Thomas Legge
Encyclopedia
Thomas Legge was an English playwright
, prominently known for his play Richardus Tertius
, which is considered to be the first history play written in England
.
, Legge moved to Cambridge
in 1532 where he matriculated to Corpus Christi College
. Soon after he moved again to attend Trinity College
, where he received a B.A. in 1556. He then went on to attend Oxford
in 1566, where he received his master's degree. In 1568 Legge became a member of the faculty at Jesus College, Cambridge
, where he was known to be an active tutor and a proponent of the old way of thinking in religious matters. On 27 June 1573 Legge was appointed master of Caius College, taking many students from Jesus College with him when he left. While in office at Caius, Legge stirred up trouble by promoting John Depup, M.A. to a fellowship, which Dr. Caius disagreed with because of Depup's leanings towards Catholic opinions. Legge was also accused of treating letters sent from the queen with contempt, and was charged with misappropriating college funds, a charge that was later settled within the administrative officials of the school. Legge occupied many different positions at Caius, becoming commissary to the university in May of 1579, and spent two separate terms, from 1587-1588 and 1592-1593, as the vice-chancellor. Legge died on 12 July 1607 and was buried in Caius College Chapel. In his will he left money to Caius College, which was used to build up the north side of the front court of the school.
tragedy
of Richardus Tertius
or Richard III, which was performed at St. John’s College in 1579. This work is alluded to by Harington in his Apologie of Poetry as a famous tragedy of this time, and is believed to be the play Cambridge men asked Lord Burghley’s permission to substitute in 1592-1593 for the English comedy the queen had requested. It is believed that this play was written based on information Legge took from Sir Thomas More’s biography of Richard III. Because of this, Legge created a Richard who was not deformed and bitter at the world that rejected him, like the Richard III
made famous by Shakespeare, but rather an intelligent man with his own motives and agenda who uses everyone around him to get his way. This play appears to be the first real history play written in England, and Legge changed the course of English drama by relying on Holinshed’s chronicles as background to his play. Legge is also believed to have written a play about the Destruction of Jerusalem around 1577 that was taken from him before it could be made public.
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
, prominently known for his play Richardus Tertius
Richardus Tertius
Richardus Tertius is a play written in Latin about King Richard III by Thomas Legge. The play was acted by St. John's College, Cambridge in 1580...
, which is considered to be the first history play written in 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...
.
Biography
Legge was the second of three sons born to Stephen and Margaret Legge in 1535. Originally from NorwichNorwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
, Legge moved to Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
in 1532 where he matriculated to Corpus Christi College
Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Corpus Christi College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. It is notable as the only college founded by Cambridge townspeople: it was established in 1352 by the Guilds of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin Mary...
. Soon after he moved again to attend Trinity College
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
, where he received a B.A. in 1556. He then went on to attend 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...
in 1566, where he received his master's degree. In 1568 Legge became a member of the faculty at Jesus College, Cambridge
Jesus College, Cambridge
Jesus College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The College was founded in 1496 on the site of a Benedictine nunnery by John Alcock, then Bishop of Ely...
, where he was known to be an active tutor and a proponent of the old way of thinking in religious matters. On 27 June 1573 Legge was appointed master of Caius College, taking many students from Jesus College with him when he left. While in office at Caius, Legge stirred up trouble by promoting John Depup, M.A. to a fellowship, which Dr. Caius disagreed with because of Depup's leanings towards Catholic opinions. Legge was also accused of treating letters sent from the queen with contempt, and was charged with misappropriating college funds, a charge that was later settled within the administrative officials of the school. Legge occupied many different positions at Caius, becoming commissary to the university in May of 1579, and spent two separate terms, from 1587-1588 and 1592-1593, as the vice-chancellor. Legge died on 12 July 1607 and was buried in Caius College Chapel. In his will he left money to Caius College, which was used to build up the north side of the front court of the school.
Plays
Legge is best known for his three act LatinLatin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
tragedy
Tragedy
Tragedy is a form of art based on human suffering that offers its audience pleasure. While most cultures have developed forms that provoke this paradoxical response, tragedy refers to a specific tradition of drama that has played a unique and important role historically in the self-definition of...
of Richardus Tertius
Richardus Tertius
Richardus Tertius is a play written in Latin about King Richard III by Thomas Legge. The play was acted by St. John's College, Cambridge in 1580...
or Richard III, which was performed at St. John’s College in 1579. This work is alluded to by Harington in his Apologie of Poetry as a famous tragedy of this time, and is believed to be the play Cambridge men asked Lord Burghley’s permission to substitute in 1592-1593 for the English comedy the queen had requested. It is believed that this play was written based on information Legge took from Sir Thomas More’s biography of Richard III. Because of this, Legge created a Richard who was not deformed and bitter at the world that rejected him, like the Richard III
Richard III (play)
Richard III is a history play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in approximately 1591. It depicts the Machiavellian rise to power and subsequent short reign of Richard III of England. The play is grouped among the histories in the First Folio and is most often classified...
made famous by Shakespeare, but rather an intelligent man with his own motives and agenda who uses everyone around him to get his way. This play appears to be the first real history play written in England, and Legge changed the course of English drama by relying on Holinshed’s chronicles as background to his play. Legge is also believed to have written a play about the Destruction of Jerusalem around 1577 that was taken from him before it could be made public.