Arthur Lake, Bishop of Bath and Wells
Encyclopedia
Arthur Lake was Bishop of Bath and Wells
and a translator of the King James Version of The Bible.
Arthur Lake was born in Southampton
in September 1569 the son of Almeric Lake. He attended King Edward VI School, Southampton
until he was twelve and on 28 December 1581 he was elected a scholar of Winchester College
. He stayed at Winchester until he was eighteen when he became a scholar of New College, Oxford
. He matriculated in July 1588, was elected a fellow of the college in 1589, accepted the degree of BA
on 4 June 1591 and MA
. on 3 May 1595. He was presented to the rectory of Havant, Hampshire in 1599. He resigned his fellowship at Oxford
in 1600, and on 16 June was admitted a fellow of Winchester College
. In 1601 he became rector of Hambledon
(near Havant), and of Chilcomb
, near Winchester
, in 1603.
He was awarded a Doctorate
of Divinity
and in 1609 he may have been one of the clergymen charged with editing the new English translation of the Bible commissioned by James I
for whom his brother Sir Thomas
acted as a secretary. There is no unequivocal evidence for this but the initials "AL" appear throughout the notes of the General Committee of Review and no other candidate has been proposed.
died and James Montague
, Dean of Worcester
, succeeded him as Bishop of Bath and Wells
. Three days later the Dean of Westminster wrote to Sir Thomas Lake
, asking whether his brother would like to be appointed to the Worcester deanery, or would rather wait for Winchester. Arthur Lake chose to be Dean
of Worcester, was presented by the King on 18 April, and installed on 23 April. He assisted the Chapter
to buy in a long lease of certain cathedral lands, which had been illegally made, and was instrumental in the setting up of a great Organ
in the cathedral itself; he also founded the cathedral library.
In 1616 he resigned the archdeaconry of Surrey and later that year he became Bishop of Bath and Wells
. His election on 17 October received royal assent the next day. His archbishopric was confirmed on 6 December and consecrated at Lambeth Palace
two days later. His enthronement was held on 3 January 1617 and the King appointed him Keeper of the Great Seal
. He was knighted in August the same year.
He continued to hold his other offices as well as his bishopric. He was warden of New College
and vice-chancellor
of Oxford University until July 1618, and he held the living of Stanton St John along with his bishopric until his death.
Thomas Fuller
noted that he was promoted "not so much by the power of his brother, sir Thomas
, as his own deserts, as one whose piety may be justly exemplary to all of his order". Richard Smith, another of his contemporaries, was much impressed by his great humility, temperance, affability and contempt of riches. Smith described him as one of the ‘greatest benefactors of our times’ who ruled his household well.
His probity was demonstrated when on 15 July 1618 his brother Thomas
was freed from prison (where he had been held for slandering the Countess of Exeter) and handed over to Arthur’s custody.
. Izaak Walton
, said that he made "the great trust committed to him the chief care and whole business of life". He was a preached often in the cathedral and the adjacent parishes and he strived to improve the standard of preaching throughout his diocese. Unlike many bishops who relied on others to examine candidates for ordination he conducted such examinations personally.
He died on 4 May 1626. His tomb may still be seen in Wells Cathedral
and his collection of 300 books forms the basis of the cathedral library.
Bishop of Bath and Wells
The Bishop of Bath and Wells heads the Church of England Diocese of Bath and Wells in the Province of Canterbury in England.The present diocese covers the vast majority of the county of Somerset and a small area of Dorset. The Episcopal seat is located in the Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew in...
and a translator of the King James Version of The Bible.
Arthur Lake was born in Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
in September 1569 the son of Almeric Lake. He attended King Edward VI School, Southampton
King Edward VI School, Southampton
King Edward VI School, often referred to as King Edward's, or simply KES, is a selective co-educational independent day School located in Southampton, United Kingdom and is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. It was founded in 1553, after the death of William Capon , who...
until he was twelve and on 28 December 1581 he was elected a scholar of Winchester College
Winchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
. He stayed at Winchester until he was eighteen when he became a scholar of New College, Oxford
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
. He matriculated in July 1588, was elected a fellow of the college in 1589, accepted the degree of BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
on 4 June 1591 and MA
Master of Arts (Oxbridge)
In the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Dublin, Bachelors of Arts of these universities are admitted to the degree of Master of Arts or Master in Arts on application after six or seven years' seniority as members of the university .There is no examination or study required for the degree...
. on 3 May 1595. He was presented to the rectory of Havant, Hampshire in 1599. He resigned his fellowship at Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
in 1600, and on 16 June was admitted a fellow of Winchester College
Winchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
. In 1601 he became rector of Hambledon
Hambledon, Hampshire
Hambledon is a small village and civil parish in the county of Hampshire in England, situated about north of Portsmouth.Hambledon is best known as the 'Cradle of Cricket'. It is thought that Hambledon Club, one of the oldest cricket clubs known, was formed about 1750...
(near Havant), and of Chilcomb
Chilcomb
Chilcomb is a small village and civil parish in the English county of Hampshire. It is located very close to the city of Winchester and is on the South Downs Way long distance footpath.The parish had a population of 91 at the 2001 Census....
, near Winchester
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
, in 1603.
He was awarded a Doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
of Divinity
Divinity
Divinity and divine are broadly applied but loosely defined terms, used variously within different faiths and belief systems — and even by different individuals within a given faith — to refer to some transcendent or transcendental power or deity, or its attributes or manifestations in...
and in 1609 he may have been one of the clergymen charged with editing the new English translation of the Bible commissioned by James I
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
for whom his brother Sir Thomas
Thomas Lake
Sir Thomas Lake was Secretary of State to James I of England. He was a Member of Parliament in 1604, 1614, 1625 and 1626....
acted as a secretary. There is no unequivocal evidence for this but the initials "AL" appear throughout the notes of the General Committee of Review and no other candidate has been proposed.
