Richard Lichfield facts for kids
Richard Lichfield was a barber surgeon who lived in Cambridge, England, a long time ago, in the late 1500s and early 1600s. He was known for writing a pamphlet in 1597. This pamphlet strongly criticized another writer named Thomas Nashe. For many years, people thought a different person, Gabriel Harvey, had written it. But now, most experts agree it was really Lichfield's work.
Who Was Richard Lichfield?
Richard Lichfield was not a university professor or student. But he was part of the middle class in Cambridge. He owned property and was well-known in his town. People thought he was quite funny! He liked to make jokes by copying serious speeches. He would even use fake Latin words in a funny way. This kind of humor was popular in Cambridge back then. Other barber surgeons were also good at it.
His Famous Pamphlet
A writer named Thomas Nashe wrote a pamphlet called Have with You to Saffron-Walden in 1596. He dedicated this book to Richard Lichfield. Nashe's dedication was a bit cheeky and disrespectful. After a short time, Lichfield wrote his own answer. It was called The Trimming of Thomas Nashe, Gentleman, and it came out in 1597.
For many years, people thought Gabriel Harvey had pretended to be Lichfield. They believed Harvey wrote the reply to Nashe. However, the way the pamphlet is written does not sound like Harvey's style at all. It seems very much like it was written by Lichfield himself. Today, most people agree that Lichfield was the true author. When Nashe later joked about answering the pamphlet, he did not suggest Harvey wrote it.
Why Is It Important?
Lichfield's pamphlet is interesting to people who study old books and writing. It shares some details about Thomas Nashe's life that we would not know otherwise. It also mentions another writer from Cambridge, Joseph Hall, who was becoming famous for his funny writings.
