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.

Petrok, bred in Ireland, fixed himself in Cornwal, after his return, the place of his abode being called Petrok Stow, corruptly Pad-Stow, where many eminent Scholars were brought up under him. He delighted in, and wrote a Book of Solitary Life. He was re∣puted a Saint, and there is a Church at Exeter, dedi∣cated to his Memory.

Gildas the fourth, studied in Ireland. He wrote of the Wonders, and first Inhabitants of Britain, King Arthur, &c. of Perceval and Lancelot. He flourish∣ed 860.

Blegabride, Langauride, a great Scholar, and Dr. of both Laws, was Arch-Deacon of the Church of Landaffe. He to the Honour of his Country, and use of Posterity, Translated the Laws of Howel, the most modest King of Wales, and flourished 914.

Salephilax the Barde, set forth a Genealogy of the Britains, and flourished 920.

Gwalterus Calenius, Arch-Deacon of Oxford, highly prized for his great Learning, went over into Britain in France, and thence retrieved an ancient Manuscript of the British Princes, from Brutus to Cadwalader, and Communicated the same to Jeffrey of Monmouth, to be Translated by him, into Latine. He continued the same Chronicle for 400 years together, till his own time. He flourished 1120. under King Henry 1.

Gualo Britannus, was from his youth a Servant to the Muses, and a lover of Poetry. His Pen fell foul on the Monks, writing invectives against their wanton∣ness, impostures, and covetousness, with such caution, that he incurred no danger thereby. He flourished 1170. under King Henry 2.

William Breton, a great Scholar, and deep Divine, was (as some affirm) a Franciscan at Grimsby in Lin∣coln-shire. He wrote (besides many other Books) an Exposition of all the hard words in the Bible, and such the reputation thereof, that in the Controversie be∣twixt Standish Bishop of St. Asaph, and Erasmus, the former appeals to Breton's Book, about the interpreta∣tion of a place in Scripture. He dyed at Grimsby, an. 1356.

Ʋtred Bolton, travelled to Durham in troublesome times, and there became a Benedictine. The prompt∣ness

and pleasantness of his parts, commended all things that he did or said. Coming to Oxford in the heat of the difference betwixt Wickliffe, and his Adversaries, he agreed in some things with him; Whereupon one Jordan a Dominican falling foul upon him, he expressed himself more openly for Wickliffe, especially in that his smart Book, Pro veris Monachis; With which Jor∣dan was so incensed, that he used his utmost endea∣vour to get Bolton Excommunicated, who flourished under King Richard 2. 1330.

Jo. Gwent, a Franciscan in Oxford, became Provin∣cial of his Order throughout all Britain. He wrote a Learned Comment on Lombard's Common places, and was a man of admirable prudence. He dyed at He∣reford, 1348.

Jo. Ede, a Learned and Religious Man, wrote se∣veral Comments on Aristotle, Peter Lombard, and the Revelation. He was chief of the Franciscans Convent in Hereford, where he was buried, in the Reign of King Henry 4. 1408.

David Boys (in Latine Boethius) studied in Oxford. He procured the Writings of Jo. Barningham, and bestowed them on the Library in Cambridge. He was befriended by Eleanor Cobham, Dutchess of Glocester, whence we collect him at least a parcel-Wickliffite. He wrote (amongst many others) a Book of double Im∣mortality, and another about the madness of the Haga∣rens. He was Prefect of the Carmelities in Glocester, where he dyed 1450.