The details of Abbot's ecclesiastical career are somewhat unclear, and can only be pieced together from fragmentary evidence, but based on something he wrote in his work Bee Thankfull London and her Sisters, it is probable that he began his church service with a posting as "assistant to a reverend divine".
A note in the margin indicates that the priest in question was "Master Haiward of Wool Church", in Dorset.
His ministry at Cranbrook was regarded as successful, but he was noted for his lack of tolerance towards nonconformists.
[2] Robert Abbot's books are conspicuous amongst the works of his time by their terseness and variety.
The misunderstanding may stem from a passage in Robert Abbot's work A Hand of Fellowship to Helpe Keepe out Sinne and Antichrist, in which he thanks the Archbishop for "worldly maintenance," "best earthly countenance" and "fatherly incouragements."