Dictionary of National Biography. Supplement Volume 1 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1885 Excerpt: ... of Alcuin's works. With his master, Ethelbert, Alcuin travelled, as was the custom then, to find sometliing new of books or studies. On his return he began to assist in the conduct of the school, and an increasing shnre of the labour fell to him when Ethelbert in 767 was raised to the archbishopric of York. On Ethelbert'a resignation in 778 the archbishopric fell to one of his former pupils, Eanbald, who was not consecrated till /80, and the conduct of the school and of the rich library connected with it to Alcuin, with the title ' Magister Scholarum.' Three years later Alcuin, on his return from Rome, whither he had gone to procure the pallium for Eanbald, met Charlemagne at Parma in 781. Of Charlemagne he is said to have had personal knowledge at an earlier date, though there is no decisive evidence of the fact, and on this occasion the great monarch, who was then planning his organised attempt at elevation of literary studies in his empire, pressed Alcuin to take up his residence at Aachen and lend him the aid of his ability and experience. Alcuin, obtaining the permission of his ecclesiastical superior, yielded to the request and settled on the continent under the protection of Charlemagne, where, with the exception of a two years' visit to England (790-792), he remained to the close of his life. He was sent to England in 790 to arrange a renewal of peace between Charlemagne, and Ofl'a, king of Mercia. For the first eight years of his long residence with Charlemagne, Alcuin, handsomely endowed by his patron with the abbevs of Ferrieres, Troves, and St. Martin at Tours, was occupied mainly with the education of the members of the royal family itself. Tin; school of the palace was attended by the sons and other near relatives of the emperor, and not. unf...