William was appointed in Easter 1173 as governor of Knaresborough and Aldborough Castles and other estates in northern England.
He was governor of Topcliffe Castle during the revolt of 1173-74 and was part of the force that captured King William I of Scotland at the Battle of Alnwick.
In March 1193, he joined with Hugh Bardulf in preventing Archbishop Geoffrey of York from besieging Tickhill Castle, on the side of Prince John.
Reconciled with Richard I, he was appointed in 1194, as one of the commissioners to settle the dispute between Archbishop Geoffrey and the canons of York.
He received grants of fairs at Buttercrambe and Cottingham and by his influence at court was able to obtain a settlement of his dispute with William de Mowbray.