Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 08.djvu/414

 was born at Little Canfield in 1563. He studied law in the Middle Temple, but on being converted to the catholic religion he went to Douay and afterwards to Paris, where he entered the convent of the Capuchins on 23 March 1586, taking the name of Benedict or Benet. In July 1589 he returned to England with Father John Chrysostom, a Scotchman. They set sail from Calais, and landed between Sandwich and Dover. As they were known to be priests, they were carried before the mayor, wno committed them to prison, whence they were removed to London and brought before Lord Cobham. They were then sent to Nonsuch, where the queen was residing, and examined by Sir Francis Walsingham, who committed them to the Tower. The Scotch friar was released at the request of the French king, but Father Benedict was conveyed to Wisbech Castle, where he appeared in his Franciscan habit. On his way thither he was led through the streets of Cambridge, and created an extraordinary sensation, such a garb not having been seen in that town since Queen Mary's days. After remaining at Wisbech for eighteen months he was removed to Framlingham Castle in Suffolk. In both these prisons he held controversial conferences with various protestant divines. After three years' imprisonment he was released at the request of Henry IV of France. He was master of the novices for a long time both at Orleans and Rouen, and in the latter city he was also guardian of his convent. His death occurred in the convent of the Capuchins in the Rue St.Honoré,in Paris, on 21 Nov. 1611. A curious biography of him, partly autobiographical, was published, with his portrait prefixed, under the title of 'The miraculous life, conuersion, and conuersation of the Reuerend Father Bennett of Cāfield,' Douay, 1623, 8vo, pp. 145, together with 'The Life of the Reverend Fa. Angel of Ioyevse, Capvcin Preacher,' and the life of 'Father Archangell, Scotchman, of the same Ordere.' These three biographies had previously appeared in French at Paris in 1621.

Father Benedict, who was a celebrated preacher both in English and French, wrote: A little treatise by Canfield was published at London in 1878 under the title of ‘The Holy Will of God: a short rule of perfection.’
 * 1) ‘The Christian Knight.’
 * 2) ‘Tubulæ quædam de bene orando.’
 * 3) ‘The Rule of Perfection, contayning a breif and perspicuovs abridgement of all the wholle spirituall life, reduced to this only point of the (will of God). Diuided into three Partes,’ Rouen, 1609, 8vo. A Latin translation appeared at Cologne, 1610, 12mo.



CANICUS or KENNY, [See .]

CANN, ABRAHAM (1794–1864), wrestler, the son of Robert Cann, a farmer and a wrestler in Devonshire, and his wife, Mary, was baptised at Colebrooke, near Crediton, on 2 Dec. 1794, and, inheriting from his father a love of play, soon defeated John Jordan, Flower, Wreyford, Simon Webber, and the other best wrestlers in Devonshire, and carried off the prizes at all the places where he became a competitor. In these matches he wrestled in the Devonshire fashion, namely, wearing shoes and endeavouring to disable his adversary by violently kicking him on the legs. On 21 Sept. 1826, at the Eagle tavern, City Road, London, he contended without shoes for the first prize with James Warren of Redruth (conspicuous for his bravery at the time of the loss of the Kent, Indiaman, in 1825), and although the latter made a gallant struggle, Cann was declared the victor. He had long been known as the champion of Devonshire, and he now challenged James Polkinghorne, the champion of Cornwall. Polkinghorne was 6 ft. 2 in. high, weighed 320lbs., and had not wrestled for some years, being the landlord of the Red Lion inn at St. Columb Major. Cann was but 5 ft. 8½ in. in height, and weighed 175lbs. This match, which was for 200l. a side for the best of three back falls, took place at Tamar Green, Morice Town, near Devonport, on 23 Oct. 1826, in the presence of upwards of 12,000 spectators. After a long struggle the Cornishman won a fair back fall. Cann next threw Polkinghorne, but a dispute arising, a toss gave it in favour of the latter. After several other falls, Polkinghorne threw Cann, but the triers were divided in opinion as to the fall. Polkinghorne left the ring, and after much wrangling, the match was declared to be drawn. The Devonshire man, with the toes and heels of his shoes, kicked his adversary in the most frightful manner, while the Cornishman neither wore shoes nor practised kicking. In 1861 Lord Palmerston headed a subscription among the west-country gentlemen, by which the sum of 200l. was presented to the former champion of Devonshire.

Cann was for many years the proprietor of an inn, and died in his native place, Colebrooke, on 7 April 1864. He had four bro-