Richard Rolle of Hampole

Richard Rolle of Hampole , c.1300-c.1349, English religious writer, a Yorkshire hermit. He wrote mainly in Latin, but his English works are important for the history of the language. Some of Rolle's Latin works were translated after his death into English, thus becoming disseminated and influential as popular manuals of spiritual life. The most important of these were De emendatio vitae (tr. The Mending of Life ) and Incendium amoris (tr. into Middle English, The Fire of Love, 1896; same, with modern spelling, 1913; new tr., 1935; the 1896 and 1913 editions include The Mending of Life ). The Form of Perfect Living was composed in English. Besides some English lyrics there is a translation of the Psalms (ed. by H. R. Bramley, 1884) that circulated throughout England. Rolle is often regarded as typical of English mystics (see mysticism ); his writings are characterized by tender, burning love of God and of Jesus and Mary, with constant allusions to sweetness and music; there is much lyrical analogy with human affection. The Pricke of Conscience, a long, devout poem in Northern Middle English, was formerly ascribed to him, but some modern scholars consider his authorship doubtful.

Bibliography: See R. H. Benson, A Book of the Love of Jesus (several editions); F. M. M. Comper, The Life of Richard Rolle with His English Lyrics (1928, repr. 1969).

Rolle, Richard, of Hampole (c.1300–49), one of the principal 14th-cent. English mystical writers, in prose and poetry. He became a hermit and lived at various places in Yorkshire, finally at Hampole near a Cistercian nunnery where he had disciples. Among these was Margaret Kirkeby who became an anchoress and to whom a number of his major English works (notably The Forme of Perfect Living) are addressed. The essential element in his mysticism is personal enthusiasm, rather than the rationalism of the more classical mystical writings. Among the large canon of his works are the Meditations on the Passion, Ego Dormio, and The Commandment of Love. (See Anglo-Latin literature.)