Before Edward 1 died, Robert was receiving certain pecuniary rewards at the hands of the King and after the King's death he acted as a steward in East Anglia on the great estate of Clare owned by the Earls of Gloucester who ranked amongst the most powerful nobles of the age. This post carried wide administrative responsibilities; but the legal aspect was the most important. 

Edward 11, like his father, was deeply involved in the Scottish wars and after 1314 hoped to reverse his disastrous defeat at Bannockburn. However he was no soldier and his campaigns were ineffectual. In 1316 Robert acted as a commissioner of array in Suffolk to raise troops for the war. 

In 1322 several nobles, led by the Earl of Lancaster, rebelled against the King but were defeated at the battle of Boroughbridge. The Earl was executed shortly afterwards and Robert was given the custody of the lands of the rebels in Norfolk and Suffolk. 

From early in the fourteenth century it was Robert's ambition to acquire estates. In 1302 he obtained the Manor of Bansfield in Wickhambrook and in 1309 he added land in Waldingfield. His most important acquisition was the Manor of Acton Hall in 1310 when he married his second wife Hilary, widow of John de Hodebovile, who was tenant of the estate held of the King. Robert, for Hilary's lifetime, thus acquired an interest in Acton which became his family seat. 

By 1331 Robert held land in fifteen Suffolk villages besides Acton, including Kettlebaston, Lavenham, Cockfield, Monks Eleigh, Great and Little Waldingfield, Long Melford, Sudbury and Bures. He had an estate in Essex, the Manor of Foxearth, which belonged to the Honour of Clare. 

Robert had died in 1331, probably early in September, and Hilary did not long survive him, dying on December 13th of the same year. They had no children but Robert had a large family by his first marriage. He was succeeded by his eldest son Andrew. 

[Anyone seeking more information should consult Jennifer Ward's paper on Sir Robert de Bures or the booklet by Bernard and Madeline H. Brenner of Falls Church, Virginia, USA] 

The date of the brass in Acton Church is still argued about but it was certainly between the years 1300 and 1335. In some ways it is difficult to see why there is an argument.It is accepted as being not only one of the earliest but also as the finest military brass - as is shown by the following :- 

"This is perhaps the finest and most beautiful figure of the cross-legged period" - Suffolk Monumental Brasses.

"The most famous military brass in England" - East Anglia .

"The finest military brass in existence" - Victoria and Albert Museum .

There is an interesting reference to the de Bures family and Acton Church in Pritchard's book "English Medieval Graffiti".   The author says ,"On a pillar in the North arcade the name Edmundus de Bures is inscribed". Presumably it belongs to a member of Sir Robert's family but so far I have been unable to trace the precise relationship. The scratched inscription is still visible.