 In July 1593 he was named one of a special council for the management of the Queen's revenues, and in January 1596 he was chosen one of the eight Commissioners of the Exchequer, known as the Octavians.He was reputed the ablest financier of the eight; and he was in March appointed Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal, and on 28 May Secretary of State, Scotland for life.In March 1594 he spoke with Bernard Fechtenburg one of the mining experts of Thomas Foulis and convinced him to work for Sir David Lindsay of Edzell Castle.