Edward Dering

Edward Dering (c. 1540–1576) was an English priest and academic, known as a classical scholar, controversialist, supporter of Thomas Cartwright, and fiery preacher against his fellow clergy. Constantly in trouble from 1570, he was not found to be nonconformist in doctrine, but was an opponent of the episcopate.

Life He was the third son of John Dering, Esq., of Surrenden-Dering, near Pluckley in Kent, and Margaret, his wife, daughter of John Brent of Charing, Kent. Richard Dering who was the grandfather of Sir Edward Dering, 1st Baronet was his elder brother.

He received his education at Christ's College, Cambridge where he was admitted Bachelor of Arts (BA) in 1560 and shortly afterwards was elected a Fellow. The following year, 1561, he wrote a Latin verse for the second instalment of Barnaby Googe's translation of Palingenius's Zodiac of Life (sig. A3r). In this poem, he fiercely attacks William Fulke, whose Antiprognosticon, an essay against judicial astrology, which had appeared a few months earlier in September 1560. He also attacks all those who wrote verses for Fulke's book, including his brother Samuel, William Painter, and John Lucas. Dering commenced Master of Arts (Cambridge) (MA Cantab.) in 1563. In the following year Queen Elizabeth visited the university, and proceeded to make a tour of the colleges; on her arrival at Emmanuel College, Dering presented her with a congratulatory copy of Greek verses. In 1566 he was university proctor, and the next year preacher before the university on the Lady Margaret foundation. On 28 November 1568 he was collated by Matthew Parker to the rectory of Pluckley, his home parish. He also appears about this time to have been one of the chaplains to the Duke of Norfolk, and to have held a chaplaincy in the Tower of London, where he preached on 11 December 1569, a powerful sermon, afterwards printed. He died 26 June 1576 at Thoby, in the parish of Mountnessing, Essex.

Works The collected edition of 1614, London, contains: A Sermon preached before the Queenes Maiestie. A Sermon preached at the Tower of London. Twenty-seven Lectures or Readings upon the Epistle to the Hebrews. Certain godly and comfortable Letters, &c. A briefe and necessary Catechisme for Christian Housholders. Godly private Prayers for Christian Families.