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.

Saints.

St. Hilda, Daughter to Prince Hererick, Nephew to Edwin King of Northumberland, lived in a Convent at Strenshalt in this County, and was the Oracle of her Age, being a kind of Moderatrix in a Sax. Synode, held about the Celebration of Easter. The most Learn∣ed English Female before the Conquest, the She-Ga∣maliel, at whose Feet many Learned Men had their Education. This our English * 1.1 Huldah ended her holy life with a hap∣py death, 680.

St. Benedict Biscop, fixed himself in the Dominions of Oswy, King of Northumberland, and built two Mo∣nasteries, the one at the influx of the River Were, the other at that of the River Tine, into the Sea; and stockt them in his life time with 600 Benedictine Monks. He made five Voyages to Rome, and always returned full fraught with Reliques, Pictures and Ceremonies. He left Religion in England, braver, but not better then he found it, the Gawdiness prejudicing the Gravity thereof. His Monastery being but the Romish Tran∣script, became the English Original, to which all Mo∣nasteries in the Land were suddenly conformed. Being struck with the dead Palsie, his Soul retired into the Upper Rooms of his Clay Cottage; much employed in Meditation, until the day of his death, which happen∣ed 703.

St. John of Beverly, born at Harpham, was 33 years and upwards, Arch-Bishop of York, being bred under Hilda aforesaid, and after under Theodorus the Greci∣an, and Arch-Bishop of Canterbury; Venerable Bede (his Scholar) wrote his Life, and supposed Miracles: Being Aged, he resigned his Arch-Bishoprick, and re∣tired to Beverly, where he had Founded a Colledge,

for which he procured the Freedstool (a Sanctuary) from King Athelstan. He dyed May 7. 722. and was bu∣ried in the Porch of his Collegiate Church. A Sy∣node held at London, 1416. assigned the day of his death, an Anniversary Solemnity to his Memory.

Thomas Plantag. was Earl of Darby, Lancaster, Leicester, a popular person, and a great enemy to the two Spencers, Minions to King Edward 2. who being hated as Devils, for their Pride, no wonder if this Thomas was honoured as a Saint or Martyr, by the common sort. Indeed he must be a good Chymist, who can extract Saint out of Malefactor; and our Chro∣nicles generally behold him put to death for Treason against King Edward 2. But let him pass for a Provin∣cial, though no National or Loyal Saint, seeing he did not Travel far enough for Romish, and too far for Eng∣lish Canonization. His (beheaded) Martyrdom hap∣pened at Pontfret, 1322. Note, Lord Herb. in the Life of King Henry 8. speaking of Reliques, (The Bell of St. Guthlack, and the Felt of St. Thomas of Lan∣caster, both Remedies for the Head-ach.) must mean this St. Thomas, seeing there is no other English of the Name, found in any English Martyrology.

Richard Role, (alias Hampole, from the place of his Holy Life, Death and Burial) was a Hermite of strict Life. He wrote many Books of Piety, which I pre∣fer before his Prophetical Predictions, as but a degree above Almanack Prognostications. He threatned the sins of the Nation with future Judgments, and his Predictions, if hitting were heeded, if missing not mark∣ed. Having spoken much against the Covetousness of the Clergy of that Age, he dyed 1349.

Jo. Birlington, born in Birlington, and bred in Ox∣ford, became Canon in the Convent of Birlington, where he grew Eminent for exemplary Holiness. He refu∣sed at first the Office of Prior, counting himself unwor∣thy

thereof, but upon the second proffer accepted of it. 'Tis said Martha and Mary were compounded in him, being as pious, so provident to husband the Revenues of his house to the best advantage; A She-Ancorist accosting him thus, Jesus is my Love, and you so honour him in your heart, that no earthly thing can di∣stract you; He replyed, I came hither to hear from you some saving and savoury discourse, but seeing you begin with such idle talk, farewel. He dyed 1379. being reputed, though (I think) not Canonized a Saint, whose Friend,

W. Slightholme, asked of his friend Jo. aforesaid, what might be the reason the Devil appeared so seldom in their dayes, &c. To whom Jo. replyed, We are grown so remiss in Godliness, that the Devil needs not put himself to such pains, seeing less and lighter Temp∣tations will do the deed. William is reported to have been one of singular Piety, and to have wrought many Miracles at his Tomb, after his death, which happen∣ed 1380.

A certain Maid, resisting the sollicitations of a Bravo, was by him Murdered, her Head being set up on a Yew-Tree, at Horton, called now Halifax. The silly peo∣ple conceited that the Veins, which in form of little threds, spread themselves betwixt the Bark and the Body of the said Tree, were the very Hairs of the Virgins Head, to whom they flocked in Pilgrimage. Note the prevalency of Opinion, Her reputation for be∣ing a Saint is transmitted to Posterity, though her name be lost.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Chron. 34. 12.