Richard Rolle of Hampole

Richard Rolle of Hampole (c. 1300 – 30 September 1349) was an English hermit, mystic, and religious writer known for his influential vernacular works such as Incendium Amoris (The Fire of Love). Born in Thornton, Yorkshire, he withdrew from Oxford to pursue a spiritual life as a hermit and later served as a spiritual director for Cistercian nuns in Hampole, South Yorkshire. He is often considered the first English author due to the lasting impact of his writings on English mysticism.