 He was a J.P. for Northumberland and the North Riding of Yorkshire from 1677 and J.P, for Ripon from 1679.From 1679 to 1680, he was High Sheriff of Northumberland which was during the Popish Plot and he was active in levying fines on recusants.However he was probably an opponent of exclusion, because he stayed on the commissions of the peace in 1680.