an English Carmelite friar and scholar. Bale was a native of Norfolk, and when very young entered the Carmelite monastery at Norwich. Having a great love of learning, he spent a portion of every year in the Carmelite priories at Oxford or Cambridge. He became prior of the monastery of his order at Turnham Norton. Bale enjoyed a high reputation for learning, and collected a valuable library, which he bequeathed to his priory upon his death.
