 Between 1627 and 1628 Woodhouse served in the Siege of Saint-Martin-de-Ré and in attempts to relieve the Siege of La Rochelle.He was appointed master of the muster of Suffolk county, England, 
and in 1631 King Charles I of England promised him the governorship of Virginia.In 1634 and 1635 Woodhouse petitioned the king to fulfill his promise.