Background
Dyer, the son of Sir Thomas Dyer, Kt. , was born at Sharpham Park, Glastonbury, Somerset.
- Photos
- Works
- Photos
- Works
Edward Dyer
Edward Dyer was an English courtier and poet.
Education
Dyer was educated, according to Anthony Wood, either at Balliol College or at Broadgates Hall, Oxford.
He left the university without taking a degree.
Career
After some time spent abroad Dyer appeared at Queen Elizabeth’s court. His first patron was the earl of Leicester, who seems to have thought of putting him forward as a rival to Sir Christopher Hatton in the queen’s favour.
He is mentioned by Gabriel Harvey with Sidney as one of the ornaments of the court. Sidney in his will desired that his books should be divided between Fulke Greville (Lord Brooke) and Dyer. He was employed by Elizabeth on a mission (1584) to the Low Countries, and in 1589 was sent to Denmark. In a commission to inquire into manors unjustly alienated from the crown in the west country he did not altogether please the queen, but he received a grant of some forfeited lands in Somerset in 1588.
He was knighted and made chancellor of the order of the Garter in 1596. William Oldys says of him that he “would not stoop to fawn, ” and some of his verses seem to show that the exigencies of life at court oppressed him. He died in 1607.
Achievements
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Dyer had a great reputation as a poet among his contemporaries, but very little of his work has survived. One of the poems universally accepted as his was “My Mynde to me a kingdome is. ” Among the poems in "England’s Helicon" (1600), signed S. E. D. , and included in Dr A. B. Grosart’s collection of Dyer’s works (Miscellanies of the Fuller Worthies Library, vol. iv. , 1876) was the charming pastoral “My Phillis hath the morninge sunne” but this came from the "Phillis" of Thomas Lodge. Grosart also printed a prose tract entitled "The Prayse of Nothing" (1585). The" Sixe Idillia" from Theocritus, reckoned by J. P. Collier among Dyer’s works, were dedicated to, not written by, him.
Works
Connections
- rival:
- Christopher Hatton
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Born
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Died
1607 (aged 63) -
Resting place
Chancel of St Saviour's, Southwark, United Kingdom -
Nationality
United Kingdom
Awards
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Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry and the third most prestigious honour (after the Victoria Cross and George Cross) in England and of the United Kingdom, and is dedicated to the image and arms of St. George as England's patron saint.The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry and the third most prestigious honour (after the Victoria Cross and George Cross) in England and of the United Kingdom, and is dedicated to the image and arms of St. George as England's patron saint.