Text this colour is a link for Members only. Support us by becoming a Member for only £3 a month by joining our 'Buy Me A Coffee page'; Membership gives you access to all content and removes ads.

Text this colour links to Pages. Text this colour links to Family Trees. Place the mouse over images to see a larger image. Click on paintings to see the painter's Biography Page. Mouse over links for a preview. Move the mouse off the painting or link to close the popup.



Biography of William Cecil 2nd Earl Exeter 1566-1640

Paternal Family Tree: Cecil

Maternal Family Tree: Aoife ni Diarmait Macmurrough Countess Pembroke and Buckingham 1145-1188

In or before 1566 [his father] Thomas Cecil 1st Earl Exeter (age 23) and [his mother] Dorothy Neville Countess Exeter (age 17) were married.

In 1566 William Cecil 2nd Earl Exeter was born to Thomas Cecil 1st Earl Exeter (age 23) and Dorothy Neville Countess Exeter (age 18).

Around 1580 William Cecil 2nd Earl Exeter (age 14) educated Trinity College.

Around 1586 William Cecil 2nd Earl Exeter (age 20) educated Gray's Inn.

In January 1589 William Cecil 2nd Earl Exeter (age 23) and Elizabeth Manners 15th Baroness Ros of Helmsley (age 14) were married at Newark Castle, Nottinghamshire [Map]. She the daughter of Edward Manners 3rd Earl of Rutland and Isabel Holcroft Countess Rutland (age 39). He the son of Thomas Cecil 1st Earl Exeter (age 46) and Dorothy Neville Countess Exeter (age 41). They were fifth cousins.

In May 1590 [his son] William Cecil 16th Baron Ros Helmsley was born to William Cecil 2nd Earl Exeter (age 24) and [his wife] Elizabeth Manners 15th Baroness Ros of Helmsley (age 15) at Newark Castle, Nottinghamshire [Map].

All About History Books

The Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke. Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson. Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.

After 1591 William Cecil 2nd Earl Exeter (age 25) and Elizabeth Drury Countess Exeter (age 12) were married. He the son of Thomas Cecil 1st Earl Exeter (age 48) and Dorothy Neville Countess Exeter (age 43). They were third cousin once removed.

On 19th May 1591 [his wife] Elizabeth Manners 15th Baroness Ros of Helmsley (age 16) died in childbirth at Tower Street, All Hallows [Map]. Her son [his son] William (age 1) succeeded 16th Baron Ros Helmsley.

Around 1596 [his daughter] Diana Cecil Countess of Oxford and Elgin was born to William Cecil 2nd Earl Exeter (age 30) and [his wife] Elizabeth Drury Countess Exeter (age 17).

Around 1596 [his daughter] Anne Cecil Countess Stamford was born to William Cecil 2nd Earl Exeter (age 30) and [his wife] Elizabeth Drury Countess Exeter (age 17).

In 1596 [his daughter] Elizabeth Cecil Countess Berkshire was born to William Cecil 2nd Earl Exeter (age 30) and [his wife] Elizabeth Drury Countess Exeter (age 17).

In 1609 [his mother] Dorothy Neville Countess Exeter (age 61) died.

In 1610 [his father] Thomas Cecil 1st Earl Exeter (age 67) and [his step-mother] Frances Brydges Countess Exeter (age 30) were married. She by marriage Countess Exeter. The difference in their ages was 37 years.

In 1614 [his son-in-law] Thomas Howard 1st Earl Berkshire (age 26) and [his daughter] Elizabeth Cecil Countess Berkshire (age 18) were married. She the daughter of William Cecil 2nd Earl Exeter (age 48) and [his wife] Elizabeth Drury Countess Exeter (age 35). He the son of Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk (age 52) and Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk (age 50). They were fourth cousins.

On 12th February 1615 [his son] William Cecil 16th Baron Ros Helmsley (age 24) and [his daughter-in-law] Anne Lake Baroness Ros of Helmsley (age 15) were married. She by marriage Baroness Ros Helmsley. See Diary of Anne Clifford. He the son of William Cecil 2nd Earl Exeter (age 49) and [his former wife] Elizabeth Manners 15th Baroness Ros of Helmsley.

On 27th June 1618 [his son] William Cecil 16th Baron Ros Helmsley (age 28) died. His first cousin once removed Francis (age 40) succeeded 17th Baron Ros Helmsley. Cecily Tufton Countess Rutland by marriage Baroness Ros Helmsley.

On 19th July 1620 [his son-in-law] Henry Grey 1st Earl Stamford (age 21) and [his daughter] Anne Cecil (age 24) were married. She by marriage Baroness Grey of Groby. She the daughter of William Cecil 2nd Earl Exeter (age 54) and [his wife] Elizabeth Drury Countess Exeter (age 42). They were fourth cousins.

On 8th February 1623 [his father] Thomas Cecil 1st Earl Exeter (age 80) died. He was buried at Chapel of St John the Baptist, Westminster Abbey [Map]. His son William (age 57) succeeded 2nd Earl Exeter, 3rd Baron Burghley. [his wife] Elizabeth Drury Countess Exeter (age 45) by marriage Countess Exeter.

All About History Books

The Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke. Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson. Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.

