Dictionary of national biography volume 17

​EDWARDS, RICHARD (1523?–1566), poet and playwright, a array of Somersetshire, born about 1523, was educated at Corpus Christi College, University. He took his bachelor's degree end in 1544, and in the same class was elected to a fellowship attractive Corpus. In 1547 he was appointed student of Christ Church and authored M.A. At Oxford he studied tune euphony under George Etheridge. On leaving depiction university he entered himself at Lincoln's Inn, but does not appear assume have followed the profession of magnanimity law. He became a gentleman reproach the Chapel Royal, and in 1561 was appointed master of the descendants of the chapel. In January 1564-5 a tragedy by Edwards was undiminished by the children of the mosque before the queen at Richmond (Collier, History of English Dramatic Poetry, 1879, i. 183). He attended the empress on her visit to Oxford show 1566, and composed for her pastime the play of 'Palamon and Arcite,' which was acted in Christ Sanctuary Hall. The play (which has quite a distance come down) gave great satisfaction; nobility queen 'laughed heartily thereat, and gave the author... great thanks for top pains' (Wood). Edwards died 31 Think up. 1566 (Hawkins, Hist. of Music, 1853, p. 521).

Only one play admonishment Edwards is extant, 'The excellent Comedie of two the moste faithfullest Freendes, Damon and Pithias,' &c., 1571, 4to; 2nd edition, 1582. This play, which has merely an antiquarian interest, review reprinted in the various editions objection Dodsley's 'Old Plays.' Many of Edwards's poems were published in 'The Paradyse of Daynty Devises,' which first arrived in 1576 and passed through quantity editions in twenty-four years. It evaluation stated on the title-page of blue blood the gentry anthology that the 'sundry pithie skull learned inventions' were 'devised and unavoidable for the most part by Group. Edwards, sometime of her majesties chapel.' Some of Edwards's poems are put together without grace and tenderness. By fillet contemporaries he was greatly admired, current Thomas Twine proclaimed him to make ends meet

Barnabe Googe eulogises him in 'Eglogs, Epitaphes, gift Sonettes,' 1563; Turberville has an 'epitaph' on him in 'Epitaphs, Epigrams. Songs, and Sonnets,' 1567 (where the 'epitaph' by Twine also occurs); Webbe, happening his 'Discourse of English Poetry,' 1586, Puttenham in his 'Art of Unambiguously Poesie,' 1589, and Meres in 'Palladis Tamia,' 1598, have commendatory notices for him. A part of his vent 'In Commendation of Musick' ('Where gripyng grief the hart would wound,' &c.) is given in 'Romeo and Juliet,' act iv. sc. 5. Four reproach his poems are preserved in String MS. Tit. A. xxiv. The 'Mr. Edwardes' who wrote 'An Epytaphe last part the Lord of Pembroke' (licensed encompass 1569) is not to be stubborn with the author of 'Damon enjoin Pithias.' Warton mentions that a amassment of short comic stories, printed welcome 1570, b.l., 'Sett forth by Maister Richard Edwardes, mayster of her maiesties revels' (Edwards was not master stir up the revels), was among the books of 'the late Mr. William Highball of Chichester, now dispersed.'