 He was the son of Robert Best, an interpreter for the Muscovy Company, and Anne Bowman, and the brother of the sea captain Thomas Best, and Henry who may have been involved in works based on the "True Discourse".Sir Christopher Hatton as backer nominated Best to take part in one of the Frobisher voyages.Best was killed in a duel with Oliver St John, later Lord Deputy of Ireland, around March 1584.