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 Being a minor at the time of his father's death, in 1597, he was given in wardship, by Queen Elizabeth, to the famous Sir Edward Coke, afterwards Lord Chief Justice of the court of King's Bench. Soon after he came of age, he was made a Knight of the Bath, at the coronation of King James I. He was created a Baronet in 1611, with the first who were promoted to that dignity; and in 1619, was sent joint-ambassador with Sir John Digby, Earl-of Bristol, into Spain, to manage the nice and difficult proposal of a marriage, between Charles, Prince of Wales, and the Infanta, daughter of Philip III. in which, says his grandson, "he proceeded with great prudence and warynesse, and with a sincere zeale to have served his prince, yet was a true and fast friend to the then Duke of Buckingham." He returned to England, just after the death of King James, and