Nicholas Udall

Nicholas Udall, or Uvedale, was buried in St Margaret's Church Westminster on 23rd December 1556 but he has no gravestone or memorial. He was Head Master of Westminster School from December 1555.

He was born in late 1504 in Southampton but nothing is known of his family. He was educated at Winchester College and Oxford university. Udall and his friend John Leland contributed to Anne Boleyn's coronation pageant. From 1534 he was Head Master at Eton College near Windsor where he was known as 'the greatest beater of his time' for punishments he gave out to the boys. He also served as vicar of Braintree in Essex and was Canon of Windsor from 1551-1554. He published several tracts and translations including a medical text. But he is remembered mainly for his comedy Ralph Roister Doister. During his time at Westminster at least one of his scholars had to seek sanctuary at Westminster, for killing another boy who sold books at Westminster Hall.