 By 1380, he was the secretary and chaplain of Robert Stewart, Earl of Fife (later Duke of Albany), son of King Robert II of Scotland.At Avignon on 2 June 1380, he presented a roll of petitions on the Fife's behalf to the pope.On 12 September, while still at Avignon, he was provided by Pope Clement VII to the bishopric of Dunblane; this provision apparently followed an earlier election.