Polyglot intelligence analyst who gathers cross-cultural information and transforms it into strategic communications.
Born probably in Abernant, Carmarthenshire, he studied at Oxford, travelled abroad on business, and in 1627 entered parlia- ment. From 1632 to 1642 he was a Royalist spy, and during the Civil War was imprisoned by parliament (1642-50). At the Restoration he became Historiographer Royal. As well as translations from Italian, French and Spanish, and works on history, politics and philosophy, he wrote /nstructions for F…