth protected Cecil when he was threatened by a plot  She created him as Lord Burghley ‘her spirit’  She nursed him on his death-bed  Elizabeth accepted his son as his successor

11.  From: Queen Elizabeth l 1558-1603, Michael A.R. Graves