Sir Richard Cecil (ca. 1495 – 19 March 1553) was an English nobleman, politician, courtier, and Master of Burghley (Burleigh) in the parish of Stamford Baron, Northamptonshire. His father Sir David Cecil, of Welsh ancestry, rose in favour under King Henry VIII of England, becoming High Sheriff of Northamptonshire in 1532 and 1533, and died in 1541. Richard too was a courtier. In 1517 he was a royal page; in 1520 he was present at the Field of the Cloth of Gold; he rose to be Groom of the Robes and constable of Warwick Castle. He was High Sheriff of Rutland in 1539, and was one of those who received no inconsiderable share of the plunder of the monasteries. He married Jane Heckington, daughter and heiress of William Heckington of Bourne, Lincolnshire. He had one son, William Cecil, Lord Burghley (1520–1598), and three daughters. When Richard died, he left an ample estate behind him in the counties of Rutland, Northamptonshire and elsewhere. He died at his house in Canon Row and was buried at St Margaret's, Westminster. Jane was a widow for 35 years dying 10 March 1587. Richard and Jane have a joint monument in St Martin's Church, Stamford. Family He sent his son William to the grammar schools of Stamford and Grantham, and in 1535 William entered St John's College, Cambridge. Academically a success, William ran foul of his father, when his heart was lost to Mary Cheke, daughter of a local widow, with only a fortune of 40 pounds to recommend her. William was immediately removed before he could take his degree, and was entered as a student at Gray's Inn in 1541. If the motive was to prevent a marriage, it failed. Two months after he came up to London, William married Mary, probably secretly. Thomas, the future Earl of Exeter and only fruit of this union was born at Cambridge on 5 May 1542, therefore presumably at his grandmother's house. The marriage was so distasteful to Richard, that he is said to have altered his will, or at any rate, to have intended to do so. But the young wife did not live long, dying on 22 February 1544.

From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Notable quotes

“Solitude shows us what should be; society shows us what we are.”
— As quoted in Remains of Mr. Cecil (1836) edited by Josiah Pratt, p. 59.
“Duties are ours; events are God's. This removes an infinite burden from the shoulders of a miserable, tempted, dying creature. On this consideration only, can he securely lay down his head, and close his eyes.”
— p. 197.
“The spirit and tone of your home will have great influence on your children. If it is what it ought to be, it will fasten conviction on their minds, however wicked they may become.”
— p. 324.
“I have often had occasion to observe, that a warm blundering man does more for the world than a frigid wise man.”
— p. 394.
“Regeneration is God's disposing the heart to Himself; conversion is the actual turning of the heart to God.”
— p. 490.
“Never was there a man of deep piety, who has not been brought into extremities — who has not been put into fire — who has been taught to say, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him."”
— p. 585.

Quotes via Wikiquote (CC BY-SA), each with its original source.

Notable quotes

“Solitude shows us what should be; society shows us what we are.”
— As quoted in Remains of Mr. Cecil (1836) edited by Josiah Pratt, p. 59.
“Duties are ours; events are God's. This removes an infinite burden from the shoulders of a miserable, tempted, dying creature. On this consideration only, can he securely lay down his head, and close his eyes.”
— p. 197.
“The spirit and tone of your home will have great influence on your children. If it is what it ought to be, it will fasten conviction on their minds, however wicked they may become.”
— p. 324.
“I have often had occasion to observe, that a warm blundering man does more for the world than a frigid wise man.”
— p. 394.
“Regeneration is God's disposing the heart to Himself; conversion is the actual turning of the heart to God.”
— p. 490.
“Never was there a man of deep piety, who has not been brought into extremities — who has not been put into fire — who has been taught to say, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him."”
— p. 585.

Quotes via Wikiquote (CC BY-SA), each with its original source.

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Overview

Sir Richard Cecil (ca. 1495 – 19 March 1553) was an English nobleman, politician, courtier, and Master of Burghley (Burleigh) in the parish of Stamford Baron, Northamptonshire. His father Sir David Cecil, of Welsh ancestry, rose in favour under King Henry VIII of England, becoming High Sheriff of Northamptonshire in 1532 and 1533, and died in 1541. Richard too was a courtier. In 1517 he was a royal page; in 1520 he was present at the Field of the Cloth of Gold; he rose to be Groom of the Robes and constable of Warwick Castle. He was High Sheriff of Rutland in 1539, and was one of those who received no inconsiderable share of the plunder of the monasteries. He married Jane Heckington, daughter and heiress of William Heckington of Bourne, Lincolnshire. He had one son, William Cecil, Lord Burghley (1520–1598), and three daughters. When Richard died, he left an ample estate behind him in the counties of Rutland, Northamptonshire and elsewhere. He died at his house in Canon Row and was buried at St Margaret's, Westminster. Jane was a widow for 35 years dying 10 March 1587. Richard and Jane have a joint monument in St Martin's Church, Stamford. Family He sent his son William to the grammar schools of Stamford and Grantham, and in 1535 William entered St John's College, Cambridge. Academically a success, William ran foul of his father, when his heart was lost to Mary Cheke, daughter of a local widow, with only a fortune of 40 pounds to recommend her. William was immediately removed before he could take his degree, and was entered as a student at Gray's Inn in 1541. If the motive was to prevent a marriage, it failed. Two months after he came up to London, William married Mary, probably secretly. Thomas, the future Earl of Exeter and only fruit of this union was born at Cambridge on 5 May 1542, therefore presumably at his grandmother's house. The marriage was so distasteful to Richard, that he is said to have altered his will, or at any rate, to have intended to do so. But the young wife did not live long, dying on 22 February 1544.

From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Sir Richard Cecil (ca. 1495 – 19 March 1553) was an English nobleman, politician, courtier, and Master of Burghley (Burleigh) in the parish of Stamford Baron, Northamptonshire. His father Sir David Cecil, of Welsh ancestry, rose in favour under King Henry VIII of England, becoming High Sheriff of Northamptonshire in 1532 and 1533, and died in 1541.