The Life of Richard Rolle

Richard Rolle, hermit of Hampole, is one of the least known yet most important English mystics, being the forerunner of Walter Hilton and Dame Julian. He is also one of the earliest writers in the vernacular. Originally published in 1928, this volume contains a brief life based on the Legenda and on his own writings. When this book was originally published, it was the first time that his English lyrics and religious poems had been gathered together from manuscript sources and put into modern spelling.

Part 1: The Life 1. Oxford in the Days of Richard Rolle 2. Of the Influence of the Franciscans in Oxford: And of the Friaries and Monastic Houses There 3. The Studies Then Pursued at Oxford 4. Richard Leaves Oxford and Flees From His Father's House to Become a Hermit 5. Richard Dwells with the Daltons - Lives Hardly and is Tempted 6. Richard's Mystical Experiences 7. Of the Union of the Soul with Christ: And How Perfect Love Stands in Heat and Song and Sweetness: And of the Three Degrees of this Love 8. The Sources Upon Which Richard Drew 9. The Latter Days and Death of Richard Part 2: The Lyrics 1. The Manuscripts of Most Importance for the Study of the Lyrics 2. Poems Formerly and Wrongly Ascribed to Rolle 3. The Lyrics Which Are Almost Certainly by Rolle 4. Lyrics on the Theme of the Passion and of the Holy Name 5. On the Theme of the Holy Name 6. Paraphrases and Doubtful Poems.