The papers contain documents gathered by William Cecil and his son Robert Cecil. It includes 16th and 17th century state papers and correspondences.
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Description
The Cecil Papers consist of approximately 30,000 manuscripts spanning the period of 1520-1668 from the archives of William Cecil, Lord Burghley (1520-1598) and his son Robert, the 1st Earl of Salisbury (1563-1612) both influential secretaries of state during the reign of Elizabeth I.
One of Elizabeth I’s closest advisors, William Cecil was both Lord High Treasurer and Secretary of State – a position also held by his son, who continued to serve Elizabeth’s successor, James I. Occupying some of the highest offices of state in the land, these men were at the heart of events during one of the most dynamic periods in western history.
Key events covered in this collection include:
- The clandestine plans for James’ accession to the English throne
- Mary Queen of Scots’ imprisonment and execution
- Tudor re-conquest of Ireland
- The Spanish Armada
- Military events in the Low Countries
- Gunpowder Plot
- The Main Plot and imprisonment of Sir Walter Raleigh
- Early English settlement of America
Useful if you study:
- History
- American studies
- Early modern history