He was well educated and he worked for the Duke of Bedford who was the fourth son of Henry IV and brother of Henry V. He may have spent some time in France because the duke was Regent of France from 1423 to 1429 , and then Governor of Normandy from 1429 to his death in 1435 . He is widely held to have been in the royal service of John of Lancaster , 1st Duke of Bedford , the fourth son of Henry IV and brother of Henry V. As such he may have stayed in France for some time , since the duke was Regent of France from 1423 to 1429 , and then Governor of Normandy from 1429 to his death in 1435 .