WILLIAM, LORD BURGHLEY 31
The story is improbable, for he, in common with many others the Princess Elizabeth among them conformed to the Catholic ritual during this reign, going to confession, attending mass, and " demeaning himself as a good Catholic," as enjoined by the Government.
At this time he probably held no strong personal views on the subject of religion, though he was a Protestant by inclination. But he believed that the Sovereign was the supreme head of the Church, and that on matters of faith her word was law ; and he maintained that " that state could never be in safety where there was a toleration of two religions. 1 For there is no enmity so great as that for religion ; and therefore they that differ in the service of their God can never agree in the service of their country." Throughout his life he insisted upon obedience to the law, and the maintenance of uniformity in worship. No doubt he felt there- fore that he would best serve the country and at the same time benefit himself by due submission ; and thus while his brother-in-law Sir John Cheke, his father-in-law Sir Anthony Cooke, his friend the Duchess of Suffolk, and many others suffered exile for their faith, Cecil, worldly-wise as usual, stayed at home and prospered.
Of his public life during Mary's reign we have little record. He was one of the three commis- sioners sent to Brussels in November, 1554, to
1 So, 240 years later, George III. wrote to Pitt, " No country can be governed where there is more than one established religion " (Rose, Pitt and the Great War, p. 359).
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