2 159. ALCUIN. 685
prime minister of Charlemagne, was born in Yorkshire about 735. He sprang from a noble Northumbrian family, the one to which Willibrord, apostle of the Frisians, belonged, and inherited considerable property, including the income of a monastic society on the Yorkshire coast.1 1 At tender age he was taken to the famous cathedral school at York, and there was educated by his loving and admiring friends, Egbert, archbishop of York (732-76G) and founder of the school, and Ethelbert, its master. With the latter he made several literary journeys on the continent, once as far as Rome, and each time returned laden with MS. treasures, secured, by a liberal expenditure of money, from different mon asteries. Thus they greatly enlarged the library which Egbert had founded.2 In 766 Ethelbert succeeded Egbert in the arch bishopric of York, and appointed Alcuin, who had previously been a teacher, master of the cathedral school, ordained him a deacon, Feb. 2, 767, and made him one of the secular canons of York minster. In 767 he had Liudger for a pupil. Some time between the latter year and 780,3 Ethelbert sent him to Italy on a commission to Charlemagne, whom he met, probably at Pavia. In 780 Ethelbert retired from his see and gave over to Alcuin the care of the library, which now was without a rival in England. Alcuin gives a catalogue of it,4 thus throwing wel come light upon the state of learning at the time. In 780 Alcuin again visited Rome to fetch the pallium for Eanbald, Ethelbert's successor.
On his return he met Charlemagne at Parma (Easter, 781), and was invited by him to become master of the School of the Palace. This school was designed for noble youth, was attached to the court, and held whenever the court was. Charlemagne and his family and courtiers frequently attended its sessions,
1 Vita S. Willibrordi, I. i. (Migne, CI. col. 695). a DC pontificibus et sanctis eccles. Ebor., vv. 1453-56 (CI. col. 841). 8 Mullinger (p. 47) says in 768.
* DC pout, et sanct. eccles- Eb. vers. 1535-1561 (Diimmler, I c. 203, 204; Migne, CI. col. 843 sq.).
686 FOUKTH PERIOD. A. D. 590-1049.
although they could not be said to be regular scholars. The invitation to teach this school was a striking recognition of the learning and ability of Alcuin, and as he perceived the possibilities of the future thus unexpectedly opened to him he accepted it, although the step involved a virtual abnegation of his just claim upon the archiepiscopate of York. In the next year (782), having received the necessary permission to go from his king and archbishop, he began his work. The provi dential design in this event is unmistakable. Just at the time when the dissensions of the English kings practically put a stop to educational advance in England, Alcuin, the greatest teacher of the day, was transferred to the continent in order that under the fostering and stimulating care of Charlemagne he might rescue it from the bondage of ignorance. But the effort taxed his strength. Charlemagne, although he attended his instruction and styles him " his dear teacher," at the same time abused his industry and patience, and laid many very heavy burdens upon him.1 Alcuin had not only to teach the Palatine school, which ne cessitated his moving about with the migratory court to the serious interruption of his studies, but to prepare and revise books for educational and ecclesiastical uses, and in general to superintend the grand reformatory schemes of Charlemagne. How admira bly he fulfilled his multifarious duties, history attests. The famous capitulary of 787,2 which Charlemagne issued and which did so much to advance learning, was of his composition. The Caroline books,3 which were quite as remarkable in the sphere of church life, were his work, at least in large measure. For his pecuniary support and as a mark of esteem Charlemagne gave him the monasteries of St. Lupus at Troyes and Bethlehem at Ferrieres, and the cell of St. Judecus on the coast of Picardy
1 On this ground Guizot (I. c. 246-7) explains in part Alcuin's frequent ex pressions of weariness.
2 There is an English translation in Guizot, I. c. 237, and in Mullinger, 97-99.
3 See pp. 465 sqq.