Appointments
On 26 February 1608 John StillJohn Still
John Still , bishop of Bath and Wells enjoyed considerable fame as a preacher and disputant. He was formerly reputed to be the author of the early English comedy drama Gammer Gurton's Needle .-Career:...
died and James Montague
James Montague (bishop)
James Montague was an English bishop.-Life:He was the son of Sir Edward Montague of Boughton, and grandson of Edward Montagu....
, Dean of Worcester
Dean of Worcester
The Dean of Worcester is the head of the Chapter of Worcester Cathedral in Worcester, England. The most current Dean is the Very Rev Peter Gordon Atkinson who lives at The Deanery, College Green, Worcester.-List of Deans:...
, succeeded him as Bishop of Bath and Wells
Bishop of Bath and Wells
The Bishop of Bath and Wells heads the Church of England Diocese of Bath and Wells in the Province of Canterbury in England.The present diocese covers the vast majority of the county of Somerset and a small area of Dorset. The Episcopal seat is located in the Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew in...
. Three days later the Dean of Westminster wrote to Sir Thomas Lake
Thomas Lake
Sir Thomas Lake was Secretary of State to James I of England. He was a Member of Parliament in 1604, 1614, 1625 and 1626....
, asking whether his brother would like to be appointed to the Worcester deanery, or would rather wait for Winchester. Arthur Lake chose to be Dean
Dean (religion)
A dean, in a church context, is a cleric holding certain positions of authority within a religious hierarchy. The title is used mainly in the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church.-Anglican Communion:...
of Worcester, was presented by the King on 18 April, and installed on 23 April. He assisted the Chapter
Chapter (religion)
Chapter designates certain corporate ecclesiastical bodies in the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Nordic Lutheran churches....
to buy in a long lease of certain cathedral lands, which had been illegally made, and was instrumental in the setting up of a great Organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
in the cathedral itself; he also founded the cathedral library.
In 1616 he resigned the archdeaconry of Surrey and later that year he became Bishop of Bath and Wells
Bishop of Bath and Wells
The Bishop of Bath and Wells heads the Church of England Diocese of Bath and Wells in the Province of Canterbury in England.The present diocese covers the vast majority of the county of Somerset and a small area of Dorset. The Episcopal seat is located in the Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew in...
. His election on 17 October received royal assent the next day. His archbishopric was confirmed on 6 December and consecrated at Lambeth Palace
Lambeth Palace
Lambeth Palace is the official London residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury in England. It is located in Lambeth, on the south bank of the River Thames a short distance upstream of the Palace of Westminster on the opposite shore. It was acquired by the archbishopric around 1200...
two days later. His enthronement was held on 3 January 1617 and the King appointed him Keeper of the Great Seal
Keeper of the Great Seal
Keeper of the Great Seal can refer to:*Keeper of the Great Seal of Canada*Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland*Keeper of the Great Seal of the State of Illinois*Keeper of the Great Seal of Wisconsin*Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England-See also:...
. He was knighted in August the same year.
He continued to hold his other offices as well as his bishopric. He was warden of New College
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
and vice-chancellor
Chancellor (education)
A chancellor or vice-chancellor is the chief executive of a university. Other titles are sometimes used, such as president or rector....
of Oxford University until July 1618, and he held the living of Stanton St John along with his bishopric until his death.
Thomas Fuller
Thomas Fuller
Thomas Fuller was an English churchman and historian. He is now remembered for his writings, particularly his Worthies of England, published after his death...
noted that he was promoted "not so much by the power of his brother, sir Thomas
Thomas Lake
Sir Thomas Lake was Secretary of State to James I of England. He was a Member of Parliament in 1604, 1614, 1625 and 1626....
, as his own deserts, as one whose piety may be justly exemplary to all of his order". Richard Smith, another of his contemporaries, was much impressed by his great humility, temperance, affability and contempt of riches. Smith described him as one of the ‘greatest benefactors of our times’ who ruled his household well.
His probity was demonstrated when on 15 July 1618 his brother Thomas
Thomas Lake
Sir Thomas Lake was Secretary of State to James I of England. He was a Member of Parliament in 1604, 1614, 1625 and 1626....
was freed from prison (where he had been held for slandering the Countess of Exeter) and handed over to Arthur’s custody.
Later years
Arthur Lake spent the last eight years of his life in quiet industry at WellsWells
Wells is a cathedral city and civil parish in the Mendip district of Somerset, England, on the southern edge of the Mendip Hills. Although the population recorded in the 2001 census is 10,406, it has had city status since 1205...
. Izaak Walton
Izaak Walton
Izaak Walton was an English writer. Best known as the author of The Compleat Angler, he also wrote a number of short biographies which have been collected under the title of Walton's Lives.-Biography:...
, said that he made "the great trust committed to him the chief care and whole business of life". He was a preached often in the cathedral and the adjacent parishes and he strived to improve the standard of preaching throughout his diocese. Unlike many bishops who relied on others to examine candidates for ordination he conducted such examinations personally.
He died on 4 May 1626. His tomb may still be seen in Wells Cathedral
Wells Cathedral
Wells Cathedral is a Church of England cathedral in Wells, Somerset, England. It is the seat of the Bishop of Bath and Wells, who lives at the adjacent Bishop's Palace....
and his collection of 300 books forms the basis of the cathedral library.