Elizabeth's policy from the beginning was one of compromise. In order
to conciliate the Catholic party, she retained eleven of her sister
Mary's counselors. But she added to them Sir William Cecil (Lord
Burghley), who was her chief adviser,[2] Sir Nicholas Bacon, and,
later, Sir Francis Walsingham, with others who were favorable to the
Protestant faith.
[2] See Macaulay's essay on "Lord Burghley."
On his appointment, Elizabeth said to Cecil, "This judgment I have of
you, that you will not be corrupted with any gifts, that you will be
faithful to the State, and that without respect to my private will you
give me that counsel which you think best." Cecil served the Queen
until his death, forty years afterward. The almost implicit obedience
with which Elizabeth followed his advice sufficiently proves that
Cecil was the real power not only behind, but generally above, the
throne.