Page "Elizabeth I of England" Paragraph 79

Elizabeth's senior advisor, Burghley, died on 4 August 1598.

His political mantle passed to his son, Robert Cecil, who soon became the leader of the government.

One task he addressed was to prepare the way for a smooth succession.

Since Elizabeth would never name her successor, Cecil was obliged to proceed in secret.

He therefore entered into a coded negotiation with James VI of Scotland, who had a strong but unrecognised claim.

Cecil coached the impatient James to humour Elizabeth and " secure the heart of the highest, to whose sex and quality nothing is so improper as either needless expostulations or over much curiosity in her own actions ".

The advice worked.

James's tone delighted Elizabeth, who responded: " So trust I that you will not doubt but that your last letters are so acceptably taken as my thanks cannot be lacking for the same, but yield them to you in grateful sort ".

In historian J. E. Neale's view, Elizabeth may not have declared her wishes openly to James, but she made them known with " unmistakable if veiled phrases ".