 He was rector of St Mary-le-Bow, and then in 1596 a prebendary of Canterbury Cathedral.He became Bishop of Salisbury in 1618 and died in London on 11 March 1620 and was buried two days later in All Hallows, Lombard Street.His brother Charles Fotherby was Archdeacon of Canterbury (1595–1615) and Dean of Canterbury (1615–1619).