During the second half of the fifteenth century, the Southwell name appears increasingly in government matters, with Richard being appointed to a number of commissions and administrative posts.
In 1462 Richard was appointed to the office of Marshal of the Exchequer[7] with its accustomed fees during the minority of the son of the Duke of Norfolk.
Henry Faute and Hamo Barambroke had complained that a ship called la Mary of Danske, captained by Peter Eybryght, laden with goods and merchandise to the value of £600, while sailing off Yarmouth was driven ashore by evildoers who stole the cargo.
An unusual commission was one in 1491, when he had to determine whether Sir William Parker was a lunatic from birth or from what date and whether he alienated his lands when in that state.
[8] In 1466 Richard married Amy, the coheir and eldest of the four daughters of Edmund Witchingham of Conningsby, Lincolnshire.