CONCERNING THE PIETY OF CHARLES AND HIS CARE OF THE CHURCH
After the omnipotent ruler of the world, who orders alike the fate of
kingdoms and the course of time, had broken the feet of iron and clay in
one noble statue,[54] to wit the Romans, he raised by the hands of the
illustrious Charles the golden head of another, not less admirable,
among the Franks. Now it happened, when he had begun to reign alone in
the western parts of the world, and the pursuit of learning had been
almost forgotten throughout all his realm, and the worship of the true
Godhead was faint and weak, that two Scots came from Ireland to the
coast of Gaul along with certain traders of Britain. These Scotchmen
were unrivalled for their skill in sacred and secular learning: and day
by day, when the crowd gathered round them for traffic, they exhibited
no wares for sale, but cried out and said, "Ho, everyone that desires
wisdom, let him draw near and take it at our hands; for it is wisdom
that we have for sale."
Now they declared that they had wisdom for sale because they said that
the people cared not for what was given freely but only for what was
sold, hoping that thus they might be incited to purchase wisdom along
with other wares; and also perhaps hoping that by this announcement they
themselves might become a wonder and a marvel to men: which indeed
turned out to be the case. For so long did they make their proclamation
that in the end those who wondered at these men, or perhaps thought them
insane, brought the matter to the ears of King Charles, who always loved
and sought after wisdom. Wherefore he ordered them to come with all
speed into his presence and asked them whether it were true, as fame
reported of them, that they had brought wisdom with them. They answered,
"We both possess it and are ready to give it, in the name of God, to
those who seek it worthily." Again he asked them what price they asked
for it; and they answered, "We ask no price, O king; but we ask only for
a fit place for teaching and quick minds to teach; and besides food to
eat and raiment to put on, for without these we cannot accomplish our
pilgrimage."[55]
This answer filled the king with a great joy, and first he kept both of
them with him for a short time. But soon, when he must needs go to war,
he made one of them named Clement reside in Gaul, and to him he sent
many boys both of noble, middle and humble birth, and he ordered as much
food to be given them as they required, and he set aside for them
buildings suitable for study. But he sent the second scholar into Italy
and gave him the monastery of Saint Augustine near Pavia, that all who
wished might gather there to learn from him.
2. But when Albinus (Alcuin), an Englishman, heard that that most
religious Emperor Charles gladly entertained wise men, he entered into a
ship and came to him.[56] Now Albinus was skilled in all learning beyond
all others of our times, for he was the disciple of that most learned
priest Bede, who next to Saint Gregory was the most skilful interpreter
of the scriptures. And Charles received Albinus kindly and kept him at
his side to the end of his life, except when he marched with his armies
to his vast wars: nay, Charles would even call himself Albinus's
disciple; and Albinus he would call his master. He appointed him to rule
over the abbey of Saint Martin, near to the city of Tours: so that, when
he himself was absent, Albinus might rest there and teach those who had
recourse to him. And his teaching bore such fruit among his pupils that
the modern Gauls or Franks came to equal the ancient Romans or
Athenians.
3. Then when Charles came back, after a long absence, crowned with
victory, into Gaul, he ordered the boys whom he had entrusted to Clement
to come before him and present to him letters and verses of their own
composition. Now the boys of middle or low birth presented him with
writings garnished with the sweet savours of wisdom beyond all that he
could have hoped, while those of the children of noble parents were
silly and tasteless. Then the most wise Charles, imitating the judgment
of the eternal Judge, gathered together those who had done well upon his
right hand and addressed them in these words: "My children, you have
found much favour with me because you have tried with all your strength
to carry out my orders and win advantage for yourselves. Wherefore now
study to attain to perfection; and I will give you bishoprics and
splendid monasteries, and you shall be always honourable in my eyes."
Then he turned severely to those who were gathered on his left, and,
smiting their consciences with the fire of his eyes, he flung at them in
scorn these terrible words, which seemed thunder rather than human
speech: "You nobles, you sons of my chiefs, you superfine dandies, you
have trusted to your birth and your possessions and have set at naught
my orders to your own advancement: you have neglected the pursuit of
learning and you have given yourselves over to luxury and sport, to
idleness and profitless pastimes." Then solemnly he raised his august
head and his unconquered right hand to the heavens and thus thundered
against them, "By the King of Heaven, I take no account of your noble
birth and your fine looks, though others may admire you for them. Know
this for certain, that unless you make up for your former sloth by
vigorous study, you will never get any favour from Charles."
