CHAPTER VI
EDWARD CECIL, VISCOUNT WIMBLEDON
Of the first Earl of Exeter's five sons, the only one who distinguished himself was Edward, Viscount Wimbledon. Of his youth or education nothing is recorded, until we find him, in 1594, at the age of twenty-two, setting out to travel on the Continent with his elder brother Richard.[1] He was in Florence in 1596, and was entertained by the Duke, Ferdinand de' Medici, "and which was an extraordinary favour the duke gave him leave to ride his own horse, and at his departure gave him gifts of price."[2] Later he made his way to the Low Countries, and made up his mind to serve under Sir Francis Vere. His determination is expressed in a letter to his uncle, Sir Robert, dated February 9th, 1599,[3] 3 in which he says: "My fortune is now to follow the wars, having had always heretofore a disposition thereunto. … The profession I have taken upon me wills that I
- ↑ Richard Cecil, of Wakerley, the second son, was born in 1570. He was M.P. for Westminster, Peterborough, and Stamford, and was knighted at Woodstock in 1616. He acquired the manor of Wakerley, Northamptonshire, in 1618. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Anthony Cope, and his son, David, eventually succeeded as third Earl of Exeter.
- ↑ Peck, Desiderata Curiosa, I. 27.
- ↑ Dalton, Life and Times of General Sir Edward Cecil, I. 15. In the Calendar of Hatfield MSS., X. 31, the date of this letter is given as February 9th, 1599-1600, instead of 1598-9.
