LILLY, JOHN, a dramatic poet, considered by some a reformer of the English language, was born in Kent about 1553. At sixteen he entered Magdalen College, Oxford, became Bachelor of Arts in 1573, and Master of Arts in 1575. After staying for some time at Cambridge, he repaired to London; and in 1579 was a dependant upon courtiers, and patronized by Queen Elizabeth. In 1580 was published his first work, Euphuës, a romance, which, partly from its satire, and partly from its apophthegms and antitheses, gave popularity to an affected style of phraseology, called Euphuism. Lilly also published nine plays, six of which had been played before the Queen, and were afterwards published together in 1632. About 1589 appeared his pamphlet against Martin Marprelate, entitled Pappe with a Hatchet, which has sometimes been attributed to Nashe. The date of Lilly's death is unknown, but according to Anthony Wood, he was living in 1597, when his last comedy was published.