2 159. ALCUIN. 687
(St. Jossc sur mcr). But tlie care of these only added to his burdens. In 789 he went to England on commission from Charlemagne to King Offa of Mercia, and apparently desired to remain there. Thence in 792 he sent in the name of the Eng lish bishops a refutation of image-worship. But in 793 Charle magne summoned him to his side to defend the church against the heresy of Adoptionism and image- worship, and he came. In 794 he took a prominent part, although simply a deacon, in the council of Frankfort, which spoke out so strongly against both, and in 799, at the council of Aachen, he had a six days' debate with Felix, the leader of the Adoptionists, which resulted in the latter's recantation. In his negotiations with the Adop tionists he had the invaluable aid of the indefatigable monk, Benedict of Nursia. In 796, Charlemagne gave him in addition to the monasteries already mentioned that of St. Martin at Tours and in 800 those of Cormery and Flavigny. The mon astery of Tours l owned twenty thousand serfs and its revenue was regal. To it Alcuin retired, although he would have pre ferred to go to Fulda.2 There he did good work in reforming the monks, regulating the school and enlarging the library. His most famous pupil during this period of his life was Rabanus Maurus. In the year of his death he established a hospice at Duodecim Pontes near Troyes ; and just prior to this event he gave over the monastery of Tours .to his pupil Fredegis, and that of Ferrieres to another pupil, Sigulf. It is remarkable that he died upon the anniversary on which he had desired to die, the Festival of Pentecost, May 19, 804. He was buried in the church of St. Martin, although in his humility he had requested to be buried outside of it.
One of his important services to religion was his revision of the Vulgate (about 802) by order of Charlemagne, on the basis of old and correct MSS., for he probably knew little Greek and no Hebrew. This preserved a good Vulgate text for some time.
1 Already spoken of in connection with Gregory of Tours. * See the old life of Alcuin, cap. VIII. in Migne, C. col. 98.
688 FOUKTH PERIOD. A. D. 590-1049.
Alcuin was of a gentle disposition, willing, patient and hum ble, and an unwearied student. He had amassed all the treas ures of learning then accessible. He led his age, yet did not transcend it, as Scotus Erigena did his. He was not a deep thinker, rather he brought out from his memory the thoughts of others. He was also mechanical in his methods. Yet he was more than a great scholar and teacher, he was a leader in church affairs, not only on the continent, but, as his letters show, also in England. Charlemagne consulted him continually, and would have done better had he more frequently followed his advice. Particularly is this true respecting missions. Alcuin saw with regret that force had been applied to induce the Saxons to sub mit to baptism. He warned Charlemagne that the result would be disastrous. True Christians can not be made by violence, but by plain preaching of the gospel in the spirit of love. He would have the gospel precepts gradually unfolded to the pagan Saxons, and then as they grew in knowledge would require from them stricter compliance. Alcuin gave similar council in regard to the Huns.1 His opinions upon other practical points2 are worthy of mention. Thus, he objected to the employment of bishops in military affairs, to capital punishment, to the giving up of persons who had taken refuge in a church, and to priests following a secular calling. He was zealous for the revival of preaching and for the study of the Bible. On the other hand he placed a low estimate upon pilgrimages, and preferred that the money so spent should be given to the poor.3
WRITINGS. — The works of Alcuin are divided into nine classes.
I. LETTERS.* A striking peculiarity of these letters is their address. Alcuin and his familiar correspondents, follow-
1 He requested advice on this point from Paulinus of Aquileia. See p. 68L
2 Froben in his life of Alcuin, cap. XIV., gives his doctrinal position at length. Migne, col. I c. 82-90.
8 For the proof of the statements in this paragraph see Neander, III. passim. * EpistoloR, Migne, C. col. 139-512.