Observations on the Life of Sir Tho∣mas Lake.
SIr Thomas Lake was bred a Scholar under Sara∣via in Hampshire, a States-man under Sir Francis Walsingham at Court, where such his dexterity and dispatch, that he would indite, write, and discourse at the same time, more exactly than most men could severally perform them, being then called the Swift-sure; such his celerity and solidity in all Affairs! From the Secretaries A∣manuensis, he was promoted the Queens Clerk of the Signet, to whom he read French and Latine to her dying day; for he was reading to her, when the Countess of Warwick told him that the Queen was departed. In which Tongues she often said he sur∣passed her Secretaries. Such his sufficiency (especi∣ally in keeping secrets) that King Iames employed him in some French Affairs at his first arrival with∣out Cecil, and afterwards as Secretary of State a∣bove him.
For King Iames (that loved what ever was fa∣cile and fluent) being taken among other his Abi∣lities with his Latine pen, said, that he was a Mi∣nister of State fit to serve the greatest Prince in Eu∣rope; and that the Secretaries place needed him more than he it. Of whom I have no more to add, but that he was one of the three noble hands that first led Mr. George Villiers to King Iames his Fa∣vour.