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 learned Greek under the guidance of Emmanuel of Constantinople in 1455; this was later acknowledged by a letter from Richard III of England to Pope Innocent VIII. He held various roles as a papal lawyer and diplomat before being appointed as the first permanent English envoy, residing in Rome from 1479.