Timeless Christians

Quarles, Francis

Francis Quarles was loyal to God and his king, which shows character, but his fame rests on his Christian poems and writings.

He was born twelve miles from London on May 8, 1592. Educated at Christ Church, Cambridge, he studied law at Lincoln's Inn. When he was 21, he had a high moment when he served as cup-bearer to Princess Elizabeth on her marriage to the elector palatine in 1613, joining the Earl of Arundel and his party to escort her to her husband-to-be. He worked for many years as secretary to James Ussher, the archbishop of Armagh, Ireland. After his return to England, he married.

Francis and his wife had eighteen children, and often lived in poverty. Fortunately he was a gifted writer and produced many books, poems, and pamphlets, which sold well. They were full of pithy sayings such as "No Cross, No Crown," and "Wickedness is its own punishment." His best-selling book was Emblems but Hieroglyphiks of the Life of Man; and Enchiridion, Containing Institutions Divine and Moral also did well.

Quarles was morally earnest and totally sincere in what he did--determined to serve God, his King and his family to the best of his ability. In 1639 he accepted an appointment as Chronologer of the City of London, and when the Civil War broke out he employed his time writing books and pamphlets in the Royalist cause. Quarles was a very determined Royalist, and his political writings, particularly the Enchiridion (1640), were highly-regarded by Royalists. Ironically, at the same time, his spiritual poetry was loved by Puritans!

Nonetheless, the Puritan Parliament ordered his house searched for "subversive" material and the soldiers destroyed all his manuscripts. Standing for a cause often comes with a price. However, because of his popularity among the Puritans, no one harmed him personally. Out of the treasure store of his mind, he produced many more works. As he himself remarked, "My mind's my kingdom."

When Quarles died in 1644, his wife and nine surviving children were left in poverty. She eked out an existence by issuing manuscripts he had left behind him. Perhaps as she did this work she was acting on another of his thoughtful sayings, "Has fortune dealt you some bad cards? Then let wisdom make you a good gamester."

Francis Quarles is remembered for his wise sayings, his translations of psalms, and his poems--especially those about Christ--and poems from Bible texts, such as this piece derived from Job 13:24

Why dost thou shade thy lovely face? O why
Does that eclipsing hand, so long, deny
The sunshine of thy soul-enliv'ning eye?

Without that Light, what light remains in me?
Thou art my Life, my Way, my Light; in Thee
I live, I move, and by thy beams I see.

Thou art my Life; If thou but turn away,
My life's a thousand deaths: thou art my Way;
Without thee, Lord, I travel not, but stray.

My Light thou art; without thy glorious sight,
Mine eyes are darkned with perpetual night.
My God, thou art my Way, my Life, my Light.

Quarles is honored for his faith and character.