Cotton, Roger

(?1550-1650)

   Born in Whitchurch, Shropshire, and was probably educated in the free school there. He had five brothers, most of whom were patrons of literature; Allen, the youngest, became lord mayor of London and was knighted. Roger settled in London and carried on the business of a draper in Canning Street, having been admitted a member of the Drapers' Company. He became friends with Hugh Broughton, the Christian teacher and preacher, and it is said that Roger read he Bible twelve times in a year. He wrote several religious books with long titles (which have been abbreviated): A Direction to the waters of lyfe, 1592, A third edition. A Direct Way, whereby the plainest man may be guided to the Waters of Life, 1610. An Armor of Proofe, brought from the Tower of Dauid, to fight against Spannyardes, and all enimies of the trueth, 1592. A Spirituall Song: Setting downe the treacherous practises of the wicked, against the children of God, 1596. Some of his poems: "A Description of Old Rome," "G.W. in Praise of This Book," "P.K. in Commendation of This Work," "Spiritual Song."

   Sources: Dictionary of National Biography. Electronic Edition, 1.1. Oxford University Press, 1997. English Poetry: Author Search. Chadwyck-Healey Ltd., 1995 (http://www.lib.utexas.edu:8080/search/epoetry/author.html). Oldpoetry (www.oldpoetry.com).