Poet-bishop, the son of a gardener at Ewell, Surrey, from Westminster School passed to Broadgates Hail, Oxford, and thence to Christ Church. He had been vicar of Cassington, Oxfordshire, and Stewkley, Bucks, as well as a prebendary of Salisbury, when in 1620 he was made Dean of Christ Church. In 1624 he was consecrated to the see of Oxford, and in 1632 translated to Norwich. Corbet’s “Poems” (1647; ed. by Gilchrist, 1807) reflect the jovial temper of the man. His longest piece is “Iter Boreale,” a holiday-tour of four students; the best and best-known is the “Fairies’ Farewell.”
He had a good interest with great men, as you may find in his poems, and with the then great favourite, the duke of Bucks; his excellent witt was lettres of recommendation to him. I have forgott the story, but at the same time that Dr. (Samuel) Fell thought to have carried it, Dr. Corbet putt a pretty trick on (him) to lett him take a journey on purpose to London for it, when he had already the graunt of it…. His conversation was extreme pleasant. Dr. Stubbins was one of his cronies; he was a jolly fatt Dr. and a very good house-keeper; parson of (Ambrosden) in Oxfordshire. As Dr. Corbet and he were riding in Lob-lane, in wett weather, (’tis an extraordinary deepe dirty lane) the coach fell; and Dr. Corbet sayd that Dr. Stubbins was up to the elbowes in mud, he was up to the elbowes in Stubbins…. One time, as he was confirming, the country people pressing in to see the ceremonie, sayd he “Beare-off there, or I’le confirme yee with my staffe.” Another time being to lay his hand on the head of a man very bald, he turns to his chaplaine (Lushington) and sayd, “Some dust, Lushington,” (to keepe his hand from slipping).
Esteemed one of the most celebrated wits in the university, as his poems, jests, romantic fancies and exploits, which he made and perform’d extempore, shew’d.
The anecdotes of this facetious bishop, quoted by Headley from the Aubrey MSS., would fill several pages of a jest-book. It is more to his honour to be told, that though entirely hostile in his principles to the Puritans, he frequently softened, with his humane and characteristic pleasantry, the furious orders against them which Laud enjoined him to execute.
One of the most remarkable among the clerical poets of this earlier half of the seventeenth century was Dr. Richard Corbet…. Corbet’s poetry is a mixture of alternation of gravity and drollery. But it is the subject or occasion, rather than the style or manner, that makes the difference; he never rises to anything higher than wit; and he is as witty in his elegies as in his ballads. As that ingredient, however, is not so suitable for the former as for the latter, his graver performances are worth very little. Nor is his merriment of a high order; when it is most elaborate it is strained and fantastic, and when more natural it is apt to run into buffoonery. But much of his verse, indeed, is merely prose in rhyme, and very indifferent rhyme for the most part.
Corbet’s work is of that peculiar class which is usually, though not always, due to “university wits,” and which only appeals to people with a considerable appreciation of humour, and a large stock of general information. It is always occasional in character, and rarely succeeds so well as when the treatment is one of distinct persiflage.
Corbet’s poems are for the most part in a rollicking satiric vein, and are always very good-humoured, with the single exception of his verses “upon Mrs. Mallet, an unhandsome gentlewoman that made love to him.” The well-known “Fairies Farewell,” a graceful and fanciful piece of verse, is his most serious production.
