Arthur Lake (MP)
Sir Arthur Lake (1598–1633) was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1624 to 1626. His reputation was badly damaged by the notorious Lake-Cecil feud which lasted from 1617 to 1621, and both scandalised and fascinated the Jacobean Court.
Early life
Lake was the eldest son of Sir
The Cecil–Lake feud
He played a major part in the bitter feud which erupted in 1617 between his family and the family of his brother-in-law,
Arthur himself was briefly imprisoned in the Tower of London on a charge of perjury, but he escaped any more serious punishment due to lack of evidence. However, his reputation was badly damaged, especially by the claim that the charge of incest against de Ros was a diversion to distract attention from Arthur's own incestuous relations with his sister Anne. De Ros challenged Arthur to a duel but Arthur refused.
De Ros died in 1618, but his father and grandparents continued to press for justice, and the matter dragged on until 1621.
A play at Theobalds
In January 1618 he acted with other courtiers at Theobalds led by Sir John Finet in an interlude featuring "Tom of Bedlam the Tinker" intended to amuse King James who was suffering from gout. The cast included: Thomas Dutton, Thomas Badger, George Goring, Thomas Tyringham, Edward Zouch, Robert Yaxley, William Uvedale, and George Garret. The King was displeased by the play, especially the lyrics sung by Finet, and John Chamberlain was surprised that "none had the judgement to see how unfit it was to bring such beastly gear in public before a prince."[3]
Politician
In 1624, Lake was elected
Lake died at the age of 35 and was buried at
References
- ^ 'Alumni Oxonienses, 1500-1714: Labdon-Ledsam', Alumni Oxonienses 1500-1714 (1891), pp. 868-892. Date accessed: 5 May 2012
- ^ Knights of England
- ^ John Nichols, Progresses of James the First, vol. 3 (London, 1828), p. 465.
- ^ Willis, Browne (1750). Notitia Parliamentaria, Part II: A Series or Lists of the Representatives in the several Parliaments held from the Reformation 1541, to the Restoration 1660 ... London. p. 187.