Nicholas Udall

Playwright, born in Southampton, Hampshire, S England, UK. He studied at Oxford, and became (c.1534) headmaster of Eton. His dismissal in 1541 for indecent offences did not affect his standing at court, and Edward VI appointed him prebendary of Windsor. He made many classical translations, but is chiefly remembered as the attributed author of the first significant verse comedy in English, Ralph Roister Doister (c.1553, printed 1566).

Nicholas Udall (1504 - December 23, 1556), was an English playwright and schoolmaster, the author of Ralph Roister Doister, regarded by many as the first comedy written in the English language.

Udall was born in Hampshire and was educated at Westminster School and at Corpus Christi College, Oxford. He taught Latin at Eton College, of which he was headmaster from about 1534 until 1541, when he was forced to leave after being convicted under the Buggery Act 1533 for committing sodomy with a pupil.

A Protestant, he flourished under Edward VI and survived into the reign of the Catholic Mary I. He translated part of the Apophthegms of Erasmus, and assisted in the English version of his Paraphrase of the New Testament.

Likewise, he is the author of a Latin textbook utilizing material from his comedy as well as Terence.