Cant

Cant, ANDREW, a Scottish Covenantor, born about 1590, became minister of Pittsligo in 1633, of Newbattle in 1638, and of Aberdeen in 1640. In July 1638 he had been one of the commissioners sent to that city to compel the inhabitants to subscribe the National Covenant; and in November of the same year he was a member of the memorable General Assembly, held at Glasgow, which abolished Episcopacy in Scotland. Withal, he was a zealous royalist. He was with the Scots army when it obtained possession of Newcastle, August 30, 1640; and in 1641, on the second visit of Charles I. to Scotland, Cant preached before his majesty at Edinburgh. In 1660, in consequence of a complaint presented to the magistrates of Aberdeen, charging him with having published Rutherford's Lex Rex, and with fulminating anathemas and imprecations against many of his congregation, Cant relinquished his charge and left the town. He died 30th April 1663, leaving a son, Andrew, who was principal of Edinburgh University from 1675 to 1685.