he was a member of parliament for banbury in seven parliaments (1571–1583 and 1586–1604), and then represented oxfordshire from 1604 until 1614. he served as sheriff of oxfordshire in 1581, 1590 and 1603. cope was imprisoned in the tower of london from 27 february to 23 march 1587 for presenting to the speaker of the house of commons a puritan revision of the "book of common prayer" and a bill abrogating existing canon law. queen elizabeth i knighted cope in 1592–93 and king james i made him a baronet on 29 june 1611. cope entertained james i at hanwell, oxfordshire in 1606 and 1612.