It was the latter trade that brought him into conflict with other merchants when he caused a rise in the price of corn by buying up supplies from the East Riding and Lincolnshire.
In between those spells as Lord Mayor he was chosen as MP for the city of York also on two occasions between 1545–47 and again in the short session between October 1553 and April 1554.
[1][3] His main political activity was in regard of providing military aid to the Crown at the time of Wyatt's rebellion during his second term as mayor, and restoring plays and religious processions in the city, specifically those on St Gerorge's Day and Whit Tuesday.
[1][4] In 1547 the city council of York, in response from a letter form the King's Council of 12 July, appointed John as Captain of a force of foot soldiers to be made ready to head to Flamborough to defend the east coast following the sighting of sixteen warships.
In his will he bequeathed his property of nineteen houses, nine closes, two gardens, two orchards, a bowling alley and a dovecote to his wife, son and granddaughters, as well as lands in Fulford and leases in Skirpenbeck.