Richard Corbet

Richard Corbet (or Corbett; 1582 – 28 July 1635) was an English clergyman who rose to be Bishop of Oxford (1628) and then Bishop of Norwich (1632) in the Church of England. He is also remembered as a humourist and as a poet, although his work was not published until after his death.

Quotes

• Let others write for glory or reward,
  Truth is well paid when she is sung and heard.
  • "Elegy on Lord Howard, Baron of Effingham"

• I wish thee, Vin, before all wealth,
  Both bodily and ghostly health: ...
  I wish thee all thy mothers graces,
  Thy father’s fortunes, and his places.
  I wish thee friends, and one at Court,
  Not to build on, but support;
  To keep thee, not in doing many
  Oppressions, but from suffering any.
  • "To his Son, Vincent Corbet"

• Farewell, Rewards and Faeries,
    Good Housewives now may say,
  For now foule Slutts in Dairies
    Doe fare as well as they;
  And though they sweepe theyr Hearths no less
    Than Maydes were wont to doe,
  Yet who of late for Cleaneliness
    Finds sixe-pence in her Shoe?
  • "The Fairies Farewel; or, God-a-Mercy Will", st. 1

• But, since of late, Elizabeth,
    And later James, came in,
  They never daunc’d on any heath
    As when the Time hath bin.
  By which wee note the Faries
    Were of the old Profession;
  Theyre Songs were Ave Maryes,
    Theyre Daunces were Procession.
  • "The Fairies Farewel; or, God-a-Mercy Will", sts. 4–5

• Boldly I preach, hate a cross, hate a surplice,
    Mitres, copes, and rotchets:
  Come hear me pray nine times a day,
    And fill your heads with crotchets.
  • "The Distracted Puritan", refrain

External links

• Encyclopedic article on Richard Corbet on Wikipedia
• Works related to Richard Corbet on Wikisource