SKETCH

OF THE

PROGRESS OF KNOWLEDGE,

&c. &c.

THE conversion of the Saxons, to christianity, contributed in no trifling degree, to promote the interest of learning, among them. It has been already remarked that their ancient religion was, in its ceremonies, cruel and sanguinary; gross, and irrational in its principles, and had a tendency to inspire them with a brutal contempt of death, and a savage delight in war; with such a religion, they could not have been capable of either civility or learning, but by their conversion they soon acquired both.

Hence they necessarily established a communication with Rome, and acquired a familiarity with the latin language; during this period, likewise, great numbers of them, travelling there in search of religious truth, distinguished themselves by their zeal or industry, and while they gratified their devotion, undesignedly and imperceptibly, they became acquainted with useful sciences.

In spite of obstacles, and discouragements, which they had to contend with, in consequence of the ignorance of the age, and the perpetual wars and confusions of the Heptarchy, there flourished, in England, a set of men whose names have been justly handed down, as deserving respectful remembrance.

Among the chief of those was Aldhelm, a Saxon of illustrious descent, who had acquired an uncommon stock of know

ledge, and became famous for his learning, not only in England, but in foreign countries. He is acknowledged, on all hands, to have been the first, in England, who composed, in latin, both in prose and verse; he was likewise no contemptible writer in the Greek language, he was the author of several treatises on various subjects, among which are some on music, arithmetic and rhetoric.

The great luminary of England, in the eighth century was Bede, emphatically styled the venerable by his cotemporaries. He was the first who made a regular ecclesiastical history; and though he has inserted in it many legendary stories of miracles, and fables, yet it is a valuable work; as his history professedly treats of ecclesiastical affairs, he has recorded few civil transactions: there is much perspicuity and facility in his latin style. Neither was his knowledge confined to church, history and divinity. He was the author of treatises on grammar, arithmetic, music, astronomy, chronology, natural philosophy, ethics, &c. Those treatises, it is true, when compared with the enlightened productions of modern ages, will be found very imperfect, notwithstanding, they prove him to have had an uncommon genius and application; in short if we consider the times in which he flourished, and the disadvantages under which he laboured, we must confess that Bede was one of the most learned and ingenious men of the age in which he lived.

His works, which were published at Cologne in the year 1612, in eight volumes folio, consist of no fewer than one hundred and thirty-nine pieces; he was likewise the author of many others, some of which have been published, and others still remain in manuscript.

Egbert, Archbishop of York, was a learned prelate for his time, and a great collector of books, as well as a patron of learning, the library which he founded at York, is said to have been replenished with a variety of latin and greek books.

Benedict Biscop, was a learned Saxon ecclesiastic of the

seventh century, he adorned his church of Weremouth, with an ample library, which was stored with greek and latin volumes, brought by him from Italy.

Acca, Bishop of Hexham, adorned the church of that See, with a valuable library, of both greek and latin authors, together with ecclesiastical treatises, which he had collected with infinite labour. He wrote several theological works.

In the beginning of this period, two princes flourished, who ought not to be here forgotten, although had they lived in more enlightened ages, would scarcely deserve to be mentioned.

The first was Sigebert, king of the East Angles, who, from his having lived some time among the Franks or French, and been by them converted to christianity, had acquired an understanding and a taste superior to his cotemporaries. When settled on the throne, he not only set about the restoration of the purity of religion in his dominions, but proceeded to other reformations; he founded schools for the instruction of youth in the languages, and such other literature as was then known; after the model of those which he had seen in France. Sigebert has, by some, been thought, but without sufficient reason, to have been the founder of the University of Cambridge. He ended his reign by a superstitious act, which was then very prevalent; for we are informed that, in the year 725, he retired into a cloister.

The next prince who is worthy our attention, is Ina, king of Wessex, or the West Saxons: he succeeded to the crown, says William of Malmesbury, rather through the merits of personal virtue, than the strength of royal descent; he was the first of legislators in his time, and is particularly distinguished as being the first Anglo Saxon monarch who regularly summoned a great council, in order to enact laws for the better government of his kingdom. The institutes of this illustrious prince, some of which related to the church,

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and others to the state, continued in force a long time, and were of so salutary a nature, as to become the foundation of the code established by Alfred. Ina introduced, into his kingdom, that odious tax called Peter's Pence, which afterwards spread itself through all England; we read, likewise, that, about forty years after his accession to the throne, he ended his life in a monastery at Rome.

A man who contributed in a great degree to the introduction and improvement of learning in this country, and who, on that account, deserves notice, was Theodore, Archbishop of Canterbury, and a native of Tarsus, one of the most learned men of the age in which he lived. He erected schools, in order to teach geometry, arithmetic, music, the languages and astronomy, which were so successfully taught, that Bede informs us that he had conversed with some persons who understood the greek and latin languages equally as well as their native language. The design of Theodore was, by promoting the interest of useful learning amongst the Saxons, to further more effectually that of the catholic religion. This was a noble and generous method of executing his purpose.

Ceolfrid, Abbot of Weremouth and Iarow, was a divine who acquired a great degree of literary excellence. His principal works are his Dissertation on the clerical Tonsure, and the Rights of celebrating Easter. He likewise wrote an Account of his Travels into France and Italy. Ceolfrid enriched the library at Weremouth with some valuable manuscripts.

Tobias, Bishop of Rochester, was a prelate of considerable learning; but one of the greatest ornaments of the eighth century was Alcuinus, or Alcuine, librarian and pupil to Egbert, Archbishop of York: his abilities were held in the highest estimation, even on the continent; and he was invited into France by Charlemagne, in order to superintend the studies of that prince, whom he instructed in rhetoric, logic, mathematics, divinity and astronomy, and soon became one of

the emperor's principal favorites. Alcuinus was a great contributor towards the revival of learning in France; many seminaries were established in different parts of that country under his inspection. He has been thought, by some, to have been the founder of the University of Paris, but this is not suffi ciently authenticated: certain it is, however, that Alcuinus was one of the brightest luminaries of bis time. He is said to have first advised the venerable Bede, to write his Ecclesiastical History, and to have been greatly instrumental in furnishing materials for that authentic record of our antiquities. Alcuinus was an eminent scholar in the greek, latin and hebrew languages, he composed numerous treatises on music, logic, rhetoric, astronomy and grammar, together with homilies, lives of saints, commentaries on the Bible, epistles and verses, which are written in a style of purity and elegance, much superior to that of the generality of writers in the age in which he lived.

We now turn our eyes upon the writers of history; those were few, and except Bede, few of them are mentioned, as having attained to any degree of merit.

Eddius, however, composed the life of Wilfred, bishop of York, in a better taste of language than had hitherto been customary.

Wolstan, a monk of Winchester, wrote the life of King Ethelwolf.

Asser, or Asserius, composed an account of the life and actions of his royal patron, King Alfred; and, though he, perhaps, has not written with the elegance of more modern times, yet his work, for which we are indebted chiefly for our knowledge of the character and actions of the great Alfred, is far above what could be expected from the rudeness of the age in which he lived.

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A few others occur at those periods, who had little to distinguish them.