Richard Brathwait
Richard Brathwait was a 16th-century English barrister and prolific writer, best known for his contributions to poetry and literature. Born into a landowning family, he inherited his father's manor and initially pursued studies in poetry and Roman history at Oxford, followed by law at Cambridge. After practicing law briefly in London, he dedicated himself fully to writing, moving back to his childhood home in Kendal after his father's death in 1610. His first published work, *The Golden Fleece*, appeared in 1611, showcasing his talent in sonnets and madrigals.
Brathwait's literary legacy includes his most famous work, *Barnabae Itinerarium: Or, Barnabee's Journall*, published in 1638 but not attributed to him until much later. This bilingual piece, originally published under the name "Corymbaeius," gained popularity for its humorous take on travel and social commentary. Additionally, Brathwait was a proponent of women's education and provided advice on social etiquette in his works *The English Gentleman* and *The English Gentlewoman*. He experienced personal tragedies, including the loss of his first wife and his son, who died in battle. Brathwait passed away in 1673, leaving behind a diverse body of work that reflects the social norms and cultural perspectives of his time.
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Richard Brathwait
Poet
- Born: c. 1588
- Birthplace: Kendal, Cumbria, England
- Died: May 4, 1673
- Place of death: Catterick, Yorkshire, England
Biography
Born in sixteenth century England at his father’s manor, which he would inherit upon his father’s death, Richard Brathwait was a barrister and prolific writer. First studying poetry and Roman history at Oxford, he then studied law at Cambridge and briefly practiced in London before devoting himself to poetry and other writings. He moved from London to his childhood home in Kendal, Westmoreland, following his father’s death in 1610. The first published work attributed to Richard Brathwait, a work of sonnets and madrigals, titled The Golden Fleece, appeared in 1611.
He married Frances Lawson in 1617. With his older brother Thomas’s death the following year, Brathwait became head of the family, also serving the county as deputy lieutenant and justice of the peace. The poet’s wife died in 1633, and a 1634 poem in her memory appeared as “Anniversaries upon His Panarete.” Brathwait’s second marriage, in 1639, produced his only son, Sir Strafford Brathwait, who died in a battle at sea with Algerian pirates.
Brathwait’s best-known work was published in 1638 but was not attributed to the writer until more than 150 years after its first publication.Barnabae Itinerarium: Or, Barnabee’s Journall, written in English and Latin rhyme from the perspective of an English traveler, initially appeared under the name “Corymbaeius.” It was not until Joseph Haslewood published the seventh edition in 1818 that Brathwait was credited with authorship. The bilingual verse achieved its greatest popular success during the eighteenth century, when it was reprinted as Drunken Barnaby’s Four Journeys. The work is most often remembered for the lines, “To Bambury came I, O profane one!/ Where I saw a Puritane one/ Hanging of his cat on Monday/ For killing of a mouse on Sunday.”
Brathwait supported the education of women. He is also known for the advice he proffered to men and women on attire, behavior, social graces, and relationships inThe English Gentleman (1630) and its successor, The English Gentlewoman (1631). He died in 1673, after publishing dozens of works over several decades.