 Though a Roman Catholic, he retained the royal favour during the reign of Henry VIII, and received some lands from the dissolution of the monasteries, including those belonging to Worksop Priory.While he took little part in national politics, he was a powerful figure in the North of the kingdom.He took part in the invasion of Scotland which culminated in the Battle of Pinkie (1547), and was made President of the Council of the North in 1549.