Religion and politics in the career of William Cecil : an evaluation of Elizabeth I's chief minister.

Abstract

While most historians argue William Cecil's ultimate aim was either to build a Protestant England or a powerful government, my thesis concludes that a stable country, both religiously and politically, was his primary objective. How he used various tools, such as faith, to achieve his aims is a key focus of this paper. The four chapters begin with his initial steps to foster stability before Mary of Scots' arrival to England, her attempt to wed an English noble and provoke a Catholic uprising, and ending with her execution in 1587, the secretary's ultimate triumph. Examining his actions illustrates how he used religion as a device to achieve the kingdom's stability.