RICHARD

See also:

• RICHARD CORBET (1582—1635)

CORBET (1582—1635)  , English bishop and poet, was born in 1582, the son of a nurseryman at Ewell, Surrey . At Oxford, to which he proceeded from Westminster school in 1597, he was noted as a wit . On taking orders he continued to display this talent from the pulpit, and James I., in consideration of his " fine fancy and preaching," made him one of the royal chaplains . In 162o he became vicar of Stewkley, Berkshire, and in the same year was made dean of Christchurch, Oxford . In 1628 he was made bishop of Oxford, and in 1632 translated thence to the see of Norwich . Corbet was the author of many poems, for the most part of a lively, satirical order, his most serious production being the Fairies' Farewell . His verses were first collected and published in 1647 . His conviviality was famous, and many stories are told of his youthful merry-making in London taverns in company with Ben Jonson, who always remained his close friend, and other dramatists . He died at Norwich on the 28th of July 1635 .