He was educated at Oxford University where he graduated as a Master of Arts and a Bachelor of Canon Law, before taking holy orders.
[3]: 282 The king endeavoured to set aside the election, but without effect, and after a delay of two years, Zouche was consecrated at Avignon on 7 July 1342 by Pope Clement VI.
In this capacity he led one of the bodies of English troops which defeated the Scots at the Battle of Neville's Cross, near Durham, on 18 October 1346.
Whilst Zouche was serving as archbishop, the Black Death spread throughout England and his province, thus in 1349 he sought papal approval to consecrate extra burial grounds and to ordain replacement clergy.
[8]: 401–402 Zouche died on 19 July 1352[9] at Cawood Palace and was buried before the altar of St Edward in the nave of York Minster.