He began his career as a clerk at the record office in the Tower of London under Sir John Borough, Garter king of arms.
[3] In 1638, he was admitted to Lincoln's Inn[4] and he was appointed Lancaster herald in 1641.
[1] He accompanied Charles I to Oxford in 1641, but was sent back to London to look after the records.
[5] In 1646, he was promoted to Norroy king of arms by Parliament, so he could marshal the state funeral of the Earl of Essex.
[6] In 1659, he was appointed Clarenceux king of arms, but was demoted at the Restoration to his pre-war status of Lancaster herald.