He is known for his resistance to the imposition of Presbyterianism by Oliver Cromwell, his involvement in the conflict between Dr Simon Patrick and King Charles II regarding academic freedom and the right of colleges to elect their presidents, and for his theological treatises, in particular 'A Rationale upon the Book of Common Prayer'.

[5] On 18 April 1644 he and around 60 other fellows were ejected from their colleges by Edward Montagu, 2nd Earl of Manchester after Parliament passed a law reforming the University.

The issue of residency appears to have been an excuse to rid the University of those who refused to adopt the Covenant which was part of the Parliamentarians' efforts to enforce Presbyterianism in England.

The King appointed a Commission to investigate the matter, but Patrick alleged that his supporters were not given proper opportunity to present arguments in his favour.

However, after only five weeks he was driven out for using the Book of Common Prayer, a practice which had been abolished following the reforms resulting from the English Civil War.

[14] During this time, in 1655, he published a collection of his own articles on the subject of Anglican doctrine and orders of service under the title 'A Rationale upon the Book of Common Prayer' which remained banned throughout the period of Oliver Cromwell's rule in England.

He died at Norwich on 19 May 1685 leaving several daughters as his co-heiresses, one of whom was Joan Sparrow (d. 1703), wife of Edward Drew (d. 1714) of The Grange, Broadhembury, Devon, a Canon of Exeter Cathedral.