He assisted at the taking of Wareham, and shortly afterwards compounded for his estates by a fine of X500 from which, however, he was afterwards relieved by Cromwell.
Owing to its situation as a key of Purbeck, the site of Wareham (Werham, Warham) has been occupied from early times.
That Wareham was a pre-Saxon town is evident from Asser's statement that its British name was Durngueir.
The early chroniclers declare that St Aldhelm founded a church near Wareham about 701, and perhaps the priory, which is mentioned as existing in 876, when the Danes retired from Cambridge to a strong position in this fort.
In the following year they were again at Wareham, which they made their headquarters.