This Alexander was born in Staffordshire, say some; in Somersetshire, say others; for which, each County might strive as being a Jewel worth the owning, being reckoned among the chief of English Poets and Orators of that Age.  He in imitation of Ovid de Fastis, put our Christian Festivals into Verse, setting a Copy therein to Baptista Mantuan.  Then leaving Ovid, he aspired to Virgil, and wrote the History of the Bible, (with the Lives of some Saints,) in an Heroical Poem, which he performed even to admiration; and though he fell short in part of Virgil’s lofty style, yet went he beyond himself therein.  He afterward became Prior of Esseby-Abbey, belonging to the Augustines, and flourished under King Henry the Third, Anno Dom. 1220.

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ROBERT BASTON.

Robert Baston was born not far from Nottingham, and bred a Carmelite Frier at Scarborough in Yorkshire:  He was of such great Fame in Poetry, that King Edward the Second, in his Scotish Expedition pitcht upon him to be the Celebrater of his Heroick Acts; when being taken Prisoner by the Scots, he was forced by Torments to change his Note, and represent all things to the advantage of Robert Bruce, who then claimed the Crown of Scotland:  This Task he undertook full sore against his will, as he thus intimates in the two first Lines.

  In dreery Verse my Rymes I make,
  Bewailing whilest such Theme I take.

Besides his Poem De Belle Strivilensi, there was published of his writing a Book of Tragedies, with other Poems of various Subjects.

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HENRY BRADSHAW.

Henry Bradshaw was born in the City of Chester, and bred a Benedictine Monk in the Monastery of St. Werburg; the Life of which Saint he wrote in Verse, as also (saith my Author) a no bad Chronicle, though following therein those Authors, who think it the greatest Glory of a Nation to fetch their Original from times out of mind.  Take a Taste of his Poetry in what he wrote concerning the Original of the City of Chester, in these words;

  The Founder of this City, as saith Polychronicon,
    Was Leon Gawer, a mighty strong Gyant,
  Which builded Caves and Dungeons many a one,
    No goodly Building, ne proper, ne pleasant.

  But King Leir, a Britain fine and valiant,
  Was Founder of Chester by pleasant Building,
  And was named Guer Leir by the King.

These Lines, considering the Age he lived in, (which Arnoldus Vion saith, was about the Year 1346.) may pass with some praise, but others say he flourished a Century of years afterwards, viz. 1513. which if so, they are hardly to be excused, Poetry being in that time much refined; but whensoever he lived, Bale saith, he was (the Diamond in the Ring) Pro ea ipsa aetate, admodum pius.