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 is THE CECILS

points out, David was probably only a trustee of the Tabard Inn, yet " the inn-keeper's trade was then a good one, and it is at least possible that he mended his fortunes by following for a while his father-in-law's calling." l However this may be, Fuller's words remain true : " No credit is to be given to their pens who tax him with meanness of birth, and whose malice is so general against all goodness that it had been a slander if this worthy man had not been slandered by them."

Richard Cecil entered into his father's inherit- ance and still further increased the position and the property of the family. As already noticed, he was a King's page in 1517, and in this capacity he attended the King at the Field of the Cloth of Gold in 1520. He was afterwards appointed Groom of the Wardrobe, " a place," says the earliest biographer of Lord Burghley, 2 " though now esteemed but mean, yet at that time of good account. For then the King did ordinarily make himself ready in the robes, where Mr. Cecil being chief and a wise discreet man, was in great favour with the King, who gave him both countenance and living." He profited by the Royal favour, and was appointed in turn Bailiff of the manors and woods of Torpell, Maxey and Bourne, Constable of Maxey Castle, Constable of Warwick Castle, and Steward of the manors of Nassington, Yarwell

1 Northamptonshire Families, pp. 22, 23.

2 His Life by an unknown member of his household is printed in Peck's Desiderata Curiosa.

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