William Quarles 1614/15-1671

William QUARLES 1614/15-1671

Biographical Note

Son of Edward Quarles of London. Educated at Merchant Taylors’ School, London, and matriculated in 1631 as a sizar at Pembroke Hall, Cambridge; BA 1635; MA 1638. He became a Fellow of Pembroke, and President of the college. One of a circle of Cambridge royalists contributing to the pamphlet Certain disquisitions... (1644) against observing the solemn league and covenant, he was ejected in 1644 and restored in 1660. He was ordained in 1661, becoming Rector of Elmsthorpe, Leicestershire until his death. He was licensed to practice medicine in the mid-1650s; it is unclear whether or where he practised.

Books

He bequeathed nearly 350 books to Pembroke library, itemised in the college’s benefactors’ register within three categories of folio, quarto and octavo (fols 150r-v, 155r-159v). Some are still held by the college, bearing printed labels marking the donation (Lee 136).

Sources

• Matthew Wren’s benefactors’ book (Pembroke College MS LC.II.77), Cambridge Digital Library.
• Hart, E. P., ed. Merchant Taylors’ School Register 1561-1934. 2 vols. London, 1936.
• ACAD A Cambridge alumni database.
• Lee, B. N. Early printed book labels. Pinner, 1976.