4. Charles used to pick out all the best writers and readers from among
the poor boys that I have spoken of and transferred them to his chapel;
for that was the name that the kings of the Franks gave to their private
oratory, taking the word from the _cope_ of St Martin, which they always
took with them in war for a defence against their enemies. Now one day
it was announced to this most wary King Charles that a certain bishop
was dead; and, when the king asked whether the dead bishop had made any
bequests for the good of his soul, the messenger replied, "Sire, he has
bequeathed no more than two pounds of silver." Thereupon one of his
chaplains, sighing, and no longer able to keep the thoughts of his mind
within his breast, spake in the hearing of the king these words: "That
is a small provision for a long, a never-ending journey."
Then Charles, the mildest of men, deliberated a space, and said to the
young man, "Do you think then, if you were to get the bishopric, you
would care to make more provision for that same long journey?" These
cautious words fell upon the chaplain as ripe grapes into the mouth of
one who stands agape for them, and he threw himself at the feet of
Charles and said, "Sire, the matter rests upon the will of God and your
own power." Said the king, "Stand behind the curtain, that hangs behind
me, and mark what kind of help you would receive if you were raised to
that honour."
Now, when the officers of the palace, who were always on the watch for
deaths or accidents, heard that the bishop was dead, one and all of
them, impatient of delay and jealous of each other, began to make suit
for the bishopric through the friends of the emperor. But Charles still
persisted unmoved in his design; he refused everyone, and said that he
would not disappoint his young friend. At last Queen Hildigard sent some
of the nobles of the realm, and at last came in person, to beg the
bishopric for a certain clerk of her own. The emperor received her
petition very graciously and said that he would not and could not deny
her anything; but that he thought it shame to deceive his little
chaplain. But still the queen, woman-like, thought that a woman's
opinion and wish ought to outweigh the decrees of men; and so she
concealed the passion that was rising in her heart; she sank her strong
voice almost to a whisper; and with caressing gestures tried to soften
the emperor's unspoken mind. "My sire and king," she said, "what does it
matter if that boy does lose the bishopric? Nay, I beseech you, sweet
sire, my glory and my refuge, give it to your faithful servant, my
clerk." Then that young man, who had heard the petitions from behind the
curtain close to the king's chair where he had been placed, embraced the
king through the curtain and cried, "Sir king, stand fast and do not let
anyone take from you the power that has been given you by God."
Then that strict lover of truth bade him come out, and said, "I intend
you to have the bishopric; but you must be very careful to spend more
and make fuller provision for that same long and unreturning journey
both for yourself and for me."
5. Now there was at the king's court a certain mean and humble clerk,
very deficient also in a knowledge of letters. The most pious Charles
pitied his poverty, and, though everyone hated him and tried to drive
him from the court, he could never be persuaded to turn him away or
dismiss him therefrom. Now it happened that, on the eve of Saint Martin,
the death of a certain bishop was announced to the emperor. He summoned
one of his clerks, a man of high birth and great learning, and gave him
the bishopric. The new bishop, thereupon, bursting with joy, invited to
his house many of the palace attendants, and also received with great
pomp many who came from the diocese to greet him: and to all he gave a
superb banquet.
It happened then that, loaded with food, drenched with liquor and buried
in wine, he failed to go to the evening service on that most solemn eve.
