 He was a nephew of William Booth and Lawrence Booth, who both served as Archbishop of York.In 1457 Booth was appointed the Provost of Beverley Minster and then in 1459 Archdeacon of Richmond, as well as Treasurer of Lichfield Cathedral, Canon of Sawley and Prebendary of Strensall.From 1461 until 1465, he was secretary to Edward IV, and for two of those years, 1463 and 1464, he served as the Chancellor of Cambridge University, receiving the degree of Doctor of Divinity.