 Receiving ordination shortly after, he returned in 1685 to serve in the English Mission, at which time he became one of the royal chaplains.In 1688 he was appointed vicar Apostolic of the newly created Western District and was consecrated by Ferdinando d'Adda, the papal nuncio (6 May).During the Glorious Revolution of 1688 Ellis was imprisoned, but being soon liberated he retired to the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye in France and afterwards to Rome.