His father, reputed to be a descendant of Sir Gruffudd Llwyd, was a country gentleman; his brothers filled posts as sheriff, coroner, and escheator of Carnarvonshire.
He was a sufficiently good Catholic to receive from Cardinal Pole the custody of the spiritualities of Bangor on the death of William Glyn in 1558;[2] but he conformed on the accession of Elizabeth, was made archdeacon of St Asaph, and was appointed bishop of the see on the translation of Bishop Richard Davies to St David's.
In December 1566 he joined the other bishops in signing a letter to the queen urging her to allow the bill enforcing subscription to the Articles which she had stayed in the House of Lords, to pass through parliament.
He drew up a series of directions to the clergy enjoining on them to keep residence and hospitality, to abolish relics and superstitions, to provide for the Welsh as well as the English, to enjoin the performance of the lawful ceremonies, to wear the proper vestments, to keep true registers, to provide themselves with books, and to use the stipends hitherto set apart for the 'lady priest' for parish schoolmasters.
[6] In 1570 he told William Cecil that he had reduced his see to much better order than that in which he found it; but as there was still some disorderly persons, he prayed for the institution of an ecclesiastical commission for his diocese.