Now it was the custom for the chief of the choir to assign the day
before to everyone the responsory or responsories which they were to
chant at night. The response: _Lord, if still I am useful to Thy
people,_[57] had fallen to the lot of this man, who had the bishopric,
as it were, in his grasp. Well, he was absent; and after the lesson a
long pause followed, and each man urged his neighbour to take up the
responsory, and each man answered that he was bound to chant only what
had been assigned to him. At last the emperor said: "Come, one of you
must chant it." Then this mean clerk, strengthened by some divine
inspiration, and encouraged by the command, took upon himself the
responsory. The kindly king thinking that he would not be able to chant
the whole of it ordered the others to help him and all began at once to
chant. But from none of them could the poor creature learn the words,
and, when the response was finished, he began to chant the Lord's Prayer
with the proper intonation. Then everyone wished to stop him; but the
most wise Charles wanted to see where he would get to, and forbade
anyone to interfere with him. He finished with _Thy Kingdom come_ and
the rest, willy-nilly, had to take it up and say _Thy will be done._
When the early lauds were finished, the king went back to his palace, or
rather to his bedroom, to warm himself and dress for the coming festal
ceremony. He ordered that miserable servant and unpractised chanter to
come into his presence. "Who told you to chant that responsory?" he
asked. "Sire, you ordered someone to sing," said the other. "Well," said
the king (the emperor was called king at first), "who told you to begin
in that particular responsory?" Then the poor creature, inspired as it
is thought by God, spoke as follows, in the fashion which inferiors then
used to superiors, whether for honour, appeal, or flattery:--"Blessed
lord, and blessing-bestowing king, as I could not find out the right
verse from anyone, I said to myself that I should incur the anger of
your majesty if I introduced anything strange. So I determined to intone
something the latter part of which usually came at the end of the
responsories."
The kindly emperor smiled gently upon him and thus spoke before all his
nobles. "That proud man, who neither feared nor honoured God or his king
who had befriended him, enough to refrain one night from dissipation and
be in his place to chant the response which I am told fell to his share,
is by God's decree and mine deprived of his bishopric. You shall take
it, for God gives it you, and I allow it; and be sure to administer it
according to canonical and apostolic rules."
6. When another prince of the Church died, the emperor appointed a young
man in his place. When the bishop designate came out of the palace to
take his departure, his servants, with all the decorum that was due to a
bishop, brought forward a horse and steps to mount it: but he took it
amiss that they should treat him as though he were decrepit; and leaped
from the ground on to the horse's back with such violence that he nearly
fell off on the other side. The king looked on from the steps of the
palace and had him summoned and thus addressed him: "My good sir, you
are nimble and quick, agile and headstrong. You know yourself that the
calm of our empire is disturbed on all sides by the tempests of many
wars. Wherefore I want a priest like you at my court. Remain therefore
as an associate in my labours as long as you can mount your horse with
such agility."
7. While I was speaking about the arrangement of the responses I forgot
to speak about the rules for reading and I must devote a few words to
that subject here. In the palace of the most learned Charles there was
no one to apportion to each reader the passages that were to be read; no
one put a seal at the end of the passage or made ever such a little mark
with his finger-nail. But all had to make themselves so well acquainted
with the passage, which was set down for reading, that if they were
suddenly called on to read they could perform their duty without
incurring his censure. He indicated whom he wished to read by pointing
his finger or his staff, or by sending some one of those who were
sitting close by him to those at a distance. He marked the end of the
reading by a guttural sound. And all watched so intently for this mark
that whether it came at the end of a sentence or in the middle of a
clause or a sub-clause, none dared go on for an instant, however strange
the beginning or the end might seem. And thus it came to pass that all
in the palace were excellent readers, even if they did not understand
what they read. No foreigner and no celebrity dared enter his choir
unless he could read and chant.
8. When Charles one day came in his journeyings to a certain palace, a
certain clerk from among the wandering monks entered the choir and being
completely ignorant of these rules was soon forced to remain stupid and
silent among the singers. Thereupon the choirmaster raised his wand and
threatened to strike him unless he went on singing. Then the poor clerk,
not knowing what to do or where to turn, and not daring to go out,
twisted his neck into the shape of a bow and with open mouth and
distended cheeks did his utmost to imitate the appearance of a singer.
All the rest could not restrain their laughter, but the most valiant
emperor, whose mind was never shaken from its firm base even by great
events, seemed not to notice his mockery of singing and waited in due
order until the end of the mass. But then he called the poor wretch
before him and pitying his struggles and his anxiety soothed his fears
with these words:--"Many thanks, good clerk, for your singing and your
efforts." Then he ordered a pound of silver to be given him to relieve
his poverty.
9. But I must not seem to forget or to neglect Alcuin; and will
therefore make this true statement about his energy and his deserts: all
his pupils without exception distinguished themselves by becoming either
holy abbots or bishops. My master Grimald[58] studied the literal arts
under him, first in Gaul and then in Italy. But those who are learned in
these matters may charge me with falsehood for saying "all his pupils
without exception"; when the fact is that there were in his schools two
young men, sons of a miller in the service of the monastery of Saint
Columban, who did not seem fit and proper persons for promotion to the
command of bishoprics or monasteries; but even these men were, by the
influence probably of their teacher, advanced one after the other to the
office of minister in the monastery of Bobbio, in which they displayed
the greatest energy.
