Arthur Dent (Puritan)

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Arthur Dent (died 1607) was an English Puritan cleric, known as an author and preacher.

Contents

Life

Dent was born at Melton, Leicestershire. [1] He matriculated as a pensioner of Christ's College, Cambridge, in November 1571. He graduated B.A. in 1575–76, and M.A. in 1579.

Dent served as a curate for three years to George Withers, at Danbury, Essex. [2] He was on 17 December 1580 instituted to the rectory of South Shoebury, Essex, on the presentation of Robert Rich, 2nd Baron Rich. In 1582 he was one of the witnesses examined in support of charges brought against Robert Wright, a Puritan minister. About 1584 Dent himself was in trouble with John Aylmer, his diocesan bishop, for refusing to wear the surplice and omitting the sign of the cross in baptism. His name is appended to the petition sent to the lords of the council by twenty-seven ministers of Essex, who refused to subscribe the declaration "that there is nothing contained in the Book of Common Prayer contrary to the word of God". [3]

Dent died of a fever after three days' illness about the end of 1607. He left a widow. Ezekiel Culverwell, in dedicating an edition of the Ruine of Rome to Lord Rich, remarked on Dent's diligence. He was considered a good preacher, and his printed sermons ran to numerous editions. [3]

Works

Modern edition

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References

  1. "Dent, Arthur (DNT571A)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  2. Usher, Brett; Craig, John. "Withers, George". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/68289.(Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  3. 1 2 "Dent, Arthur"  . Dictionary of National Biography . London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.