[85] A sergeant. Edit. 1648.
[86] These are said in the old copies to be “the ministers of Daventry;” but as no such names occur in the list of incumbents, it is probable they officiated for Thomas Mariat, the then vicar, who must have been very old, as he was inducted to the living in 1560.
[87] Dod and Cleaver, thus honourably introduced to our notice, were united by the strong ties of puritanism and authorship.
Ambo animis, ambo insignes præstantibus armis;
Hic pietate prior.
The latter has fallen into oblivion, but the superior zeal of John Dod has preserved his memory. He was born at Shottledge in Cheshire, where his family had territorial possessions, and was educated at Jesus College, Cambridge. “He was,” says Fuller, “by nature a witty, by industry a learned, by grace a godly, divine.” He had good preferment in the church, but was silenced for non-conformity, though afterwards restored. He died and was buried at Fawesly in Northamptonshire, of which he was vicar, Aug. 19th, 1645.
They were again joined in derision by Cartwright, in his “Chambermaid’s Posset.”
Next Cleaver and Doddism both mixed and fine,
With five or six scruples of conscience cases.—&c.
Poems, p. 231. 8vo. 1651.