So the most glorious Charles saw the study of letters flourishing
throughout his whole realm, but still he was grieved to find that it did
not reach the ripeness of the earlier fathers; and so, after superhuman
labours, he broke out one day with this expression of his sorrow: "Would
that I had twelve clerks so learned in all wisdom and so perfectly
trained as were Jerome and Augustine." Then the learned Alcuin, feeling
himself ignorant indeed in comparison with these great names, rose to a
height of daring, that no man else attained to in the presence of the
terrible Charles, and said, with deep indignation in his mind but none
in his countenance, "The Maker of heaven and earth has not many like to
those men and do you expect to have twelve?"
10. Here I must report something which the men of our time will find it
difficult to believe; for I myself who write it could hardly believe it,
so great is the difference between our method of chanting and the Roman,
were it not that we must trust rather the accuracy of our fathers than
the false suggestions of modern sloth. Well then, Charles, that
never-wearied lover of the service of God, when he could congratulate
himself that all possible progress had been made in the knowledge of
letters, was grieved to observe how widely the different provinces--nay,
not the provinces only but districts and cities--differed in the praise
of God, that is to say in their method of chanting. He therefore asked
of Pope Stephen[59] of blessed memory--the same who, after Hilderich
King of the Franks had been deposed and tonsured, had anointed Charles
to be ruler of the kingdom after the ancestral custom of the people--he
asked of Pope Stephen, I say, that he should provide him with twelve
clerks deeply learned in divine song. The Pope yielded assent to his
virtuous wish and his divinely inspired design and sent to him in
Frankland from the apostolic see clerks skilled in divine song, and
twelve in number, according to the number of the twelve apostles.
Now, when I said Frankland just above, I meant all the provinces north
of the Alps; for as it is written: "In those days ten men shall take
hold out of all the languages of the nations, shall even take hold of
the skirt of him that is a Jew," so at that time, by reason of the glory
of Charles, Gauls, Aquitanians, AEduans, Spaniards, Germans, and
Bavarians thought that no small honour was paid to them, if they were
thought worthy to be called the servants of the Franks.
Now when the aforementioned clerks were departing from Rome, being, like
all Greeks and Romans, torn with envy of the glory of the Franks, they
took counsel among themselves, and determined so to vary their method of
singing that his kingdom and dominion should never have cause to rejoice
in unity and agreement. So when they came to Charles they were received
most honourably and despatched to the chief places. And thereupon each
in his allotted place began to chant as differently as possible, and to
teach others to sing in like fashion, and in as false a manner as they
could invent. But as the most cunning Charles celebrated one year the
feast of the Birth and Coming of Christ at Treves or Metz, and most
carefully and cleverly grasped and understood the style of the singing;
and then the next year passed the same solemn season at Paris or Tours,
but found that the singing was wholly different from what he had heard
in the preceding year; as moreover he found that those whom he had sent
into different places were also at variance with one another; he
reported the whole matter to Pope Leo, of holy memory, who had succeeded
Stephen.[60] The Pope summoned the clerks back to Rome and condemned
them to exile or perpetual imprisonment, and then said to Charles: "If I
send you others they will be blinded with the same malice as their
predecessors and will not fail to cheat you. But I think I can satisfy
your wishes in this way. Send me two of the cleverest clerks that you
have by you, in such a way that those who are with me may not know that
they belong to you, and, with God's help, they shall attain to as
perfect a knowledge of those things as you desire." So said, so done.
Soon the Pope sent them back excellently trained to Charles. One of them
he kept at his own court: the other upon the petition of his son Drogo,
Bishop of Metz,[61] he sent to that cathedral. And not only did his
energy show itself powerful in that city, but it soon spread so widely
throughout all Frankland, that now all in these regions who use the
Latin tongue call the ecclesiastical chant Metensian; or, if they use
the Teutonic or Teuthiscan tongue, they call it Mette; or if the Greek
form is used it is called Mettisc.[62] The most pious emperor also
ordered Peter, the singer who had come to reside with him, to reside for
a while in the monastery of St Gall. There too Charles established the
chanting as it is to-day, with an authentic song-book, and gave most
careful instructions, being always a warm champion of Saint Gall, that
the Roman method of singing should be both taught and learnt. He gave to
the monastery also much money and many lands: he gave too relics,
contained in a reliquary made of solid gold and gems, which is called
the Shrine of Charles.
