William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, was an English statesman, the chief adviser of Queen Elizabeth I for most of her reign. He held a solid inner and outer policy which made the state stronger. He aimed to build a united and Protestant state in the British Isles, strengthen the control over Ireland and solidify the alliance with Scotland. He achieved great success in the development of the army. This book gives an extensive account of his deeds as a statesman and the role he played in developing the British Empire.