Still, John – Credited with writing England’s first comedy

 John Still (1543-1608)

 Grantham-born, after finishing his schooling at The King’s School, John Still became a student at Christ’s College, Cambridge, where he graduated with a BA in 1562, MA in 1565, and DD degree in 1575.

In 1561 he became a fellow of his college and took holy orders.

He was appointed in 1570 Lady Margaret’s Professor of Divinity, subsequently held livings in Suffolk (where he was Archdeacon of Sudbury from 1576 to 1593) and Yorkshire, and was master successively of St John’s College and of Trinity College.

He was vice-chancellor of his university in 1575/6 and again in 1592/3, and appointed  Bishop of Bath and Wells in 1593.

In 1604 he purchased the manor of Hutton, Somerset, east of Wells and to the west of the Mendip Hills, with its residence of Hutton Court.

He made a fortune from lead mines discovered in the Mendips.

Still is generally credited with writing one of the earliest English comedy plays,  Gammer Gurton’s Needle although in his lifetime, as a serious churchman , he did not want to be associated with  buffoonery

John Still married twice, firstly to Anne Alabaster (d1592), daughter of a cloth merchant of Hadleigh, Suffolk

He then wed Jane Horner, daughter of Sir John Horner of Mells Manor, Somerset, High Sheriff of Somerset.