John Preston (1587-1628), a puritan clergyman, was educated in grammar school at Northampton and studied philosophy and medicine at Queens College, Cambridge. In 1611 after hearing a sermon by John Cotton at St. Mary's, Preston changed course and decided to study for the ministry. In numerous sermons and speeches at Cambridge Preston began to establish himself as both a religious and political force to be reckoned with. In 1622, John Donne resigned the pulpit at Lincoln's Inn and Preston was elected successor, and by 1624 was also given a vacant lectureship at Trinity Church, Cambridge. He was summoned to preach before King James I and subsequently served as chaplain to Prince Charles. Upon the death of James, Preston accompanied Charles and Buckingham to Whitehall where the public proclamation of Charles' accession was made. Preston's diplomatic influence became such that after his death his sermons and lectures were gathered into an extended series of publications, including this first edition of his sermons on Judas.[DNB]