11. It was the habit of the most religious and temperate Charles to take
food during Lent[63] at the seventh hour of the day after having been
present at the celebration of mass and evening lauds: and in so doing he
was not violating the fast for he was following the Lord's command in
taking food at an earlier hour than usual. Now a certain bishop, who
offended against the precept of Solomon in being just but foolish, took
him unwisely to task for this. Whereupon the most wise Charles concealed
his wrath, and received the bishop's admonition in all humility, saying,
"Good sir bishop, your admonition is good; and now my advice to you is
that you should take no food until the very humblest of my servants, who
stand in my court, have been fed." Now while Charles was eating he was
waited upon by dukes and rulers and kings of various peoples; and when
his banquet was ended then those who served him fed and they were served
by counts and praefects and nobles of different ranks. And when these
last had made an end of eating then came the military officers and the
scholars of the palace: then the chiefs of the various departments of
the palace; then their subordinates, then the servants of those
servants. So that the last comers did not get a mouthful of food before
the middle of the night. When therefore Lent was nearly ended, and the
bishop in question had endured this punishment all the time, the most
merciful Charles said to him: "Now, sir bishop, I think you have found
out that it is not lack of self-restraint but care for others which
makes me dine in Lent before the hour of evening."
12. Once he asked a bishop for his blessing and he thereupon, after
blessing the bread, partook of it first himself and then wanted to give
it to the most honourable Charles: who, however, said to him: "You may
keep all the bread for yourself"; and much to the bishop's confusion he
refused to receive his blessing.
13. The most careful Charles would never give more than one county to
any of his counts unless they happened to live on the borders or marches
of the barbarians; nor would he ever give a bishop any abbacy or church
that was in the royal gift unless there were very special reasons for
doing it. When his councillors or friends asked him the reason for this
he would answer: "With that revenue or that estate, with that little
abbey or that church I can secure the fidelity of some vassal, as good a
man as any bishop or count, and perhaps better." But when there were
special reasons he would give several benefices to one man; as he did
for instance to Udalric, brother of the great Hildigard, the mother of
kings and emperors. Now Udalric, after Hildigard's death, was deprived
of his honours for a certain offence; and a buffoon thereupon said in
the hearing of the most merciful Charles: "Now has Udalric, by the death
of his sister, lost all his honours both in east and west." Charles was
touched by these words and restored to him at once all his former
honours. He opened his hands, most widely and liberally, when justice
bade him, to certain holy places, as will appear in the sequel.
14. There was a certain bishopric which lay full in Charles's path when
he journeyed, and which indeed he could hardly avoid: and the bishop of
this place, always anxious to give satisfaction, put everything that he
had at Charles's disposal. But once the emperor came quite unexpectedly
and the bishop in great anxiety had to fly hither and thither like a
swallow, and had not only the palaces and houses but also the courts and
squares swept and cleaned: and then, tired and irritated, came to meet
him. The most pious Charles noticed this, and after examining all the
various details, he said to the bishop: "My kind host, you always have
everything splendidly cleaned for my arrival." Then the Bishop, as if
divinely inspired, bowed his head and grasped the king's never-conquered
right hand, and hiding his irritation, kissed it and said: "It is but
right, my lord, that, wherever you come, all things should be thoroughly
cleansed." Then Charles, of all kings the wisest, understanding the
state of affairs said to him: "If I empty I can also fill." And he
added: "You may have that estate which lies close to your bishopric, and
all your successors may have it until the end of time."
15. In the same journey too he came to a bishop who lived in a place
through which he must needs pass. Now on that day, being the sixth day
of the week, he was not willing to eat the flesh of beast or bird; and
the bishop, being by reason of the nature of the place unable to procure
fish upon the sudden, ordered some excellent cheese, rich and creamy, to
be placed before him. And the most self-restrained Charles, with the
readiness which he showed everywhere and on all occasions, spared the
blushes of the bishop and required no better fare: but taking up his
knife cut off the skin, which he thought unsavoury, and fell to on the
white of the cheese. Thereupon the bishop, who was standing near like a
servant, drew closer and said, "Why do you do that, lord emperor? You
are throwing away the very best part." Then Charles, who deceived no
one, and did not believe that anyone would deceive him, on the
persuasion of the bishop put a piece of the skin in his mouth, and
slowly ate it and swallowed it like butter. Then approving of the advice
of the bishop, he said: "Very true, my good host," and he added: "Be
sure to send me every year to Aix two cart-loads of just such cheeses."
