BRATHWAIT, RICHARD (1588-1673), English poet, son of Thomas Brathwait, was born in 1588 at his father's manor of Burneshead, near Kendal, Westmorland. He entered Oriel college, Oxford, in 1604, and remained there for some years, pur suing the study of poetry and Roman history. He removed to Cambridge to study law and afterwards to London to the Inns of Court. On the death of his elder brother, Sir Thomas, in 1618, Richard became the head of the family and an important person age in the county, being deputy-lieutenant and justice of the peace.
Richard Brathwait's most famous work is Barnabae Itinerarium or Barnabee's Journall (1638), by "Corymbaeus," written in English and Latin rhyme. The title-pa ge says it is written for the "traveller's solace" and is to be chanted to the old tune of "Barnabe." The story of "drunken Barnabee's" four journeys to the north of England contains much amusing topographical in formation, and its gaiety is unflagging. Barnabee rarely visits a town or village without some notice of an excellent inn or a charming hostess, but he hardly deserves the epithet "drunken." At Banbury he saw the Puritan who has become proverbial, Hanging of his cat on Monday For killing of a Mouse on Sunday.
Brathwait's identity with "Corymbaeus" was first established by Joseph Haslewood. In his later years he removed to Catterick, where he died on May 4 1673.
Brathwait wrote many other works, a full bibliography of which is given in Joseph Haslewood's edition of Barnabee's Journall (ed. W. C. Hazlitt, 1876). See also J. Corser, Collectanea (Chetham Soc., 186o, etc.) .