The Lives and Characters of the English Dramatick Poets/Dr. Jasper Maine

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Dr. Jasper Maine.

THis learned Author was born[1] at a place called, Hatherleigh, a Market Town in Devonshire, An. Dom. 1604. and in the Time of King James the First, passed from Westminster-School, to Christ-Church, Oxon, An. Dom. 1623. in the Condition of a Servitor, where he was encouraged in his Studies by Dr. Duppa, and the next Year chosen into the Number of Students on that noble Foundation. He passed his Degrees till he entred into Orders, and Plurality of Two Livings near that University, both in the Gift of the College. After his being made Doctor of Divinity, and turn’d out by the Visitation of the late Government of Oliver Cromwel, he was received into the Family of the Earl of Devon, having lost both his Livings. In the Restauration of the King, he found his Two Livings, and Advancement to a Canon of Christ-Church, as also Archdeacon of Chichester. He died Decemb. 6. 1672. and was buried on the North side of the Cathedral of Christ-Church, where is to be seen a short [2]Epitaph on a Marble Stone, placed over his Grave by his Executors, Dr. South and Dr. Lamphire. He gave by his Will 500 l. towards re-building of St. Paul's, and to Cassington, and Pyrton, near Watlington, (of which Places he was Vicar) 100 l. each. He writ and published the two following Plays:

The Amorous War, a Tragi-Comedy, 4to. Oxon, 1658, also printed fol. and 8vo.

The City Match, a Comedy, 4to. Oxon, 1658. printed also Fol. and 8vo. This Comedy was acted before their Majesties at White-Hall, and divers times afterwards at Black Fryars, with great Applause.

These two Plays are usually bound together.

This Author published divers other Books; as part of Lucian's Dialogues, Eng. Fol. divers Sermons, 4to. and a Poem on the Victory over the Dutch, 1665, &c.


  1. Wood Athenæ Oxonienses, Vol. 2. p. 372, 373.
  2. Hist. and Antiquit. Oxon. Lib. 2. p. 282.