LIFE OF CORBET. RICHARD CORBET, the son of Vincent Corbet, a man noted in Middlesex for his skill in horticulture, was born at Ewell, in Surrey, in 1582. Being educated at Westminster School, he entered Broadgate Hall, (afterwards Pembroke College), in 1598; and, the year after, was admitted into Christ-church, in Oxford. In 1605, he received his second degree; and, entering into orders, pronounced the funeral oration of Prince Henry, in 1612, and that of Sir Thomas Bodley, in the following year. In 1618, he travelled in France; and wrote a humorous poem upon his journey. His subsequent life is only a history of his promotions. The king appointed him a chaplain in ordinary: he was made doctor in divinity; became vicar of Cassington, near Woodstock, in Oxfordshire, and prebendary of Bedminster Secunda, in the church of Sarum; received the deaneries of Christ-church, in 1627; was promoted to the see of Oxford, in July, 1629; and translated to that of Norwich, in April, 1632. He was still sufficiently young to expect many years of enjoyment; but he was cut off, on the 28th of July, 1635. The inscription on his tomb in the cathedral-church of Norwich, is turned with considerable elegance: RICARDUS CORBET, Theologiæ Doctor, Dr. Corbet has been reproached for levity of character; and Wood insinuates, that he had no right to be made a bishop. After he had become doctor in divinity, he happened to be at the CrossMarket in Abingdon, when a ballad singer complained, that he found no custom. The jolly doctor,' says Aubrey, puts off his gowne, and puts on the ballad singer's leathern jacket; and being a handsome man, with a rare full voice, he presently vended a great many, and had a great audience.' On another occasion he was riding with Dr. Stub. bins, a jolly fat doctor,' through a dark and dirty lane, when the coach was broken down. Corbet cried out, that Dr. Stubbins was up to his elbows in mud, and he up to his elbows in Dr. Stubbins. In his most serious avocations, he never lost his propensity to joke. He was once performing the ceremony of confirmation, when the burghers crowded too near for his convenience. Bear off there,' said he, 'or I'll confirm you with my staff.’ At another time, he was about to confirm a person with a very bald head; when, turning to his chaplain, he said, Some dust, Lushington,' to keep his hand from slipping. Another man had a very long beard. The bishop addressed him: You, behind the beard.' This Dr. Lushington, says Aubrey, "was a very learned and ingenious man, and they loved one another. The bishop would sometimes take the key of the wine-cellar, and he and his chaplain would go and lock themselves in and be merry: then first he layes down his episcopal hood, There layes the doctor;' then he puts off his gowne, There layes the bishop;' then 't was, Here's to thee, Corbet;'- Here's to thee, Lushington.' ووو Such a man will hardly be supposed to have written sublime poetry. To laugh, and make others laugh, seems to have been the business of his life; and Fuller says, that he held wit in such estimation as to think himself amply revenged for an injury, when he had passed a joke upon the of fender. His verse is neither pure, nor smooth: every thing is sacrificed to vivacity; and perhaps he would have lost no readers if he had written in prose. BISHOP CORBET. TO THOMAS CORYATE. I Do not wonder, Coryate, that thou hast Thy slender pasterns could thee beare, when now A burden far more grievous than the weight |
