In 1400 he was appointed Admiral of the king's fleet from the Thames to the north, and in the same year was made Governor of Roxburgh Castle.

He was appointed justice of South Wales in 1403, a position he held until 1407, and from 1404 to 1413 served as Chamberlain of the Household.

In this year he also acted as Marshal during the absence of Ralph de Neville, 1st Earl of Westmorland, in 1406 was a commissioner to receive fines from the Welsh rebels, in 1407 became Constable of Nottingham Castle and Ranger of Sherwood Forest, and in 1413 Governor of Fronsac in Aquitaine.

In 1413 he was one of the ambassadors to treat for a marriage between Henry, Prince of Wales, and Anne, daughter of John, Duke of Burgundy.

In August 1415 he was employed to negotiate a truce with Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany, regent of Scotland, and shortly after was made Warden of the Eastern Marches.