_Est tibi gamba capri, crus passeris, & latus Apri, Os leporis, catuli nasus, dens & gena Muli, Frons vetulae, tauricaput, & color undique Mauri, His argumentis quibus est argutia Mentis, Quod non a Monstro differs, satis hic tibi monstro._ Gamb'd like a Goat, Sparrow-thigh'd, sides as a Boar, Hare-mouth'd, Dog-nos'd, like Mule thy teeth and chin, Brow'd as old wife, Bull headed, black as a _More_, If such without, then what are you within? By these my signs the wife will easily conster, How little thou does differ from a Monster. This _Michael_ flourished in the time of King _John_, and _Henry_ the Third. * * * * * _MATTHEW PARIS_. _Matthew Paris_ is acknowledged by all to be an _Englishman_ saving only one or two wrangling Writers, who deserve to be arraigned of Felony for robbing our Country of its due; and no doubt _Cambridgeshire_ was the County made happy by his birth, where the Name and Family of _Paris_ is right ancient, even long before they were setled therein at _Hildersham_, wherein they still flourish, though much impaired for their Loyalty in the late times of Rebellion. He was bred a Monk of St. _Albans_, living in that loose Age a very strict and severe life, never less idle than when he was alone; spending those hours, reserved from Devotion, in the sweet delights of Poetry, and laborious study of History, in both which he excelled all his Contemporaries: His skill also was excellent in Oratory and Divinity, as also in such manual Arts as lie in the Suburbs of the liberal Sciences, Painting, Graving, _&c._ so that we might sooner reckon up those things wherein he had no skill, as those wherein he was skilled: But his _Genius_ chiefly disposed him for the writing of Histories, writing a large Chronicle with great Commendations from the _Norman_ Conquest to the Year of our Lord 1250. where he concludes with this Distich: _Sifte tui metas studij_, Matthaee, _quietas_ _Nec ventura petas, quae postera proferat atas._ Matthew, here cease thy Pen in peace, and study on no more, Nor do thou rome at things to come, what next Age hath in store. Yet, notwithstanding this resolution, he afterwards resumed that Work, continuing it to the Year 1259. a History impartially and judicially written, neither flattering any for their Greatness, nor sparing others for their Vices, no not so much as those of his own Profession; yet though he had sharp Nails, he had clean Hands, strict in his own, as well as linking at the loose conversation of others, and for his eminent austerity, was imployed by Pope _Innocent_ the Fourth, not only to visit the Monks in the Diocess of _Norwich_ but also was sent by him into _Norway_, to reform the Discipline in _Holui_, a fair Covent therein, but much corrupted.