author
Richard Corbet
1582–1635
A witty churchman with a taste for satire, this 17th-century poet balanced high office in the Church of England with a lively literary voice. His poems were admired for their humor and sharp observation, even though they were published only after his death.
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About the author
Born in 1582 in Ewell, Surrey, Richard Corbet was educated at Westminster School and Christ Church, Oxford. He built a successful career in the Church of England, serving as bishop of Oxford and later bishop of Norwich.
Alongside his church work, he became known as a humorist and poet. His verse has often been linked with the lively, social side of early 17th-century English poetry: playful, satirical, and full of personality rather than solemn display.
Although his poems were not published during his lifetime, they helped preserve his reputation as one of the more memorable minor poets of the Caroline period. He died on July 28, 1635.