He obtained the see by papal provision in April 1460. Of his earlier life, nothing is known. He soon came into conflict with
Thomas FitzGerald, 7th Earl of Desmond, who was deputy to
George, Duke of Clarence,
Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland. The earl accused the bishop of instigating the murder of some of his followers, and in 1464 both went to England to lay their grievances before the king.
Edward IV of England upheld the earl, who was supported by the
Irish parliament, and acquitted him of all charges of disloyalty and treasonable relations with the Irish people. But when in 1467 he was disgraced, and succeeded by
John Tiptoft, 1st Earl of Worcester. Bishop Sherwood was suspected of leading the opposition, which finally brought the earl to the scaffold. Some years after his rival's death, Sherwood himself was appointed Lord Deputy, but his own rule was so unpopular that in 1477 he was removed from office, having governed for only two years. He was
Lord Chancellor of Ireland from 1475 to 1481, when he was replaced by
Walter Champfleur,
Abbot of
St Mary's Abbey, Dublin. He lies buried at
Newtown Abbey near
Trim. ==References==