John Dod

His parents were possessed of a moderate estate, and after he had received his early education at Westchester sent him when about fourteen to Jesus College, Cambridge, where he was elected scholar and afterwards fellow.

[5][6] A false accusation brought against him of having defrauded the college of a sum of money due from one of his pupils was the cause of a fever which almost cost him his life.

During his illness he received strong religious impressions, and after his recovery, his character being fully cleared, he preached at a weekly lecture set up by some 'godly' people of Ely.

At Hanwell he worked diligently, preaching twice each Sunday besides catechising and supplying, in conjunction with four others, a weekly lectureship at Banbury.

A Godly Form of Household Government, a leading conduct book for decades, developed from a 1598 pamphlet by his co-author Robert Cleaver.

It contains pithy and memorable Christian advice and a witty yet sobering Sermon on Malt delivered to some Cambridge students who had waylaid him.