Thomas Bastard
Encyclopedia
The Reverend Thomas Bastard (1565/1566 – April 19, 1618) was an English
clergyman famed for his published English language epigram
s.
, England
, Bastard is best known for seven books of 285 epigrams entitled Chrestoleros published in 1598.
He initially attended Winchester College
. Subsequently he began studying at New College, Oxford
on (August 27, 1586). By 1588, he was assigned as a perpetual Fellow of New College. Though later expelled from his Fellowship, Bastard still received a BA
in 1590, and an MA
16 years later in 1606.
Bastard became notorious for libelling the sexual doings of various Oxford
clergy and academics via a published tract entitled An Admonition to the city of Oxford, &c. Despite disavowing authorship, he was nonetheless expelled from his Oxford fellowship in 1591.
He still maintained a few supporters and admirers, primarily, Sir Charles Blount, Lord Mountjoy
who appointed him as a chaplain
, and Thomas Howard, 1st Earl of Suffolk
who appointed him vicar
of Bere Regis
and later, in 1606, Rector of Almer in Dorset.
Bastard was married three times. He died impoverished in the debtor's prison
at Allhallows parish, Dorchester, and was buried in parish churchyard.
Prior to Bastard's death, admirer Sir John Harrington said in a poem:
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
clergyman famed for his published English language epigram
Epigram
An epigram is a brief, interesting, usually memorable and sometimes surprising statement. Derived from the epigramma "inscription" from ἐπιγράφειν epigraphein "to write on inscribe", this literary device has been employed for over two millennia....
s.
Life
Born in Blandford Forum, DorsetDorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Bastard is best known for seven books of 285 epigrams entitled Chrestoleros published in 1598.
He initially attended Winchester College
Winchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
. Subsequently he began studying at New College, Oxford
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
on (August 27, 1586). By 1588, he was assigned as a perpetual Fellow of New College. Though later expelled from his Fellowship, Bastard still received a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1590, and an MA
Master of Arts (Oxbridge)
In the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Dublin, Bachelors of Arts of these universities are admitted to the degree of Master of Arts or Master in Arts on application after six or seven years' seniority as members of the university .There is no examination or study required for the degree...
16 years later in 1606.
Bastard became notorious for libelling the sexual doings of various Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
clergy and academics via a published tract entitled An Admonition to the city of Oxford, &c. Despite disavowing authorship, he was nonetheless expelled from his Oxford fellowship in 1591.
He still maintained a few supporters and admirers, primarily, Sir Charles Blount, Lord Mountjoy
Charles Blount, 1st Earl of Devonshire
Charles Blount , 8th Baron Mountjoy and 1st Earl of Devonshire was an English nobleman and soldier who served as Lord Deputy of Ireland under Queen Elizabeth I, then as Lord Lieutenant under King James I.-Early life:...
who appointed him as a chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
, and Thomas Howard, 1st Earl of Suffolk
Thomas Howard, 1st Earl of Suffolk
Admiral Thomas Howard, 1st Earl of Suffolk, KG, PC was a son of Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk by his second wife Margaret Audley, Duchess of Norfolk, the daughter and heiress of the 1st Baron Audley of Walden....
who appointed him vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
of Bere Regis
Bere Regis
Bere Regis is a village in the Purbeck district of Dorset, England, situated north-west of Wareham.The village has one shop, a post office and two pubs, The Royal Oak and The Drax Arms. The parish church is St. John the Baptist Church...
and later, in 1606, Rector of Almer in Dorset.
Bastard was married three times. He died impoverished in the debtor's prison
Debtor's prison
A debtors' prison is a prison for those who are unable to pay a debt.Prior to the mid 19th century debtors' prisons were a common way to deal with unpaid debt.-Debt bondage in ancient Greece and Rome:...
at Allhallows parish, Dorchester, and was buried in parish churchyard.
Prior to Bastard's death, admirer Sir John Harrington said in a poem:
- "To Master Bastard, a minister, that made a pleasant Book of English Epigrams:
-
- You must in pulpit treat of matters serious;
- As it beseems the person and the place;
- There preach of faith, repentance, hope, and grace;
- Of sacraments, and such high things mysterious:
- But they are too severe, and too imperious,
- That unto honest sports will grant no space.
- For these our minds refresh, those weary us,
- And spur out doubled spirit to swifter pace."
Sources
- "Bastard, Thomas" in S. Austin Allibone. A Critical Dictionary of English Literature and British and American Authors Living and Deceased from the Earliest Accounts to the Latter Half of the Nineteenth Century. J.B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia, London, c1886, vol. 1, p. 139. (OCLC ) (Full-text at Internet Archive)
- "Bastard, Thomas" in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography in Association with the British Academy: from the Earliest Times to the Year 2000. Oxford University PressOxford University PressOxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
, Oxford (England), New York, c2004, p. 281 (ISBN 0-19-861411-X), (OCLC )