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.

Since the Reformation.

Jo. Rastal, Printer, undertook to prove Purgato∣ry by Reason. He was a Good Mathematician, and made a Comedy of Europe, Asia and Africa. He wrote a Book against Jo. Frith, (which he af∣terwards recanted) and a Book of the Terms of the Law, and an Index to J. Fitz-Herbert. He was Fa∣ther to Rastal the Famous Lawyer. He died and was buried at London 1536.

Edw. Hall, bred in K. College, became a Judge in the Sheriffs Court. He wrote an elegant Hist. of the Warrs of York and Lanc. He died 1547, and was buried in St. Sithes Church.

Will. Fulke, D. D. and Marg. Professor in Camb. when Young wrote a Book of Meteors. Being a solid Divine he confuted the Rhemish Translation of the Bible. He died 1589.

Edm. Spencer, bred in Camb. A great Poet who imitated Chaucer, 'Tis said that he presented

Q. Eliz. with a Poem, with which she was so well pleased, that she commanded the Lord. Treasurer Cecil to give him 100 l. and when he alledged that Sum was too much, then give him, (Quoth the Q.) what is Reason, but being delayed he presented these Lines to the Queen:

I was promised on a time To have Reason for my Rhyme; From that time unto this Season, I receiv'd nor Rhyme nor Reason.

Hereupon the Q. gave strict Order for the present payment of 100l. He was afterwards Secretary to the Lord Gray, Deputy of Ireland. He was an Excel∣lent Linguist, Antiquary, Philosopher, Mathema∣tician, yet so poor (as being a Poet) that he was thought Fami non Famae scribere. Returning into England, he was robb'd by the Rebels of that lit∣tle he had, and dying for Grief in great Want 1598, was honourably buried nigh Chancer in Westminster. The expence of his Funeral and Mo∣nument was defrayed at the sole charge of Rob. first of that Name, E. of Essex.

Jo. Stow, bred at learning no higher then a good Grammar-Scholar, became an useful Historian; and very accurate in the Notation of Time. Besides his Chron. of England, he hathwritten a large Sur∣vey of London. He died 1605, and lyeth buried in the Quire of St. Andr. Undershaft. There was a∣nother of his Name, a Monk of Norwich, 1440.

Giles Fletcher, equally loved of the Muses and Graces, wrote a Poem entitled Christs Victory. Ha∣ving commenced D. D. he became Preacher first in St. Maries, then in Suff. where being flighted by his clownish Parishioners he fell into Melancho∣ly

and died (in a short time) 162. His Brother Phineas of Cambridge wrote an excellent Poem called The Purple Island, &c.

Jo. Donne, a Man of excellent Wit, large Tra∣vail and choice Experience, in his reduced Age be∣came D. D. and Dean of St. Pauls. He died 1631. and lyeth buried in St. Pauls. His Life is written by Mr. Isaac Walton.