Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from The British Drama, a Collection of the Most Esteemed Dramatic Productions, With Biography of the Respective Authors, Vol. 7 of 14: Containing Gamesters, Wonder, West Indian, Jealous Wife
James Shirley was of an ancient family, and born about the year 1594, in London. He was educated at Merchant Taylor's school, and from thence removed to St. John's, in Oxford; where Dr. Laud, then president of that college, conceived a great affection for him, on account of his excellent capacity, yet would often tell him, that "he was an unfit person to take the sacred function upon him, and should never have his consent," because Mr. Shirley had a large mole upon his left cheek, which Laud considered a deformity.
After leaving Oxford he went to Cambridge, and soon after entering into orders, he took a cure at or near St. Albans. But being unsettled in his principles, he changed his religion for that of Rome, left his living, and taught a grammar-school in St. Albans. This employment being uneasy to him, he retired to London, lived in Gray's Inn, and became a writer of plays. By this he gained, not only a livelihood, but also great respect and encouragement from persons of quality, especially from the queen, wife to king Charles I. who made him her servant.
When the rebellion broke out, he was obliged to leave London and his family (for he had a wife and children), and being invited by his patron William, Earl, afterwards Duke of Newcastle, to follow his fortune in the civil wars, he attended his lordship.
On the decline of the king's cause, he retired to London; where, among other of his friends, he found Mr. Stanley, author of the Lives of the Philosophers, who supported him for a considerable time. The acting of plays being then prohibited, he returned to his old occupation of teaching school, which he did in White-Fryars; and, at the Restoration, several of his plays were brought upon the theatre again.
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