SHIRLEY, JAMES (1596-1666). An English dramatist, born in London. He attended the :Merchant Taylors' School. London (1608-12), whence he passed to Saint John's College, Oxford. He afterwards entered Catharine Hall, Cam bridge, where he received the degree of B. A. (c.1618). Subsequently lie took orders, and be came a minister at Saint Albans. He gave up his living owing to his conversion to the Church of Rome and held the mastership of the gram mar school from 1623 to 1625. At the end of this period he moved to London and began his eareer Os playwright. Before the theatres were closed by act of Parliament in 1642. he pro duced about forty plays, most of which have survived. lle was befriended by the Court, for which he composed many masqm.s. Ile shared in the misfortunes of the royalists during the Civil War. Surviving until after the Restora tion, he became an important literary figure. Ile died during the great tire of 1666, and was buried in Saint Giles's churchyard. Shirley car
ried on the traditions of the Elizabethan drama and served as a link to the new drama after the Restoration. He essayed both- tragedy and com edy. Of his plays may be cited: Thu Witty Fair One (162S), a good comedy; Thc livcrhling (1626), a still better comedy: The Traitor (1631), a powerful tragedy; Ilych Park (1632), a comedy: The Gantester (1633), a comedy re vived by Garrick; The Lady of Pleasun 1635), perhaps his most brilliant comedy; and The Cardinal (1641), a strong tragedy. Of his masques, The Triumph of performed be fore the King and Queen (1634), is regarded as the best. Consult: Dramatic Works end Poems, with notes by Gifford and Dyee (London, 1833) ; Shirley, selected plays, ed. by Gosse (Mermaid Series. ib., 1SSS) : and Ward, English Dramatic Literature (revised ed., ib., 1399).