Robert Bale (monk) facts for kids
Robert Bale (died 1503) was an English Carmelite friar and a very smart scholar. A friar is like a monk, but they often travel and teach. The Carmelites are a special group of Christian religious people. Robert Bale was known for his love of books and learning.
Robert Bale's Life Story
Robert Bale was born in a place called Norfolk, England. When he was very young, he joined the Carmelite monastery in Norwich. A monastery is a place where monks or friars live and study.
Robert loved to learn new things. Because of this, he spent time each year at other Carmelite centers. These were in famous university cities like Oxford and Cambridge. This helped him to become very knowledgeable.
Later, Robert Bale became the prior of the Carmelite monastery at Burnham Norton. A prior is like the leader or head of a monastery. He was highly respected for how much he knew.
Robert Bale also collected many valuable books. He had his own library! When he passed away on November 11, 1503, he left all his books to his monastery. This showed how much he cared about learning and his community.
What Did Robert Bale Write?
Robert Bale wrote several important books during his life. These books helped share his knowledge and the history of his Carmelite order.
- Annales Ordinis Carmelitarum: This book was a history of the Carmelite Order.
- Historia Heliæ Prophetæ: This work was about the prophet Elijah, an important figure in religious history.
- Officium Simonis Angli: This book was about St. Simon Stock. He was the first English Carmelite friar and played a big part in starting the Carmelite Order in England.
