 He was elected to Parliament in 1555 as a member for Newport-juxta-Launceston, Cornwall (possibly at Jobson's instigation).He was also a writer of tracts on economic issues, such as ‘Remedies … of derth of victualles’ (Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, MS 376 – dedicated to Queen Elizabeth), a similar work sent to her two years previously (mentioned in the previous work's dedication), and – unprinted, but more influential – his 'Arte of surveyinge' of 1565.With his wife, a member of the Hulcote family, he had three sons, one of whom, John, Wood reports became a surveyor.