And Master Alisander that Chanon was er
  Imaked was of Gloucestre Abbot thulk yer. 
    Viz. 7 Reg.  Regis Johannis.

But this may be understood of Alexander Theologus, who was contempory with him:  and was Abbot of St. Maries in Cirencester at the time of his death.

Bishop Godwin, in his Catalogue of the Bishops of Lincoln, maketh mention of a passage of wit betwixt him and Phillip Repington Bishop of Lincoln, the latter sending the Challenge.

  Et niger & Nequam cum sis cognomine Nequam,
  Nigrior esse potes, Nequior esse nequis.

  Both black and bad, whilest Bad the name to thee,
  Blacker thou may’st, but worse thou canst not be.

To whom Nequam rejoyned,

  Phi not a foetoris, Lippus malus omnibus horis,
  Phi malus & Lippus, totus malus ergo Philippus.

  Stinks are branded with a Phi, Lippus Latin for blear-eye,
  Phi and Lippus bad as either, then Philippus worse together.

A Monk of St. Albans made this Hexameter allusively to his Name: 

  Dictus erat Nequam, vitam duxit tamen aquam.

The Elogy he bestoweth on that most Christian Emperor Constantine the Great, must not be forgot: 

  From Colchester there rose a Star,
  The Rays whereof gave Glorious Light
  Throughout the world in Climates far,
  Great Constantine, Romes Emperor bright.

He was (saith one) Canon of Exeter, and (upon what occasion is not known,) came to be buried at Worcester, with this Epitaph,

Eclipsim patitur Sapientia, Sol sepelitur, Cui si par unus, minus esset flebile funus; Vir bene discretus, & in omni more facetus, Dictus erat Nequam, vitam duxit tamen aequam.

  Wisdom’s eclips’d, Sky of the Sun bereft;
  Yet less the loss if like alive were left;
  A man discreet, in matters debonair,
  Bad Name, black Face, but Carriage good and fair.

Yet others say he was buried at St. Albans (where he found repulse when living, but repose when dead) with this Epitaph,

Alexander, cognomento Nequam, Abbas Cirecestriae, Literarum scientia clarus, obiit Anno Dom. 1217. Lit.  Dom.  C. prid.  Cal.  Feb. & sepultus erat apud Fanum S. Albani, sujus Animae propitietur altissimus, Amen.

* * * * *

ALEXANDER ESSEBIE.