Philip Massinger - The Great Duke of Florence: "He that would govern others, first should be Master of himself."

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The biography details the life of Philip Massinger, a playwright who faced significant challenges after leaving Oxford without a degree in 1606. Following his father's death and financial struggles, he moved to London to pursue a career in drama, eventually collaborating with notable figures like Thomas Dekker and John Fletcher. His works, including The Virgin Martyr and The Maid of Honour, reflect his ongoing poverty and dependence on patrons. Massinger's later years involved writing for the King's Men, and he passed away in 1640, buried as a "stranger" in Southwark.