In July 1571 he was elected Public Orator of the university, and he served the office of proctor for the year 1571–2.

While proctor he headed the opposition of the senate to the code of university statutes which had passed the great seal in 1570.

In 1582 a great contest took place between him and William Overton, bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, about the chancellorship of that diocese.

The case came successively before the Star-chamber, the privy council, and the Archbishop of Canterbury, who remitted it to four visitors, and they finally induced the contending parties to compromise the matter.

Various documents written by Becon in reference to the disputes in which he was engaged have been printed, and are enumerated in Cooper's "Athenæ Cantabrigienses".