Richard of Thetford was a 13th-century English preacher and author. His religious affiliation is uncertain. He may have been a monk of Thetford Priory. In the margin of one manuscript, he is called a canon, which would associate him with the Holy Sepulchre Priory in Thetford., noting that it is just possible that he is the Richardus de Totteford who sold his possessions to Waverley Abbey in 1263. A chaplain named Richard is recorded at the priory in 1247–1248.
Thetford wrote a Latin manual on sermon composition of the type, entitled (Art of Amplifying Sermons).. The translation of the title is from . It was one of the most widely copied of such manuals, being extant in some form in at least 26 manuscripts. In some manuscripts the work is misattributed to Albert the Great. In others, it is combined with other material to form an extended misattributed to Bonaventure. Thetford was also influential, being used by other preacher–writers, including , Olivier de Went, Ranulph Higden and Robert of Basevorn.
is primarily about the eight modes of expanding (dilating) a sermon. His sample text is 1 Corinthians . The eight modes are:
His example etymologies cover Latin, Greek, English and French. He recommends the exemplum as "of great use to layfolk, because ... graphic examples delight them."
References
Bibliography
External links Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 441: Miscellaneous Theological, Penitential, Moral and Didactic Tracts