Birmingham.
_Origin of the Word "Cant."_--From the _Mercurius Publicus_ of Feb. 28,
1661, Edinburgh:
"Mr. Alexander Cant, son to Mr. Andrew Cant (who in his
discourse _De Excommunicato trucidando_ maintained that all
refusers of the Covenant ought to be excommunicated, and that
all so excommunicated might lawfully be killed), was lately
deposed by the Synod for divers seditious and impudent passages
in his sermons at several places, as at the pulpit of Banchry;
'That whoever would own or make use of a service-book, king,
nobleman, or minister, the curse of God should be upon him.'
"In his Grace after Meat, he praid for those phanaticques and
seditious ministers (who are now secured) in these words, 'The
Lord pity and deliver the precious prisoners who are now
suffering for the truth, and close up the mouths of the
_Edomites_, who are now rejoicing;' with several other articles
too long to recite."
From these two Cants (Andrew and Alexander) all seditious praying and
preaching in Scotland is called "Canting."