The Lives and Characters of the English Dramatick Poets/Francis Quarles
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Francis Quarles.
He was born at Stewards, a Seat in Rumford, in the Parish of Horn-Church, Essex, his Father was James Quarles, Esq; Clerk of the Green Cloth, and Purveyor to Quen Elizabeth. He studied first at Christ-Church, Cambridge, then at Lincolns-Inn; was Cup-bearer to the Queen of Bohemia, Secretary to Bishop Usher, and Cronologer to the City of London. He suffered Persecution by the Government then in being, for a Book called, The Loyal Convert. The Troubles of Ireland brought him to die at Home, in the Two and Fiftieth Year of his Age, Sept. 8. 1644. He had Eighteen Children by one Wife, and lies buried in St. Foster’s Church, London. He writ one Play, called,
The Virgin Widow, a Comedy, 4 to. 1649.
He writ divers other Pieces, as a Book of Emblems, which has born many Editions; a Book of Poems, wherein is the History of Sampson, Jonah, Esther, and Job Militant; Argalus and Parthenia; Enchiridion of Meditations, Divine and Moral; Pentalogia, or, The Quintessence of Meditation; The Loyal Convert, with some others.