At an early age he entered the College of Arms as Blanche Lyon Pursuivant; on 21 April 1609 he was created Lancaster Herald in the place of Francis Thynne.
Thomas Milles commended Charles in his Catalogue of Honour; and Edmund Howes, the continuator of John Stow's Chronicle, acknowledged his assistance.
[1] Camden is said to have purchased Charles's manuscript collection after his death for £90: items from it are now held in the College of Arms and the British Library.
Charles's Huntingdonshire visitation is extant in three copies, and one, marked "C. 3 Huntingdon 1613" at the College of Arms, was edited for the Camden Society in 1849 by Sir Henry Ellis.
[1] Nicholas married Penelope, daughter of Sir William Segar, Garter King of Arms, who survived him.