Burnet declares he had little Latin, but he was able to converse with the Dutch ambassador in that language.
Burnet described him as "the most hated minister that had ever been about the king."
The unfavourable character drawn of him by Burnet is certainly unjust and not supported by any evidence.
Through his friendship with Sir William Hicks Strype obtained access to the papers of Sir Michael Hicks, secretary to Lord Burghley, from which he made extensive transcripts; he also carried on an extensive correspondence with Archbishop Wake and Bishops Burnet, Atterbury and Nicholson.
He drew up, with Burnet's assistance, a paper containing his apology, and he wrote to the king a letter, to be delivered after his death, in which he asked Charles's pardon for any wrong he had done him.