Richard Methley facts for kids

Richard Methley, also known as Richard Firth or Richard Furth, was a special kind of monk who lived a long time ago, from about 1451 to 1527 or 1528. He lived at a place called Mount Grace Priory in Yorkshire, England. People remember him because he wrote many books and also translated other important writings.

Who Was Richard Methley?

Richard Methley was a member of the Carthusian Order, which is a group of monks who live very quiet and simple lives, often in separate cells. They spend their time praying, studying, and working. Methley was born around 1451. We don't know much about his early life, but it seems he might have been born near Leeds in Yorkshire.

Life at Mount Grace Priory

When Richard Methley was about 25 years old, he joined the Carthusian monastery, or "priory," at Mount Grace. A priory is a type of monastery, a place where monks live and worship. He likely spent the rest of his life there, as his writings don't suggest he ever lived in another monastery. He lived a peaceful life dedicated to his faith and his studies.

His Important Writings

Richard Methley wrote mostly for other Carthusian monks. Most of his writings were in Latin, which was the language of scholars and the Church at that time. He also wrote one short letter in Middle English, which was the language spoken in England before modern English. His own original writings that we still have today are mainly from the 1480s. All of his works have been printed in modern books, so people can still read them.

Translating Old Books

One of Methley's big projects was translating important spiritual books. In 1491, he made a Latin translation of a book called The Cloud of Unknowing. He added his own notes, or "glosses," to help explain the text. This translation was for his fellow monk, Thurstan Watson.

He also started translating another book called The Mirror of Simple Souls from Middle English into Latin, again adding his own notes. At the time, he didn't know that the original author of this book, Marguerite Porete, had been in trouble for her ideas.

His Legacy

Richard Methley passed away at Mount Grace Priory. His death was recorded sometime before May 3, 1528, when his name was added to the list of monks who had died that year at a big meeting of the Carthusian Order. His work as a writer and translator helped share important spiritual ideas with others in his time.