, commonly known by his Latin name of Gul. Neubrigensis, an early English
,
commonly known by his Latin name of Gul. Neubrigensis,
an early English historian, was born at Bridlington in
Yorkshire, in the first year of king Stephen’s reign, 1136,
and educated in the abbey of Newborough, of which he
became a member. Besides the name of Neubrigensis,
which he derived from his abbey, we find him called Parvus,
or “Little;
” but whether this was a surname or nickname,
is somewhat dubious. Tanner notices him under the name
of Petyt; and Nicolson says, that his true surname was
Little; and that he calls himself Petit, or Parvus. Hearne
allows that others called him so but does not remember
where he styles himself so. Mr. Denne thinks it remarkable, that with allusion to himself, he twice uses the word
“Parvitas,
” thereby insinuating how little qualified he
was to discharge the office of a historiographer, or to hastily
form a judgment of the actions of so great a man as
Becket.