Elizabeth Cecil

There are four ladies called Elizabeth Cecil buried in Westminster Abbey.

Elizabeth Cecil, Baroness Ros

She was the daughter of Edward Manners, Earl of Rutland and Lord Ros, and his wife Isabella (Holcroft). He willed that the Barony of Ros be inherited by his daughter, having no male heir, and his brother succeeded to his earldom. She married Sir William Cecil on 13th January 1589 but died in childbed on 1st May 1591 aged 16 and was buried in St Nicholas's chapel. Her husband later became Lord Burghley and 2nd Earl of Exeter and died on 6th June 1640 and is buried with his father in St John the Baptist's chapel. Their son William, Lord Ros was born in 1590 and became Ambassador Extraordinary to Spain but died without an heir. Elizabeth's monument has been reduced when it was moved on to the window sill of the chapel to make way for the monument to the Duchess of Northumberland in the late 18th century. Her stone effigy, wearing a large hood, reclines on its elbow beneath an arch in which are three sculptured and painted shields of arms. No inscription was given in Camden's guidebook to the Abbey published in 1600.

Elizabeth, wife of Sir Robert Cecil

Elizabeth was the daughter of William Brooke, 10th Lord Cobham, and his wife Frances (Newton). She was born on 1st January 1563 and married Robert Cecil, later 1st Earl of Salisbury, son of Lord Burghley, on 31st August 1589. She was Lady of the Bedchamber to Elizabeth I and died on 24th January 1597 and was buried in St Nicholas' chapel. Their son William Cecil was born in 1591 and they had two daughters Frances and Catherine. Robert's mother Mildred, Lady Burghley is buried in the same chapel.

Her free standing tomb is of alabaster and black marble with winged cherub heads and emblems of mortality such as a skull, spade, scythes, coffin and torch. The four Ionic pillars which supported the top slab have now gone. Her husband wrote the epitaphs in rhyme on either side, recording their mutual affection. This monument may also have been moved to accommodate the large Northumberland monument as the inscription on the north side is now obscured by the chapel screen. The north side inscription in gold leaf is in English:

A Brooke by name the Baron Cobham's childe, a Newton was she by her mother's side, Cecill her husband this for her did builde, to prove his love did after death abide, which tells unto the worlde that after come the worldes concepte, whilste heare she helde a room. How nature made her wise, and wel beseeminge witt, and condition, silente, trew, and chaste her vertues rare wann her much esteeminge in Courte with Soveraigne, still with favoure gracd, earth coulde not yealde more pleasing earthlye blisse blest with two babes, the third brought her to this

The Latin can be translated:

Wife: Lady of the Queen's bedchamber, daughter of a dear Baron, faithful consort of a knight, Elizabeth was I. We shared one love, one undivided will, one heart, and one unbroken trust. Could he at any time put aside his care for me, then could he be forgetful of his own soul.

Husband: Should love accord with tears (O dearest wife), oft would I bestow tears upon your grave; for your reward [this tomb] bears witness (my sweet spouse), and my heart knows well, with how great a love I returned your love. But love permits no grieving while your companion [ie.Queen Elizabeth] still sits upon her throne; and the greater love of Christ has bound you closely to Himself. So may you, my beloved, enjoy your blessedness in peace; my hope is that, in company with you, my portion will be peace.

Elizabeth Cecil, Countess of Berkshire

Lady Elizabeth Cecil was the co-heir of William, 2nd Earl of Exeter and his second wife Elizabeth (Drury). She married Sir Thomas Howard, later 1st Earl of Berkshire and was buried in a vault in St John the Baptist's chapel on 24th August 1672 where her husband had been buried in 1669. One of their sons, the writer and politician Sir Robert Howard, was buried at the entrance to the chapel in 1698. A modern stone records their burials in the vault.

Elizabeth Cecil, Countess of Devonshire

Lady Elizabeth Cecil was the daughter of William, 2nd Earl of Salisbury and his wife Lady Catherine (Howard). She married William Cavendish, 3rd Earl of Devonshire and was buried on 21st November 1689 in the Duke of Ormond's vault in Henry VII's chapel.