In the following spring he married Theodosia Noel, daughter of Sir Andrew Noel, of Dalby, Leicestershire. But he was eager for active work, and in July he volunteered for and was appointed to the command of 1,000 men raised in London for the relief of Ostend, then in imminent danger of being captured by the Spaniards. On his return he was knighted by the Queen at Basing, the seat of his sister, the Marchioness of Winchester, and soon afterwards he was chosen member of Parliament for Aldborough. Next year Prince Maurice gave him the command of all the English horse in the Dutch service, though he was not actually raised to the rank of colonel till 1605.
Determined to lose nothing for the asking, Cecil begged Sir Robert, in 1602, to obtain for him the post of President of Munster, and two years later he again appealed to his uncle to appoint him to one of the important commands vacated by the death of Sir Francis Vere, who was Governor of the Brill and of Portsmouth. But there were others who had far better claims to these appointments than Sir Edward, and Sir Robert, though always ready to help his nephew in any legitimate way, was not the man to use his influence unfairly for the benefit of his family.
Cecil took part in the various military operations of the next few years, and gained an increasing reputation as a brave and capable soldier. In 1610 he was appointed general of the English contingent of 4,000 men which took part in the
