[687]Richard Corbet[CP], D.D., was the son of Vincent Corbet—vide his poem—
'better[688] known
By Poynter's name then by his owne
Here lies engaged till the day
Of raysing bones and quickning clay:
No wonder, reader, that he hath
Two sirnames in one epitaph,
For this one doth comprehend
All that both families could lend—
who was a gardner at Twicknam, as I have heard my old cosen Whitney say. Vide in B. Johnson's Underwoods an epitaph on this Vincent Corbet, where he speakes of his nurseries etc., p. 177.
He was a Westminster scholar; old parson Bussey, of Alscott in Warwickshire, went to schoole with him—he would say that he was a very handsome man, but something apt to abuse, and a coward.
He was a student (vide Anthony Wood's Antiq. Oxon.) of Christ-church in Oxford. He was very facetious, and a good fellowe. One time he and some of his acquaintance being merry at Fryar Bacon's study (where was good liquor sold), they were drinking on the leads of the house, and one of the scholars was asleepe, and had a paire of good silke stockings on. Dr. Corbet (then M.A., if not B.D.) gott a paire of cizers and cutt them full of little holes, but when the other awaked, and percieved how and by whom he was abused, he did chastise him, and made him pay for them.
After he was D. of Divinity, he sang ballads at the Crosse at Abingdon on a market-day. He and some of his camerades were at the taverne by the crosse,[L.] (which by the way was then the finest of England; I remember it when I was a freshman: it was admirable curious Gothique architecture, and fine figures in the niches: 'twas one of those built by king ... for his queen: vide Chronicle). The ballad singer complaynd, he had no custome, he could not putt-off his ballades. The jolly Doctor putts-off his gowne, and putts-on the ballad singer's leathern jacket, and being a handsome man, and had a rare full voice, he presently vended a great many, and had a great audience.
[L.] 'Twas after the fashion of the crosse in High-street in Bristowe, but more curious worke. Quaere if not marble?
After the death of Dr. <William Goodwyn>, he was made deane of Christ-church (quaere if ever canon); vide[689] part iii, pag. 7b.
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.
He preacht a sermon before the king at Woodstock (I suppose king James, quaere) and no doubt with a very good grace; but it happened that he was out, on which occasion there were made these verses:—