The bishop was alarmed at the impossibility of the task and, fearful of
losing both his rank and his office, he rejoined:--"My lord, I can
procure the cheeses, but I cannot tell which are of this quality and
which of another. Much I fear lest I fall under your censure." Then
Charles from whose penetration and skill nothing could escape, however
new or strange it might be, spoke thus to the bishop, who from childhood
had known such cheeses and yet could not test them. "Cut them in two,"
he said, "then fasten together with a skewer those that you find to be
of the right quality and keep them in your cellar for a time and then
send them to me. The rest you may keep for yourself and your clergy and
your family." This was done for two years and the king ordered the
present of cheeses to be taken in without remark: then in the third year
the bishop brought in person his laboriously collected cheeses. But the
most just Charles pitied his labour and anxiety and added to the
bishopric an excellent estate whence he and his successors might provide
themselves with corn and wine.
16. As we have shown how the most wise Charles exalted the humble, let
us now show how he brought low the proud. There was a bishop who sought
above measure vanities and the fame of men. The most cunning Charles
heard of this and told a certain Jewish merchant, whose custom it was to
go to the land of promise and bring from thence rare and wonderful
things to the countries beyond the sea, to deceive or cheat this bishop
in whatever way he could. So the Jew caught an ordinary household mouse
and stuffed it with various spices, and then offered it for sale to the
bishop, saying that he had brought this most precious never-before-seen
animal from Judea. The bishop was delighted with what he thought a
stroke of luck, and offered the Jew three pounds of silver for the
precious ware. Then said the Jew, "A fine price indeed for so precious
an article! I had rather throw it into the sea than let any man have it
at so cheap and shameful a price." So the bishop, who had much wealth
and never gave anything to the poor, offered him ten pounds of silver
for the incomparable treasure. But the cunning rascal, with pretended
indignation, replied: "The God of Abraham forbid that I should thus lose
the fruit of my labour and journeyings." Then our avaricious bishop, all
eager for the prize, offered twenty pounds. But the Jew in high dudgeon
wrapped up the mouse in the most costly silk and made as if he would
depart. Then the bishop, as thoroughly taken in as he deserved to be,
offered a full measure of silver for the priceless object. And so at
last our trader yielded to his entreaties with much show of reluctance:
and, taking the money, went to the emperor and told him everything. A
few days later the king called together all the bishops and chief men of
the province to hold discourse with him; and, after many other matters
had been considered, he ordered all that measure of silver to be brought
and placed in the middle of the palace. Then thus he spoke and
said:--"Fathers and guardians, bishops of our Church, you ought to
minister to the poor, or rather to Christ in them, and not to seek after
vanities. But now you act quite contrary to this; and are vainglorious
and avaricious beyond all other men." Then he added: "One of you has
given a Jew all this silver for a painted mouse." Then the bishop, who
had been so wickedly deceived, threw himself at Charles's feet and
begged pardon for his sin. Charles upbraided him in suitable words and
then allowed him to depart in confusion.
17. This same bishop was left to take care of Hildigard,[64] when the
most warlike Charles was engaged in campaigns against the Huns. He was
so puffed up by his intimacy with her that he had the audacity to ask
her to allow him to use the golden sceptre of the incomparable Charles
on festal days instead of his episcopal staff. She deceived him
cleverly, and said that she dare not give it to anyone, but that she
would carry his request faithfully to the king. So, when Charles came
back, she jestingly told him of the mad request of the bishop. He kindly
promised to do what she wished and even more. So, when all Europe, so to
speak, had come together to greet Charles after his victory over so
mighty a people, he pronounced these words in the hearing of small and
great: "Bishops should despise this world and inspire others by their
example to seek after heavenly things. But now they are misled by
ambition beyond all the rest of mankind; and one of them not content
with holding the first episcopal see in Germany has dared without my
approval to claim my golden sceptre, which I carry to signify my royal
will, in order that he might use it as his pastoral staff." The guilty
man acknowledged his sin, received pardon and retired.
