Old English Libraries | Page 7

monk named Augustine (c.
650) quotes from Eusebius and Jerome in a work affording many other
evidences of learning.[2] Aileran (c. 660), abbot of Clonard, wrote a
religious work which proves his acquaintance with Jerome, Philo,
Cassian, Origen, and Augustine.[3]
[1] D.C.B. sub nom.
[2] Stokes (G. T.), 221.
[3] Ib. 220.
An Englishman supplies valuable evidence of the state of Irish learning.
Aldhelm's (c. 656-709) works prove him to have had access in England
to a good library; while in one learned letter he compares English
schools favourably with the Irish, and declares Theodore and Hadrian
would put Irish scholars in the shade. Yet he is on his mettle when
communicating with Irish friends or pupils; he clearly reserves for them
the flowers of his eloquence.[1] The Irish schools were indeed
successful rivals of the English schools, and Irish scholars could use
libraries as good, or nearly as good, as that at Aldhelm's disposal. At
this time the attraction which Ireland and Iona had for English students
was extra- ordinary. English crowded the Irish schools, although the
Canterbury school was not full.[2] The city of Armagh was divided into
three sections, one being called Trian- Saxon, the Saxon's third, from
the great number of Saxon students living there.[3]

[1] Haddan, 267.
[2] Hyde, 221.
[3] Joyce, Short Hist of I., 165.
In 664 many English, both high and low in rank, left their native land
for Ireland, where they sought instruction in sacred studies, or an
opportunity to lead a more ascetic life. Some devoted themselves
faithfully to a monkish career. Others applied themselves to study only,
and for that purpose journeyed from one master's cell to another. The
Irish welcomed all comers. All received without charge daily food:
barley or oaten bread and water, or sometimes milk--cibus sit vilis et
vespertinus--a plain meal, once a day, in the afternoon. Books were
supplied, or what is more likely, waxed tablets folded in book form.
Teaching was as free as the open air in which it was carried on.[1]
[1] Bede, H. E., iii. 27; Healy, 101; Stokes (G. T.), 230.
Among the English at one time or another taking advantage of Irish
hospitality were Gildas (c. 540), first native historian of England;[1]
Ecgberht, presbyter, a Northumbrian of noble birth; Ethelhun, brother
of Ethelwin, bishop of Lindsay; Oswald, king of Northumbria; Aldfrith,
another Northumbrian king, who was educated either in Ireland or Iona;
Alcuin, who received instruction at Clonmacnoise;[2] one named
Wictberht, "notable . . . for his learning and knowledge, for he had
lived many years as a stranger and pilgrim in Ireland"; and St.
Willibrord, who at the age of twenty journeyed to Ireland for purposes
of study, because he had heard that learning flourished in that
country.[3]
[1] Camb. Lit., i. 66.
[2] Healy, 272.
[3] Alcuin, Willibrord, c. 4.

Section III
Most of the references we have made above belong to the sixth and
seventh centuries, usually regarded as the best age of Irish monachism.
But the Irish enjoyed their reputation unimpaired for a long time. Just
before and after the Northmen descended on their land in 795, we find
them making their mark abroad, not so much as missionaries but as
scholars and teachers.[17]
[1] See full account, R. H. S. (N. S.), v. 75.
A few instances will suffice. "The Acts of Charles, written by a monk
of St. Gallen late in the ninth century, tells us of two Scots from
Ireland,' who lighted with the British merchants on the coast of Gaul,'
and cried to the crowd, If any man desireth wisdom, let him come unto
us and receive it, for we have it for sale.' They were soon invited to the
court of Charles. One of them, Clement, partly filled the place of
Alcuin as head of the palace school."[1] His reputation soon became
widespread, and the abbot of Fulda sent several of his most capable
monks to him to learn grammar.[2] His companion, Dungal, went on to
Italy. He enjoyed a full share of the learning of his time; was a student
of Cicero and Macrobius; knew Virgil well; and had some Greek.[3] A
few fine books were bequeathed by him to the Irish monastery of Bobio,
where copies were written and distributed through Italy. According to
the learned Muratori, in one of these manuscripts is an inscription
proving Dungal's ownership.[4] One of the books so bequeathed was
the famous Antiphonary of Bangor, now in the Ambrosian library at
Milan.
[1] Sandys, i. 480.
[2] R. H. S. (N. S.), v. 90.
[3] Sandys, i. 480; Stokes (M.) 2, 210.
[4] "Sancte Columba tibi Scotto tuns incola Dungal Tradidit hunc
librum, quo fratrum corda beentur. Qui leges ergo Deus pretium sit
muneris, org."--Healy, 392.
Clement and Dungal were not the only Irishmen of