(Neckham), an eminent English writer in the 12th and 13th centuries, born at St Albans in Hertfordshire. In 1215 he was made abbot of Exeter, and died in 1227. He wrote several works, which were never published; but they are to be found in manuscript in the libraries of England and other countries.

(Noel) an indefatigable writer of the 17th century, born at Roan in Normandy, 1639. After finishing his studies at Roan, he entered into the order of Dominican friars, and was professed there in 1655. Soon after he went to Paris, to go through a course of philosophy and divinity in the great convent, where he distinguished himself so, that he was appointed to teach philosophy there, which he did for 12 years. Mr Colbert showed him many marks of his esteem; and being determined to omit nothing to perfect the education of his son, afterwards archbishop of Roan, he formed an assembly of the most learned persons, whose conferences upon ecclesiastical history might be of advantage to him. Father Alexander was invited to this assembly, where he exerted himself with so much genius and ability, that he gained the particular friendship of young Colbert, who showed him the utmost regard as long as he lived. These conferences gave rise to Alexander's design of writing an ecclesiastical history; for, being desired to reduce what was material in these conferences to writing, he did it with so much accuracy, that the learned men who composed this assembly, advised him to undertake a complete body of church-history. This he executed with great affluence, collecting and digesting the materials himself, and writing even the tables with his own hand. He at last completed his work in 1686. Towards the latter part of his life, he was afflicted with the loss of his sight; a most inexpressible misfortune to one whose whole pleasure was in study, yet he bore it with great patience and resignation. He died merely of a decay of nature, 1724, in the 86th year of his age.

ALEXANDER Severus, emperor of Rome, succeeded Heliogabalus about A.D. 222, when but 16 years of age. His mother's name was Mammia, and by her advice he in a great measure regulated his conduct. He applied himself to the reformation of abuses, the state having been greatly disordered by the vicious conduct of his predecessor; he was a most strict lover of justice, an encourager of learning and learned men, and favourable to the Christians. He made a successful expedition against the Persians; but endeavouring to reform his troops, which had grown very licentious under the late bad government, they murdered him at the instigation of Maximinus in the 29th year of his age, together with his mother, A.D. 235.

ALEXANDER VI. (Pope), had four bastards when he was cardinal, for one of which he had so great affection, that he stuck at nothing to raise him. Designing to poison some cardinals, he was poisoned himself, A.D. 1503. See Borgia.

ALEXANDER VII. (Pope). See Chigi.

ALEXANDER Bishop of Lincoln in the reigns of Henry I. and Stephen, was a Norman by birth, and nephew of the famous Roger, bishop of Salisbury, who first made him archdeacon of Salisbury, and afterwards, by his interest with the king, raised him to the mitre. Alexander was consecrated at Canterbury, July 22, 1123. Having received his education under his uncle the bishop of Salisbury, and been accustomed to a splendid way of living, he affected show and state more than was suitable to his character, or consistent with his fortunes. This failing excepted, he was a man of worth and honour, and every way qualified for his station. The year after his consecration, his cathedral church at Lincoln having been accidentally burnt down, he rebuilt it, and secured it against the like accident for the future by a stone roof. This prelate increased the number of prebends in his church, and augmented its revenues with several manors and estates. In imitation of the barons and some of the bishops, particularly his uncle the bishop of Salisbury, he built three castles; one at Banbury, another at Sleaford, and a third at Newark. He likewise founded two monasteries; one at Haverholme, for regular canons and nuns together, the other at Tame for white-friars. He went twice to Rome in the years 1142 and 1144. The first time, he came back in quality of the pope's legate, for the calling a synod, in which he published several wholesome and necessary canons. In August 1147, he took a third journey to the pope, who was then in France; where he fell sick through the excessive heat of the weather, and returning with great difficulty to England, he died in the 24th year of his prelacy.

(William), earl of Stirling, an eminent Scots statesman and poet in the reigns of James I. and Charles I. who, after travelling with the duke of Argyle as his tutor or companion, wrote a poetical complaint of his unsuccessful love of some beauty, under the title of Aurora. He then removed to the court of James VI. where he applied to the more solid parts of poetry, forming himself upon the plan of the Greek and Roman tragedians. In 1607, he published some dramatic performances, intitled The Monarchic Tragedies, dedicated to king James; who was so well pleased with them, as to call him his philosophical poet. After this, he is said to have written A Supplement to complete the third part of Sir Philip Sidney's Arcadia; and in 1613, he produced a poem called Doomsday, or the Great Day of Judgment. He was made gentleman-usher to prince Charles, and master of the requests; was knighted; and obtained a grant of Nova Scotia, where he projected the settlement of a colony, but afterward sold it to the French. In 1626, he was made secretary of state for Scotland; Alexander Scotland; was created first viscount, and then earl, of Stirling; and died in 1640.

Alexander I. (St), whom St Irenaeus reckons the fifth bishop of Rome, succeeded St Evaristus in the year 109, and died in the year 119. There is no account of his life; and the epistles which are attributed to him are supposititious.

Alexander II. king of Scotland, succeeded his father William in 1213, at 16 years of age. He made an expedition into England, to oppose the tyranny of king John; who returned the visit, and was offered battle by Alexander, but refused it. He took the city of Carlisle from Henry III., which was afterwards exchanged for Berwick. Alexander died in 1249, in the 51st year of his age, and 35th of his reign; and left for his successor, his son

Alexander III. who was crowned king of Scotland in 1249. The Cummings, lords of Scotland, took arms against him; and taking him prisoner, confined him at Strivingel; but he was afterwards released by his subjects. He married the daughter of Henry III., king of England; and was at length killed by a fall from his horse, on the 10th of April 1290, after having reigned 42, or according to others 37, years.

Alexanders, in botany. See Smyrnium.

Alexandrea, (anc. geog.) a mountain of Myfa, on the sea-coast, forming a part of mount Ida, where Paris gave judgment on the three goddesses.