18. Now, my Lord Emperor Charles, I much fear that through my desire to
obey your orders I may incur the enmity of all who have taken vows and
especially of the highest clergy of all. But for all this I do not
greatly care, if only I be not deprived of your protection.
Once that most religious Emperor Charles gave orders that all bishops
throughout his wide domains should preach in the nave of their cathedral
before a certain day, which he appointed, under penalty of being
deprived of the episcopal dignity, if they failed to comply with the
order.--But why do I say "dignity" when the apostle protests: "He that
desires a bishopric desires a good work"? But in truth, most serene of
kings, I must confess to you that there is great "dignity" in the
office, but not the slightest "good work" is required. Well, the
aforementioned bishop was at first alarmed at this command, because
gluttony and pride were all his learning, and he feared that if he lost
his bishopric he would lose at the same time his soft living. So he
invited two of the chiefs of the palace on the festal day, and after the
reading of the lesson mounted the pulpit as though he were going to
address the people. All the people ran together in wonder at so
unexpected an occurrence, except one poor red-headed fellow, who had his
head covered with clouts, because he had no hat, and was foolishly
ashamed of his red hair. Then the bishop--bishop in name but not in
deed--called to his doorkeeper or rather his _scario_ (whose dignity and
duties went by the name of the aedileship among the ancient Romans) and
said: "Bring me that man in the hat who is standing there near the door
of the church." The doorkeeper made haste to obey, seized the poor man
and began to drag him towards the bishop. But he feared some heavy
penalty for daring to stand in the house of God with covered head, and
struggled with all his might to avoid being brought before the tribunal
of the terrible judge. But the bishop, looking from his perch, now
addressing his vassals and now chiding the poor knave, bawled out and
preached as follows:--"Here with him! don't let him slip! Willy-nilly
you've got to come." When at last force or fear brought him near, the
bishop cried: "Come forward; nay, you must come quite close." Then he
snatched the head-covering from his captive and cried to the
people:--"Lo and behold all ye people; the boor is red-headed." Then he
returned to the altar and performed the ceremony, or pretended to
perform it.
When the mass was thus scrambled through his guests passed into his
hall, which was decorated with many-coloured carpets, and cloths of all
kinds; and there a magnificent banquet, served in gold and silver and
jewelled cups, was provided, calculated to tickle the appetite of the
fastidious or the well-fed. The bishop himself sat on the softest of
cushions, clad in precious silks and wearing the imperial purple, so
that he seemed a king except for the sceptre and the title. He was
surrounded by troops of rich knights, in comparison with whom the
officers of the palace (nobles though they were) of the unconquered
Charles seemed to themselves most mean. When they asked leave to depart
after this wonderful and more than royal banquet he, desiring to show
still more plainly his magnificence and his glory, ordered skilled
musicians to come forward, the sound of whose voices could soften the
hardest hearts or turn to ice the swiftly flowing waters of the Rhine.
And at the same time every kind of choice drink, subtly and variously
compounded, was offered them in bowls of gold and gems, whose sheen was
mixed with that of the flowers and leaves with which they were crowned:
but their stomachs could contain no more so that the glasses lay idle in
their hands. Meanwhile pastry cooks and sausage makers, servers and
dressers offered preparations of exquisite art to stimulate their
appetite, though their stomachs could contain no more: it was a banquet
such as was never offered even to the great Charles himself.
When morning came and the bishop returned some way towards soberness, he
thought with fear of the luxury that he had paraded before the servants
of the emperor. So he called them into his presence, loaded them with
presents worthy of a king, and implored them to speak to the terrible
Charles of the goodness and simplicity of his life; and above all to
tell him how he had preached publicly before them in his cathedral.
Upon their return Charles asked them why the bishop had invited them.
Thereupon they fell at his feet and said: "Master, it was that he might
honour us as your representatives, far beyond our humble deserts." "He
is," they went on, "in every way the best and the most faithful of
bishops and most worthy of the highest rank in the Church. For, if you
will trust our poor judgment, we profess to your sublime majesty that we
heard him preach in his church in the most stirring fashion." Then the
emperor who knew the bishop's lack of skill pressed them further as to
the manner of his preaching; and they, perforce, revealed all. Then the
emperor saw that he had made an effort to say something rather than
disobey the imperial order; and he allowed him, in spite of his
unworthiness, to retain the bishopric.
