 He was appointed Recorder of Chichester from 1588 to 1590 and a judge on the Chester circuit in 1589, where he was promoted to be Chief Justice of Chester in 1603, a position he held until his death.As a judge he was impartial although a staunch Catholic, even sentencing four Catholic priests to death.He also held a number of public commissions during his career and was knighted in 1600.