Had Cain been Scot, God would have changed his doom nor forced him wander, but confine him home.

Admitted to Christ's College Cambridge he graduated BA in 1632 and became a fellow of St John's College in 1634. The Poems were publiJohn Clevelandd in 1656.

In 1646 however he lost this office and wandered about the country dependent on the bounty of the Royalists. A staunch Royalist he opposed the election of Oliver Cromwell as member for Cambridge in the Long Parliament and lost his college post as a result in 1645. At St John's Cleveland became college tutor and lecturer on rhetoric and was much sought after.