 In 1611 , James employed Calvert to research and <unk> his tract against the Dutch Protestant theologian Conrad <unk> , ( 1569 @-@ 1622 ) . The following year , Cecil died , and Calvert acted as one of the four <unk> of his will . The king 's favourite , Sir Robert Carr , first Earl of Somerset , ( <unk> @-@ 1645 ) , Viscount Rochester , assumed the duties of secretary of state and recruited Calvert to assist with foreign policy , in particular the Latin and Spanish correspondence . Carr , soon raised to the <unk> of Somerset , was not a success in the job , and fell from favour partly as a result of the murder of Thomas <unk> , ( <unk> @-@ 1613 ) , to which Carr 's wife , Frances , the former Countess of Essex and later Somerset , ( <unk> @-@ 1632 ) , pleaded guilty in 1615 . Carr 's place as James 's principal favorite was now taken by the handsome George Villiers , 1st Duke of Buckingham , ( 1592 @-@ 1628 ) , with whom James was said to have been infatuated . 
