Peele

Peele, George (c. 1558-98), dramatist, was the son of James Peele, Clerk of Christ's Hospital. He was a student of Christ Church, Oxford, from 1574 to 1579, taking his master's degree in the latter year. Already a noted poet at the university, he now proceeded to London, and in 1584 published The Arraignment of Paris - a. pastoral comedy, interspersed with songs - which was written for representation before the queen. Its highest merits are ready wit, ingenious fancy, and elegant versification - qualities which may also be claimed for Edn-ard I. (1593), The Old Wires' Tale (1595), and David and Bethsabe (1599), although a tendency to bombast is always apparent. In London Peele led a wild, dissipated life, and seems to have been often reduced to extreme poverty. He died of a disease brought on by his vicious habits in 1598.