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,