Robert Roche

Robert Roche (1576 - 12 May 1629) was an English poet.

Life
Roche was a native of Somerset. He was admitted in November 1594, aged 18, to Magdalen Hall, Oxford, where he earned a B.A. 9 June 1599.

In 1617 he was presented to the vicarage of Hilton in Dorset, where he remained vicar until his death.

Family
Roche's son Robert graduated B.A. from Magdalen Hall, 23 Jan. 1630, and became vicar of East Camel.

Writing
Roche was author of ''Eustathia; or, The constancie of Susanna: Containing the Preservation of the Godly, Subversion of the Wicked, Precepts for the Aged, Instructions for Youth, Pleasure with Profitte … Dominus mea rupes. Printed at Oxford by Joseph Barnes, and are to be sold in Paules Churchyard at the Sign of the Bible,’ 1599, b.l. 8vo. It contains 74 pages of what the Dictionary of National Biography calls "didactic doggerel," of which a long specimen is given in Dr. Bliss's edition of Wood's ‘Athenæ,’ on the ground of its extreme rarity. The only copy known is in the Bodleian; it once belonged to Robert Burton.''

Recognition
A Latin inscription in the aisle of Hilton church marks the common grave of Roche and a successor vicar, John Antram; an English quatrain is appended.