THE GREAT LORD BURGHLEY [Illustration: _Walker & Boutall, photo._ _McQueen, Sc._] THE GREAT LORD BURGHLEY A STUDY IN ELIZABETHAN STATECRAFT BY MARTIN A. S. HUME AUTHOR OF “THE COURTSHIPS OF QUEEN ELIZABETH,” EDITOR OF THE CALENDARS OF SPANISH STATE PAPERS (PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE) “_He can never be a good statesman who respecteth not the public more than his own private advantage._”—LORD BURGHLEY London JAMES NISBET & CO., LIMITED 21 BERNERS STREET 1898 Printed by BALLANTYNE, HANSON & CO. At the Ballantyne Press TO THE MOST HONOURABLE _Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoyne-Cecil, K.G._ THIRD MARQUIS OF SALISBURY PRIME MINISTER OF QUEEN VICTORIA, THIS ATTEMPT AT A POLITICAL BIOGRAPHY OF HIS ILLUSTRIOUS ANCESTOR, THE PRIME MINISTER OF QUEEN ELIZABETH, _is respectfully dedicated by_ MARTIN A. S. HUME. INTRODUCTION For nearly half a century William Cecil, Lord Burghley, exercised greater influence over the future fortunes of England than ever fell to the share of a statesman before or since. It was a period when Mediæval Europe was in the melting-pot, from which, in due season, some of her peoples were to arise bright and shining, with fresh faiths, higher ideals, and nobler aspirations, to start on a new career of civilisation; whilst others were still to cling a while longer to the garb of dross which remained of the old order, and was to hamper them in the times to come.