 On 19 May 1318 he had livery of his father's Suffolk lands.He was knighted and received some official employments, being occupied, for example, in 1326 in levying ships for the royal use in Suffolk, and serving in November 1327 on a commission of the peace in the eastern counties under the statute of Winchester.In May and June 1329 he attended the young Edward III on his journey to Amiens.