The Pygmy and Beagle: Robert Cecil, the Power behind Two Thrones

On 24th May 1612, one of the most powerful men of the Elizabethan and early Stuart courts—Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury—died on his way home from taking the waters at Bath. He was just 48, but his political career was nothing short of extraordinary.

The son of William Cecil, Lord Burghley, Robert Cecil overcame physical disability, courtly mockery, and fierce political rivalries to become Secretary of State, Lord High Treasurer, and a trusted advisor to both Elizabeth I and James I. From helping bring down the Earl of Essex to secretly securing James VI’s smooth succession, Cecil shaped the very future of the English monarchy.

In this podcast, we explore his remarkable life, his rise to power, his role in uncovering the Gunpowder Plot, and his legacy—one that helped bridge the Tudor and Stuart dynasties.

Listen now to discover the story of the man who proved brains could beat brawn at the heart of royal power.

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