William Cecil, 2nd Earl of Salisbury
1591–1668
Grandson of Lord Burghley; senior moderate peer who served all regimes.
Biography
Of St John's Cambridge, the grandson of William Cecil, Lord Burghley (Elizabeth I's chief minister). Captain of the Gentlemen Pensioners under Charles I (1612-1635) before breaking with the king. A senior moderate parliamentary peer at the Assembly, he sat in the Rump after the abolition of the Lords (1649), in Cromwell's Other House (1657), and was re-summoned to the Lords at the Restoration in 1660 — almost uniquely, he held a seat under every English regime between 1620 and 1668. Died at Hatfield House in 1668.
Lay Assessor — House of Lords
Parliament seated lay assessors from both Houses to sit with the divines and represent its interest. Ten peers were named from the House of Lords as lay assessors; like the Commons assessors they had voice in the Assembly but were not voting members, and they attended as their other duties allowed.