James Shirley was an English poet and playwright. In Charles Lamb's view, Shirley "claims a place among the worthies of this period, not so much for any transcendent genius in himself, as that he was the last of a great race, all of whom spoke nearly the same language and had a set of moral feelings and notions in common." He is known for deftly employing verse drama in the service of comedy. His career of play writing extended from 1625 to the suppression of stage plays by the Parliament of England in 1642.