James Cranford

Son of Jam. Cranford Master of the Free-school at Coventry, was born in that City, became either Commoner or Batler of Ball. Coll. in Lent term 1617, aged 15 years or thereabouts, took the Degrees in Arts, entred into the sacred function, became Rector of Brookhall or Brockold in Northamptonshire, and at length of S. Christopher Le Stocks near to the Old Exchange in London, which, if I mistake not, he obtained upon the ejection of a Loyalist in the beginning of the grand Rebellion. He was a painful Preacher as to the Doctrine he professed, (being a zealous Presbyterian) an exact Linguist, well acquainted with the Fathers, not unknown to the Schoolmen, and familiar with the modern Divines. He hath written,

Confutation of the Anabaptists. Lond. in qu.

Exposition on the Prophesies of Daniel. Lond. 1644. qu.

Haereseo-Machia: or, the mischief which heresies do, and the means to prevent them, Serm. in Pauls before the Lord Mayor, 1 Febr. 1645, on 2. Tim. 2.17. Lond. 1646. qu. What other books he hath published I know not, nor any thing else of him, only that he concluding his last day on the 27. of Apr. in sixteen hundred fifty and seven,1657. was buried in the Church of S. Christopher beforemention’d. In the beginning of the Rebellion he was appointed by the Presbyterians a Licenser of the Press in London, which gave him occasion to write several Epistles before Books that were to be published: one of which was set before a Book intituled, The tears of Ireland, wherein is represented a list of the unheard off cruelties of blood thirsty Jesuits and the Popish faction. Lond. 1642. oct. Which Book, as I have been informed by one of his perswasion, was also collected by him. Quaere.