Anglorum speculum, or The worthies of England, in church and state Alphabetically digested into the several shires and counties therein contained; wherein are illustrated the lives and characters of the most eminent persons since the conquest to this present age. Also an account of the commodities and trade of each respective county, and the most flourishing cities and towns therein.

Writers.

Alphred of Beverly, bred in Cambridge, and Trea∣surer of the Convent at Beverly, wrote a Chronicle from Brutus to the time of his own death, which hap∣pened 1136.

W. of Rievaulx, a Monk of Rushford, wrote an Hi∣story of his own Age, and dyed 1146.

St. Ealread, the Pious and Learned Abbot of Ri∣vaulx, was intimate with Dav. King of Scotland, and many persons of prime Quality. He had an active Soul, which he employed for the benefit of the pub∣lick. He is generally accounted the English St. Ber∣nard, and wrote de Virginitate Mariae, de Abusionibus Claustri. He refused several Bishopricks, &c. prof∣fered to him, and dyed 1166. Whose Deacon

Walter Daniel, trod in his Masters foot-steps, and wrote on the same subject, De Virginitate Mariae. He flourished under King Henry 2. and was buried in his own Abbey.

Robert the Scribe, Prefect of the Canons Regulars at Bridlington, was extolled by Erasmus for his fair and fast Writing. Having left many Books to Poste∣rity, he dyed about 1180. and was buried in his Con∣vent.

Peter of Rippon, Canon of that Colledge, wrote a Book of the Life and Miracles of St. Wilfred the Foun∣der thereof. There was a narrow place in his Church, through which chaste persons might easily pass, whilst the incontinent did stick therein. Many suspected per∣sons did prick their credit, who could not thred his

Needle. I confess there might be some such narrow place, the occasion as well as Touch-stone of incontinen∣cy, over which this Inscription had been proper, Aut inveniam aut faciam Libidinosas. The Steeple of this Church was blown down, the fall whereof beat down the Chancel. Peter flourished 1190. under King Richard 1.

W. of Newborough, born at Bridlington, was Canon Regular of Newborough. A fierce little Man. He charged Jeffrey of Monmouth with Forgery, and de∣nies that there ever was such a Man as King A thur, &c. 'Tis said, he was out of humour, because Dav. Prince of Wales denied him the See of St Asaph; So it seems, for William himself can tell an incredible sto∣ry, and therefore its likely, he would not have charg∣ed a Falshood upon another for the sake of Truth only. He affirmeth, That in the place of the slaughter of the English, nigh Battaile in Sussex, if peradventure it be wet with any small showre, presently the Ground thereabouts sweateth forth very Blood, though it be the quality of the Soyl (naturally reddish) and nothing else. He flourished under King John 1200.

Roger Hoveden, of an Illustrious Family, bred in the Study of the Civil and Canon Laws, became a most accomplished Courtier under King Henry 2. He is the chief (if not sole) Lay-Historian of his Age, writing a Chronicle, beginning where Bede ended, con∣tinuing the same until the fourth of King John, by which Chronicle King Edward 1. did partly clear his Title to the Crown of Scotland. He flourished 1204.

Jo. of Halifax, commonly called De Sacro Bosco, was bred in Oxford, then in Paris; the prime Mathe∣matician of his Age. All Students of Astronomy enter into that Art, through the door of his book De Sphae∣râ. He dyed an. 1256.

Robert the Searcher, a Dominican, great Mathema∣tician and Philosopher, is reported to have lighted his Candle at the Devils Torch, to seek after such secrets as he did desire; Witness his Book of Ceremonial Ma∣gick. He flourished under King Edward 2. 1326.

Thomas Castleford, was a Benedictine in Pontfract, whereof he wrote an History, from a Ask a Saxon, the first Proprietor, to the Lacies, from whom that Lordship descended to the Earls of Lancaster. He flourished about 1326.

Jo. Gower, born at Stitenham, of a Knightly Fami∣ly; was first a Student in the Law, then a Poet, and was the first Refiner of the English Tongue; But it seems he was made a Judge in his old Age. He may be called the English Homer, having grown stark blind with Age. He wrote (amongst other Books) Specu∣lum Meditantis in French, Confessio Amantis in English, Vox Clamantis, in Latine. He dyed 1402.

Jo. Marre, born at Marre, bred in Oxford, a Car∣melite of great Learning, was praised by Trithemius and others, chiefly for his writing against J. Wickliffe. He dyed 1407. and was buried in Doncaster.

Thomas Gascoigne, younger Brother to Sir William, Lord Chief Justice, was born at Huntfleet, and bred D. D. in Bal. Colledge in Oxford. He was Commissi∣oner of that University, 1434. He was a great fol∣lower of St. Hierom, whose Life he wrote. He Com∣posed a Theological Dictionary, much esteemed by Divines in that Age. He was 57 years old, an. 1460.

Jo. Harding, Esquire, of ancient Parentage, was bred a Souldier, doing good service at Roxborough-Ca∣stle against the Scots, and following the Standard of King Edward, adhered to him in his deepest distress. He adventured into Scotland, not without the manifest hazard of his Life, where he so cunningly demeaned

himself, that he found there, and fetched thence out of their Records, many Original Letters, which he present∣ed to Edward 4. Out of these he Collected an History of the several Solemn Submissions publickly made, and Oaths of Fealty, publickly taken, from the time of King Athelstan, by the Kings of Scotland, to the Kings of England for the Crown of Scotland, though the Scots affirm that such Homage was only taken for Cum∣berland, and some parcels held of England, on the South of Tweed. He wrote also a Chronicle of the English Kings, from Brutus to King Edward 4. He was living 1461.

Henry Parker, a Carmelite at Doncaster, and D. D. in Cambridge, Preached a Sermon in London, in which he endeavoured to prove, that Christs Poverty was the Pattern of Humane Perfection, and drove the Nail so far, that he was imprisoned by the Bishop of London for the same, and since his Holiness took the Bishops part, Parker thought to recant at Pauls Cross, where he had Preached before. And from this time we may date the decay of the credit of the Carmelites in Eng∣land, moulting their Feathers afterwards, till King Henry 8. cut off their Wings and Bodies Politick. This Parker flourished under Edward 4. 1470.