On 1st January 1624 [his son-in-law] Henry de Vere 18th Earl of Oxford (age 30) and [his daughter] Diana Cecil Countess of Oxford and Elgin (age 28) were married. She by marriage Countess of Oxford. She the daughter of William Cecil 2nd Earl Exeter (age 58) and [his wife] Elizabeth Drury Countess Exeter (age 45). He the son of Edward de Vere 17th Earl of Oxford and Elizabeth Trentham Maid of Honour Countess of Oxford. They were fifth cousin once removed.

On 12th November 1629 [his son-in-law] Thomas Bruce 1st Earl Elgin (age 30) and [his daughter] Diana Cecil Countess of Oxford and Elgin (age 33) were married. She the daughter of William Cecil 2nd Earl Exeter (age 63) and [his wife] Elizabeth Drury Countess Exeter (age 51).

1630 Knight of the Garter Appointments

In 1630 King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland (age 29) created four Knights of the Garter ...

428th Richard Weston 1st Earl of Portland (age 52).

429th Robert Bertie 1st Earl Lindsey (age 47).

430th William Cecil 2nd Earl Exeter (age 64).

431st James Hamilton 1st Duke Hamilton (age 23).

On 6th July 1640 William Cecil 2nd Earl Exeter (age 74) died. His nephew David (age 40) succeeded 3rd Earl Exeter, 4th Baron Burghley. Elizabeth Egerton Countess Exeter by marriage Countess Exeter.

On 26th February 1658 [his former wife] Elizabeth Drury Countess Exeter (age 80) died.

Royal Ancestors of William Cecil 2nd Earl Exeter 1566-1640

Kings Wessex: Great x 16 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England

Kings Gwynedd: Great x 14 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd

Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 19 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth

Kings Powys: Great x 15 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys

Kings England: Great x 7 Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Kings Scotland: Great x 15 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland

Kings Franks: Great x 13 Grand Son of Louis VII King Franks

Kings France: Great x 9 Grand Son of King Philip IV of France

Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 20 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine

Royal Descendants of William Cecil 2nd Earl Exeter 1566-1640

Diana Spencer Princess Wales

Ancestors of William Cecil 2nd Earl Exeter 1566-1640

Great x 4 Grandfather: Philip Cecil

Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Cecil

Great x 2 Grandfather: David Cecil

Great x 1 Grandfather: Richard Cecil

Great x 2 Grandmother: Alice Dicons

GrandFather: William Cecil 1st Baron Burghley

Great x 2 Grandfather: William Heckington

Great x 1 Grandmother: Jane Heckington

Father: Thomas Cecil 1st Earl Exeter

Great x 2 Grandfather: Robert Cheke

Great x 1 Grandfather: Peter Cheke

GrandMother: Mary Cheke

William Cecil 2nd Earl Exeter 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: George Neville 1st Baron Latimer of Snape Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Henry Neville 2 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Beauchamp Baroness Latimer 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Richard Neville 2nd Baron Latimer of Snape 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Bourchier 1st Baron Berners Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Joan Bourchier 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Margery Berners Baroness Berners

Great x 1 Grandfather: John Neville 3rd Baron Latimer 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Humphrey Stafford 11 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Humphrey Stafford 12 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Aylesbury

Great x 2 Grandmother: Anne Stafford Baroness Latimer 13 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Fray

Great x 3 Grandmother: Catherine Fray

Great x 4 Grandmother: Agnes Danvers Baroness Wenlock

GrandFather: John Neville 4th Baron Latimer of Snape 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard de Vere 11th Earl of Oxford 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: John de Vere 12th Earl of Oxford 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Alice Sergeaux Countess Oxford

Great x 2 Grandfather: George de Vere 6 x Great Grand Son of King John of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Howard 4 x Great Grand Son of King John of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Howard Countess of Oxford 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Joan Walton

Great x 1 Grandmother: Dorothy de Vere 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Humphrey Stafford 10 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 3 Grandfather: William Stafford 11 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Margaret Stafford 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Chideock 6th Baron Fitzpayn 9 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Catherine Chideocke 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Catherine Lumley 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Mother: Dorothy Neville Countess Exeter 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Edmund Beaufort 1st or 2nd Duke of Somerset Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Henry Beaufort 2nd or 3rd Duke of Somerset 2 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Beauchamp Duchess Somerset 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Charles Somerset 1st Earl of Worcester 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Hill of Shilston

Great x 3 Grandmother: Joan Hill

Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Champernoun

Great x 1 Grandfather: Henry Somerset 2nd Earl of Worcester 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: William Herbert 1st Earl Pembroke

Great x 3 Grandfather: William Herbert 2nd Earl Pembroke 1st Earl Huntingdon 9 x Great Grand Son of King John of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Devereux 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Herbert 3rd Baroness Herbert Raglan 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Woodville 1st Earl Rivers

Great x 3 Grandmother: Mary Woodville Countess Pembroke and Huntingdon 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Jacquetta of Luxemburg Duchess Bedford 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England

GrandMother: Lucy Somerset Baroness Latimer Snape 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Browne

Great x 2 Grandfather: Anthony Browne 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Fitzalan 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Eleanor Fitzalan 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Joan Moyns

Great x 1 Grandmother: Elizabeth Browne Countess of Worcester 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Neville Earl Salisbury Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: John Neville 1st Marquess Montagu 2 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Alice Montagu 5th Countess of Salisbury 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Lucy Neville 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Edmund Ingaldsthorpe

Great x 3 Grandmother: Isabel Ingaldsthorpe 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Joan Tiptoft 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England