In 1625, Le Neve went to France with Henry St George to France, to bring back the future Queen Henrietta Maria.[3] In 1639, Le Neve and George Owen were attached to the Earl Marshal, the Earl of Arundel, for the First Bishops' War.[4] In 1642 Le Neve was sent by Charles I, on the day before the battle of Edgehill, to the parliamentary army under the Earl of Essex, with a proclamation. This mission is now described as intelligence work.[5] Le Neve was deprived of his proclamation, and taken to Essex blindfolded, where his protests were found amusing.[6] There is an account of the brusque treatment he received from Essex in the Earl of Clarendon's History.[7]
Le Neve was deprived of his position in 1646, when Arthur Squibb was made Clarenceux herald.[6] He was declared to be a lunatic in October 1658, and Sir Edward Walker was empowered to execute his office.[2] Again in 1661 he was found to be insane.[6]