[3] In 1582, Sheffield was commanded by Queen Elizabeth I to accompany the Duke of Anjou on his return voyage to the European mainland.

[5] For his services, Queen Elizabeth I granted Sheffield in 1591 the Manor of Mulgrave in Yorkshire, part of the forfeited estate of Sir Francis Bigod.

[4] Under King James I, Sheffield was made Lord Lieutenant of Yorkshire on 1 August 1603 and President of the North on 19 September 1603.

[5][6] Sheffield held both posts until 1619 when he resigned to please the Spanish ambassador, having executed a Catholic priest without the leave of King James I.

[6] Due to his age, Sheffield was not able to attend the House of Lords consistently, however his proxy vote allowed his grandson Sir Thomas Fairfax to be commissioned Captain-General of the New Model Army in 1645.

[8] Sheffield married Ursula Tyrwhitt before 13 November 1581, daughter of Sir Robert Tyrwhite of Kettleby and Elizabeth Oxenbridge.