Francis Windebank, the only son of Sir Thomas Windebank of Hougham, Lincolnshire, who owed his advancement to the Cecil family, had entered St. John's College, Oxford, in 1599, coming there under the influence of William Laud.

After a few years of continental travel (1605-1608), he had settled at Haines Hill at Hurst in Berkshire and been employed for many years in minor public offices, eventually becoming clerk of the council.

He had been appointed in June 1632 by King Charles I as Secretary of State, in succession to Lord Dorchester, his senior colleague being Sir John Coke, and he was knighted.

His appointment was mainly due to his Spanish and Roman Catholic sympathies.

The first Earl of Portland, Francis, Lord Cottington, and Windebank formed an inner group in the council, and with their aid the king have carried on various secret negotiations, especially with Spain.

Windebank in December 1634 is appointed to discuss with the papal agent Gregorio Panzani the possibility of a union between the Anglican and Roman Churches, and expresses the opinion that the Puritan opposition might be crippled by sending their leaders to the war in the Netherlands.