2 107. RABANUS MAURUS. 723
(6) Ecclesiastical discipline.1 The last two treatises, made during the author's archiepiscopate, are merely extracts from the Institutes, with slight alterations.
(7) The parts of the human body, in Latin and German.2 This glossary was drawn up by Walahfrid Strabo from Raban's lectures. At the end are the months and the winds in Latin and German.3
(8) The invention of languages4 [letters], a curious collection of alphabets — Hebrew-, Greek, Latin, Scythian and Runic, with the names of the supposed inventors. The little tract also in cludes the commonest abbreviations and monograms.
III. OCCASIONAL writings, i. e., upon current questions and in answer to questions. (1) The oblation of boys,5 the famous treatise in which Raban argued against the position the Mainz Council of 829 had taken in allowing Gottschalk to leave his order. Gottschalk produced two arguments, the first that it was not right to compel a person to remain a monk just be cause his parents had in his infancy or immature youth put him in a monastery. The second was that the oblation of a minor must be established by a properly qualified witness, and that in his case only Saxons could give such testimony, since, according to Saxon law, it was illegal to deprive a Saxon of his liberty on the testimony of a non-Saxon. Raban tries to refute him upon both points. He shows that both the Scriptures and the Fathers by precept and example allow of the consecration of children, and in relation to the second point he rejoins : " As if the service of Christ deprived a man of his liberty
1 De ecclesiastica disciplina libri ires, CXII. col. 1191-1262.
2 Glosses latino-barbaricce de partibus humani corporis, ibid. col. 1575-1578.
3 There are also extant a few words from his Latin-German glossary to the Bible, ibid. col. 1583. Cf. Steinmeyer u. Sievers, Die althochdeutschen Glossen gesammelt u. bearbeitet, Berlin, 1879 (I. 3 sqq.) ; quoted by Ebert, /. c. 127.
4 De inventions linyunrum, Migne, CXII. col. 1579-1584.
5 Liber de oblatione puerorurn, CVII. col. 419-440.
724 FOURTH PEKIOD. A. D. 509-1049.
and nobility ! " l But the real objection to Gottschalk's second argument was the latter's assertion that Frankish testimony could not be received. This roused Raban's patriotism and incited his eloquence. " Who does not know," he says, " that the Franks were Christians long before the Saxons ? Yet the latter, contrary to all human and divine law, arrogate to them selves the right to reject Frankish testimony." 2 Having thus answered Gottschalk, he proves by the Bible his third argu ment, that a vow to God must not be broken. His final point is that monasticism is a divine institution. In this treatise he does not name Gottschalk, but the reference is unmistakeable. His whole conduct towards the unfortunate Gottschalk was intolerant.
(2) The reverence of children to their parents, and of subjects to their king.3 This was addressed to Louis the Pious after his deposition and imprisonment in the year 833. By Biblical quotations he shows that God has commanded children to honor their parents and subjects their kings, and has put his curse upon those who do not. Then coming directly to the point he makes the application to the existing circumstances, and calls the sons of Louis to obedience. He defends Louis against the charge of homicide in executing Bernard ; and finally address ing the emperor he comforts him in his sorrow and counsels him to exercise clemency when he is restored to power. The whole treatise does great credit to Raban's head and heart.
(3) On the degrees of relationship within which marriage is permissible.4
(4) Magic arts.4 Raban was singularly free from the super-
1 Quasi illi libertalem ac nobilitatem generis sui perdant qui serviiium Christi profitentur. CVII. col. 431.
2 Ibid. col. 432.
3 De reverentia filiorum erga patres et subditorum erga reges. Cf. Ebert, 1. c. 139, 140.
4 De consanguineorum nuptiis et de magorum prcestigiis falsisque divinationibus tractatits, OX. col. 1087-1110.