During absences of the next chancellor, John Langton, from 4 to 30 March, and 22 to 27 August 1297, and from 20 February to 16 June 1299, he also had charge of the great seal.
In December 1304, the then chancellor, Grenefield, resigned the seals in order to proceed to Rome and induce the pope to permit his consecration as archbishop of York.
Shortly after his appointment on 6 April, he was admonished by the king in full parliament against granting letters of protection from suits brought against them to persons absent in Ireland.
During his term of office, he sealed the statute de tallagio non concedendo and the commission for the trial of Sir William Wallace.
[2] He died on 20 April 1307, while in attendance upon the king at Fountains Abbey, and was succeeded by Ralph de Baldock, bishop of London.