His History was set forth with all integrity about a hundred years ago, by his namesake, _Matthew Parker_, (though some asperse it with a suspition of forgery) and afterwards in a latter and more exact Edition, by the care and industry of Doctor _William Wats_, and is at this present in great esteem amongst learned men. * * * * * _WILLIAM RAMSEY_. This _William Ramsey_ was born in _Huntingtonshire_, a County famous for the richest _Benedictines_ Abbey in _England_; yet here he would not stay, but went to _Crowland_, where he prospered so well, that he became Abbot thereof. _Bale_ saith he was a _Natural Poet_, and therefore no wonder if fault be found in the Feet of his Verses; but by his leave, he was also a good Scholar, and Arithmetician enough to make his Verse run in right Numbers. This _William_ wrote the Lives of St. _Guthlake_, St. _Neots_, St. _Edmond_ the King, and divers others, all in Verse, which no doubt were very acceptable and praise-worthy in those times; but the greatest wonder of him, and which may seem a wonder indeed, was, that being a Poet, he paid the vast Debts of others, even forty thousand Marks for the engagement of his Covent, and all within the compass of eighteen Months, wherein he was Abbot of _Crowland_. This was a vast Sum in that Age, and would render it altogether incredible for a Poet to do, but that we find he had therein the assistance of King _Henry_ the Second; who, to expiate the Blood of _Becket_, was contented to be melted into Coyn, and was prodigiously bountiful to many Churches as well as to this. He died about the year 1180. * * * * * _ALEXANDER NEQUAM_. _Alexander Nequam_, the learnedest _Englishman_ of his Age, was born at St. _Albans_ in _Hartfordshire_: His Name in _English_ signifies _Bad_, which caused many, who thought themselves wondrous witty in making Jests, (which indeed made themselves) to pass several Jokes on his Sirname, whereof take this one instance: _Nequam_ had a mind to become a Monk in St. _Albans_, the Town of his Nativity, and thus Laconically wrote for leave to the Abbot thereof; _Si vis, veniam, sin autem, tu autem_. To whom the Abbot returned, _Si bonus sis, venias, si nequam, nequaquam_. Whereupon for the future, to avoid the occasion of such Jokes, he altered his Name from _Nequam_, to _Neckam_. His admirable knowledge in good Arts, made him famous throughout _England_, _France_, _Italy_, yea and the whole World, and that with incredible admiration, that he was called _Miraculum ingenij_, the Wonder and Miracle of Wit and Sapience. He was an exact Philosopher, and excellent Divine, an accurate Rhetorician, and an admirable Poet, as did appear by many his Writings which he left to posterity, some of which are mentioned by _Bale_.