born 1600, Swainswick, Somerset, Eng.
died Oct. 24, 1669, London
English Puritan pamphleteer.
Trained as a lawyer, he published Puritan tracts from 1627 and assailed Anglican ceremonialism. He attacked popular amusements, especially plays, in his book Histrio Mastix: The Players Scourge (1633). Archbishop Oliver Cromwell 's Commonwealth, he became a supporter of {{link=Charles">Charles II .