 His name does not appear in the list of members of Charles's first parliament, but in that of 1661 he sat for East Looe, speaking frequently upon legal questions, and, as appears from the record of the debates, with acknowledged authority.In 1661 he was made a bencher of his inn and a King's Serjeant, and about the same time was appointed recorder of Bristol.He served as one of the fire judges after the 1666 great fire of London.