[2] He was born at Ghent, and grew up in Saint-Omer, where his father, a Catholic exile from England, had settled.

He studied at the English College, Rome, and was ordained priest in the Lateran Basilica.

[3] He returned to the Low Countries to serve in the household of the papal nuncio, Ottavio Mirto Frangipani, and went on to become canon, archdeacon, and dean of St Bavo's Cathedral, Ghent.

After the death of Antoine de Hennin in December 1626, was appointed to the bishopric of Ypres.

[4] On 16 June 1630 he assisted at the consecration of Servaas de Quinckere as bishop of Bruges.