He learned Greek from the scribe Emmanuel of Constantinople, in 1455; for which he was later commended in a letter from Richard III of England to Pope Innocent VIII. He was a papal lawyer, and then a diplomat, when he became the first permanent English ambassador, resident from 1479 in Rome.
He gained knowledge of Greek from Emmanuel of Constantinople in 1455; this was later recognized by a letter from Richard III of England to Pope Innocent VIII. He worked as a papal lawyer and diplomat before becoming the first permanent English representative, living in Rome from 1479.