 He served as the colony's Attorney General in 1684, and was a delegate to Albany, New York from Virginia to negotiate with the Oneydes, Onondages and Cayugas Indians.In 1684, 1691 and 1698 he was a member of the Council, and was Secretary of State from 1702 to 1712, and again from 1720 to 1722.From 1706 to 1710 he served as Acting Governor.