Page:The house of Cecil.djvu/90

 70 THE CECILS

melancholy pervaded his mind. His incessant work told upon him more than ever, and once more he vainly sought permission to retire. For the last ten years of his life, however, he had the help and loyal support of his son Robert, who after the death of Walsingham, practically undertook the duties of Secretary, though he was not form- ally appointed to the post till 1596. Father and son worked excellently together, and were on terms of absolute confidence and affection. And it was well that they were so ; for as Burghley's infirmities increased, so did the malice of his enemies become more and more persistent. In the Council, Essex, on whom had fallen the mantle of Leicester, followed the example of his father-in- law by endeavouring to thwart the Cecils on every possible occasion ; and among his chief adherents were Francis and Anthony Bacon, whose hostility to their uncle and cousin was bitter and un- scrupulous.

The country was still torn by religious diffi- culties. On the one hand, Archbishop Whitgift, with the full approval of Elizabeth, was perse- cuting the Puritans with a severity against which Burghley protested in vain. On one memorable occasion, when the two leaders of the Brownists, Barrow and Greenwood, had been condemned to death for sedition (1593), he sent a reprieve at the last moment. " No papist had suffered for reli- gion," he said, " and Protestants' blood should not be the first shed, at least before an attempt be made to convince them." In spite of his

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