Confusion and Fear

The cold early months of 1571 were marked by momentous events in the lives of some eminent Elizabethans. One, perhaps above all, may have had the feeling that a reward finally came at that time that not only satisfied his own personal ambitions, but also forced many jealous mouths to keep silent now that he could publicly count on the full support of Elizabeth. William Cecil, created Lord Burghley on 25 February 1571, saw on that day openly proclaimed in the Presence Chamber at Westminster the virtues that some had criticised in the difficult months of the recent past, when the tension with Spain had been at its bitterest point. The Queen did not stint in her praise of the faithful servant who had made possible the navigation of the government through such troubled waters, and who now reached the peak of his honour-filled career. Cecil was created baron:

… for the long services in the time of our progenitors, kings of England, as also for the faithful and acceptable duty and observance which he hath always performed from the very beginning of our reign, and ceaseth not daily to perform many ways, not only in the great and mighty affairs of Council but generally also in all other enterprises for the realm, and also for his circumspection, stoutness, wisdom, dexterity, integrity of life, providence, care and faithfulness. ¹

The eulogy was for many well founded. To the ears of his supporters, now growing in number, none of the qualities mentioned in the royal discourse was wrongly applied. But one, which was of the utmost importance, did not find a place in it, although it could easily be inferred: William Cecil was ‘necessary’, and at the beginning of 1571 more than ever, when the threat of invasion by Spain might materialise at any moment, according to persistent rumours. It was not the hour for a golden retirement, as some may then have thought. The country, the Privy Council and the Queen all needed him and his advice during a crisis that was far from over. The reports reaching the Court all seemed to coincide, and to contain the name of Stukeley, which only made things worse. The time had come to act in the diplomatic sphere, where Burghley thought a lot could be gained through a royal marriage to the Duke of Anjou; the time had come to complain, for Spain might not be deaf to certain arguments if properly put forward; and, if everything else failed, the time had come to 122prepare for the worst in Ireland, to prevent it being used as a dangerous backdoor to the realm.