Page:The house of Cecil.djvu/59

 WILLIAM, LORD BURGHLEY 43

tinguish between the artificial and the natural ; the birds themselves were deceived, and on the windows being opened, perched themselves on the trees and began to sing." Cecil delighted in such conceits, and it is sad to think that of all these glories no trace remains. No authentic engraving even of the house exists, though some idea of its size and magnificence may be obtained from the plans made by John Thorpe in 1611, and from the Parliamentary Survey of I6I0. 1

For many years after Cecil's marriage with Mildred Cooke they had no children. Then came a daughter, Francisca, who did not long survive her birth, and then, in 1556, another daughter, Ann. On this occasion Sir Anthony Cooke writes quaintly from abroad that " he is glad to hear his daughter is well-delivered and although a son might have been more welcome, yet the bringing forth fruit twice in so few years and in this time of her age [she was only just thirty], gives good hope, though she were not happy at the begin- ning." 2 Two boys were born, both named William, in 1559 and 1561, but both died in infancy. Then came Robert (1563), who suc- ceeded his father as Secretary of State, and finally a daughter, Elizabeth, to whom the Queen stood sponsor (1564).

His eldest son, Thomas, the only child of his first marriage, was a cause of great anxiety to him. He had never been a favourite with his

1 The later history of the house is briefly related in Chapter X. 3 June loth, 1557 (Hatfield MSS., I. 511).

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