Variety.—Within the Garter, the crest is shown without the morion cap, and the two Supporters are moved up from the side of the shield, the usual place for Supporters, and used as Supporters for the crest.
[Ariosto. Orlando Furioso in English Heroical Verse, by John Harington. London, 1591.]
William Cecil (born 13th September 1520, died 4th August 1598) was the son of Richard Cecil, Master of the Robes to Henry VIII. He was educated at Cambridge, and soon showed a remarkable ability. After Cambridge Cecil went to Gray's Inn and studied Law, and presently came under the personal notice of Henry VIII., who at once took a strong liking to him. At Court Cecil rapidly gained place and power, and under the Protector Somerset he became Secretary of State. He steered his way with some difficulty through the troubles accruing through the claim of Lady Jane Grey to the throne, but managed to escape serious misfortune, and was elected Member of Parliament for Lincolnshire.
At this time he also made himself useful to the Princess Elizabeth, then holding a difficult political position, and when she became Queen in 1558 she at once made Cecil a member of her Privy Council and Secretary of State. In 1563 he was Speaker of the House of Commons. Although not on friendly terms with the Earl of Leicester, and in a position which gave cause to much envy, Cecil was able to retain the confidence of Queen Elizabeth, who, in 1571, created him Baron Burghley, and shortly afterwards a Knight of the Garter.
Lord Burghley seems to have had a considerable library, and most of his books have upon them one or other of his beautiful stamps, sometimes in gold and sometimes in blind.
