Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Richard Fastolf
RICHARD, called Fastolf (d. 1143), second abbot of Fountains, was sacristan of St. Mary's Abbey, York, in 1132, when, being anxious to adopt a stricter life, he entered into a bond for that purpose with six other brethren of the house; and this association led to the foundation of the Cistercian convent of Fountains, of which he was one of the original members [see under Richard, (d. 1139)]. On the death of abbot Richard he was chosen to succeed him. It was a time of great prosperity and activity at Fountains, and soon after Richard's election he entered into the strife concerning the election to the see of York which followed the death of Archbishop Thurstan [q. v.] in 1140, and in which the Cistercian order played a conspicuous part. In 1141 he joined William, abbot of Rivaulx, and others in laying a charge of simony against William, the archbishop-elect, in the papal court, later went to Rome in person, and in 1143 maintained before Eugenius II the invalidity of William's election (John of Hexham, cc. 13, 15). He felt the burden of his office too heavy for him, and an infirmity of speech from which he suffered seemed to him to disqualify him for it. Thrice he visited St. Bernard and requested to be allowed to resign the abbacy. At last Bernard consented, on condition that the convent agreed, and he returned to Fountains. The brethren, however, refused their consent, and on 12 Oct. 1143 Richard died while attending a general chapter of the order at Clairvaux. He was buried by St. Bernard, who wrote to the convent announcing the abbot's death. His name appears as of blessed memory in the Cistercian menologium. Leland saw and greatly admired a book of homilies by this Richard, second abbot of Fountains, whom he calls Richard Fastolf (Collectanea, iv. 44). In his work on English writers he says that this second abbot, whom he there calls Richardus Anglicus or Sacrista, was the author of a treatise on harmony; but in his notice of the author's life Leland confuses him with the sixth abbot Richard (d. 1170) [q. v.], at one time precentor at Clairvaux. While, then, it may be assumed that the second abbot Richard was the author of the book of homilies, it is uncertain whether the treatise on harmony is to be ascribed to him or to Richard, third abbot of the name. Neither work is now known to exist.
[Hugh of Kirkstall, ed. Walbran, ap. Memorials of Fountains (Surtees Soc.); St. Bernard's Works, Ep. 320, ed. Migne; John of Hexham, cc. 13, 15, ap. Symeon of Durham, vol. ii. 311, 313 (Rolls Ser.); Leland's Collect. iv. 44, ed. 1770, and Comment. de Scriptt. Brit. p. 194, ed. Hall; Bale's Scriptt. Brit. Cat. cent. xiii. c. 70, p. 150, partly copies Leland; Tanner's Bibl. Brit. p. 624; Wright's Biogr. Lit. ii. p. 316, shows no consciousness of the confusion between the second and third abbot; Henriquez's Menologium Cist. p. 385.]