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CEC O'Neil, to court, he entered into a Latin controversy with them concerning the supremacy of the pope, and displayed such rare ability that his antagonists lost their temper. Henry hearing of the dispute sought conversation with him, and determined to engage him in his service. Cecil's father, at the king's request, selected an office for his son, and chose the reversion of the custos brevium in the common pleas. By a marriage with a daughter of Sir John Cheke, his influence was still further increased, and he was introduced to the earl of Hertford, afterwards duke of Somerset. When Edward VI. ascended the throne Cecil became custos brevium; and his first wife having died at an early age, he married a daughter of Sir A. Cook, director of the king's studies. His protestantism as well as prudence rendered him acceptable to Somerset, who, on becoming protector in 1547, appointed him master of requests. He accompanied his patron in the expedition against Scotland, and narrowly escaped losing his life at the battle of Pinkey. In 1548 he became secretary of state; but in 1549 he fell with the protector, and was sent with other noblemen to the Tower. Cecil had, however, established his own position as a statesman, and by his skilful mastership of the ways of the world had done much to blunt the edge of animosity. There was no personal rancour to be gratified by his disgrace. He was soon released therefore from imprisonment, and as highly advanced by Northumberland as he had been by Somerset. He again became secretary of state, was knighted, and admitted to the privy council. Following the dictates of a wise patriotism, Cecil disregarded the intrigues of court life, and with thoughtful industry devoted himself to the discharge of the practical duties of government. He discerned at once the weak and the strong points of those around him, and with fine tact could make meaner minds minister to his wise purposes. On the death of Edward VI., he refused to join Northumberland in advancing the cause of Lady Jane Grey; and was well received by Queen Mary. Mary would willingly have taken advantage of his abilities and employed him in his old offices, but he refused to abandon his faith, and remained unconnected with the government. During the reign of Mary, he quietly mingled with men of all parties, and threw the weight of his influence on the side of moderation, especially cultivating the friendship of Cardinal Pole, who also resisted extreme measures. In his place in parliament, as member for Lincolnshire—for which county he had been elected without solicitation—he boldly opposed the bills brought forward for increasing the civil penalties upon protestantism. "I incurred," he writes, "much displeasure by this conduct, but it was better to obey God than man." Meanwhile he pondered over the condition of England, and considered the plans by which the approaching reign might be made more glorious. With Elizabeth he kept up a secret correspondence; and on the very day upon which she ascended the throne, he presented her with a list of what he considered the most pressing necessities of state. He was the first person sworn upon the queen's privy council, and remained during the remainder of his life chief minister of her state. No man ever went through more toil with a calmer spirit. Passing over the claims of rank to find the men best fitted to fill the posts at his disposal, he was ever willing to hazard personal offence in behalf of a public good. Deliberate in thought and character, he measured every opponent with an accuracy beyond the reach of passion. Tolerant and generous in disposition, he appeared more anxious to do justice to his opponents, than even to benefit his friends. Possessed of a perfect command of his temper, secrets of state and of family were alike safe in his keeping. He understood the wisdom of silence, and ruled men at times by what he did not say, as much as by what he did. Cecil's first advice to Queen Elizabeth was to call a parliament, and the first great question on which he entered was the Reformation; and through his influence, the queen was induced to consent to measures far more decidedly protestant than her natural inclinations sanctioned. Yet his mind rose clearly above sectarian animosities, and he was willing to tolerate the catholics so long as they did not interfere with the peace of the state. He remonstrated strenuously against that harsh treatment of the nonconformists which found favour with the queen and some of the prelates. He characterized their proceedings as too much savouring of the Romish inquisition, and indicating a desire "rather to seek for offenders than to reform any." In the conduct of foreign affairs Cecil was emphatically a minister of peace. His policy was to support the protestants against catholic governments in different European countries, and thus by preventing any combination against England, to give her a vantage-ground in negotiation; while he risked popularity by refraining from taking advantage of opportunities of aggression. It was one of his maxims "that a realm gains more by one year's peace than by ten years' war." Although many of his financial measures were not in harmony with modern science, yet the strict and successful economy of Elizabeth's government was chiefly due to his judicious administration. In 1571 Cecil was created baron of Burleigh, and subsequently became knight of the garter and grand treasurer. After the execution of Mary Queen of Scots, Elizabeth tried to cast the blame on Burleigh, and forbade him her presence; but, this storm passing, he regained his influence, and prepared for the defence of England against the Armada. From time to time plots were laid against him—on one occasion by the favourite earl of Leicester; and the queen's wayward impetuosity sometimes fell rudely on him; but until his death Lord Burleigh held his place in the hearts of queen and people as the foremost statesman of the land. His private life was pure, gentle and generous. Although he maintained a princely magnificence of state and equipage, he cared anxiously for the poor. Lord Burleigh died August 4th, 1598, after having wisely guided the destinies of his country as prime minister for forty years. It was one of his own sayings, that he that is false to God can never be true to man; his countrymen may reverently reverse the sentiment, and say of the great statesman himself, that by his truthfulness to man he made nobly manifest his truthfulness to God.—L. L. P.  CECILIA,, a Roman virgin, reputed as the patron saint of music, flourished in the second century. She was eminent for piety, and had vowed perpetual virginity, but was espoused by her parents to a heathen nobleman named Valerian, whom however she prevailed on to embrace christianity, and to respect her vow. They both suffered martyrdom, either at the close of the second or the beginning of the third century. The body of Cecilia was discovered about 821 by Pascal I., in the cemetery of a church which bore her name, it is said, from the sixth century. The honour paid to Saint Cecilia as the patroness of music can be traced to no better origin than the devotion or credulity of the early Italian painters and poets, who, on the faith of her "Acts"—now considered an apocryphal production—represented her as the inventress of the organ. About 1683, musicians began to celebrate her birthday, the 22nd November. Dryden's Ode to St. Cecilia is well known.—J. B.  CECINA or CÆCINA,, a Roman statesman and general, was quæstor in Bætica at the time of Nero's death, and joining the party of Galba, was rewarded with the command of a legion in Upper Germany. Prosecuted for peculation, he joined Vitellius, who intrusted him with a large army, with which he gained a victory over the the troops of Otho, the successor of Galba, at Bedriacum. He was afterwards consul under Vitellius, but again proved traitor, and yet again, having within ten years joined Vespasian, and headed a conspiracy to dethrone him. He was slain by order of Titus,. 79.—J. S., G.  CECINA or CÆCINA,, author of a libel against Cæsar, for which he was banished; of a work entitled "Querelæ," dedicated to Cicero, who recommended him to the favour of several public characters; and of "Etrusca disciplina," a work quoted by Pliny and by Seneca—lived about the year 46 ., and enjoyed immense reputation as an orator.  CECINA or CÆCINA,, a distinguished Roman general, who lived in the reigns of Augustus and Tiberius. He was governor of Mœsia in. 6, when the insurrection under the two Batos broke out in the neighbouring provinces of Dalmatia and Pannonia. He marched against the insurgents and defeated them. In the following year he gained a second victory over them. In. 14 he was appointed lieutenant to Germanicus, and sent against Arminius, whom he defeated. He was rewarded with the honours of a triumph.—J. T.  CECROPS or KECROPS, a mythical personage, who is said by Apollodorus to have been the first king of Attica. According to some authorities he was an Egyptian, who immigrated into Attica about 1580 .; but the greater number represent him as indigenous or earthborn. He is said to have instructed the semibarbarous inhabitants in the advantages of social life, of marriage, property, justice, and civil rights. To him is also attributed the erection of the first temples in the country, the institution of the court of Areopagus, and the distribution of 