This appointment came while Sir Christopher Barker was Garter Principal King of Arms.
In August 1553 Dalton accompanied Norroy King of Arms in attending upon the army in Scotland.
He later received a royal pardon for all of his embezzlement offenses and all consequent actions and bills against him in any court.
In November 1560 the other heralds accused Dalton of having syphilis and suggested that as a sick man he should only receive half of the fees to which he was entitled.
In 1560 and 1561 he made over forty grants of arms, more than half of them to established families in Lancashire, his county of origin.