[1] Probably while still in his teens he was taken into service by Jean d'Albon de Saint-André, Governor of Lyon, as a secretary, and was employed on both diplomatic and military business.
[1] After his employer's death in 1549, he entered the service of his son, Jacques d'Albon de Saint-André, accompanying him to England and on campaign until his capture at the Battle of St. Quentin on 10 August 1557.
Discovered embezzling public funds, he went into debt to repay what he had illegally "borrowed".
In 1569 he published a collection of letters and missives that was reprinted several times to the middle of the following century.
[2] In need of new employment, he entered the service of the diplomat François Rougier, accompanying him to the Low Countries and then to Rome.