19. Shortly after a young man, a relation of the emperor's, sang, on the
occasion of some festival, the Alleluia admirably: and the Emperor
turned to this same bishop and said: "My clerk is singing very well."
But the stupid man, thought that he was jesting and did not know that
the clerk was the emperor's relation; and so he answered: "Any clown in
our countryside drones as well as that to his oxen at their ploughing."
At this vulgar answer the emperor turned on him the lightning of his
flashing eyes and dashed him terror-stricken to the very ground.[65]
----
26. But though the rest of mankind may be deceived by the wiles of the
devil and his angels, it is pleasant to consider the word of our Lord,
who in recognition of the bold confession of Saint Peter said:--"Thou
art Peter, and upon this rock will I build my church; and the gates of
hell shall not prevail against it." Wherefore even in these times of
great peril and wickedness he has allowed the Church to remain unshaken
and unmoved.
Now since envy always rages among the envious so it is customary and
regular with the Romans to oppose or rather to fight against all strong
Popes, who are from time to time raised to the apostolic see. Whence it
came to pass that certain of the Romans, themselves blinded with envy,
charged the above-mentioned Pope Leo[66] of holy memory with a deadly
crime and tried to blind him. But they were frightened and held back by
some divine impulse, and after trying in vain to gouge out his eyes,
they slashed them across the middle with knives. The Pope had news of
this carried secretly by his servants to Michael, Emperor of
Constantinople; but he refused all assistance saying: "The Pope has an
independent kingdom and one higher than mine; so he must act his own
revenge upon his enemies." Thereupon the holy Leo invited the
unconquered Charles to come to Rome; following in this the ordinance of
God, that, as Charles was already in very deed ruler and emperor over
many nations, so also by the authority of the apostolic see he might
have now the name of Emperor, Caesar and Augustus. Now Charles, being
always ready to march and in warlike array, though he knew nothing at
all of the cause of the summons, came at once with his attendants and
his vassals; himself the head of the world he came to the city that had
once been the head of the world. And when the abandoned people heard of
his sudden coming, at once, as sparrows hide themselves when they hear
the voice of their master, so they fled and hid in various
hiding-places, cellars, and dens. Nowhere however under heaven could
they escape from his energy and penetration; and soon they were captured
and brought in chains to the Cathedral of St Peter. Then the undaunted
Father Leo took the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and held it over his
head, and then in the presence of Charles and his knights, in presence
also of his persecutors, he swore in the following words:--"So on the
day of the great judgment may I partake in the promises, as I am
innocent of the charge that is falsely laid against me." Then many of
the prisoners asked to be allowed to swear upon the tomb of St Peter
that they also were innocent of the charge laid against them. But the
Pope knew their falseness and said to Charles: "Do not, I pray you,
unconquered servant of God, give assent to their cunning; for well they
know that Saint Peter is always ready to forgive. But seek among the
tombs of the martyrs the stone upon which is written the name of St
Pancras,[67] that boy of thirteen years; and if they will swear to you
in his name you may know that you have them fast." It was done as the
Pope ordered. And when many people drew near to take the oath upon this
tomb, straightway some fell back dead and some were seized by the devil
and went mad. Then the terrible Charles said to his servants: "Take care
that none of them escapes." Then he condemned all who had been taken
prisoner either to some kind of death or to perpetual imprisonment.
As Charles stayed in Rome for a few days, the bishop of the apostolic
see called together all who would come from the neighbouring districts
and then, in their presence and in the presence of all the knights of
the unconquered Charles, he declared him to be Emperor and Defender of
the Roman Church.[68] Now Charles had no guess of what was coming; and,
though he could not refuse what seemed to have been divinely preordained
for him, nevertheless he received his new title with no show of
thankfulness. For first he thought that the Greeks would be fired by
greater envy than ever and would plan some harm against the kingdom of
the Franks; or at least would take greater precautions against a
possible sudden attack of Charles to subdue their kingdom, and add it to
his own empire. And further the magnanimous Charles recalled how
ambassadors from the King of Constantinople had come to him and had told
him that their master wished to be his loyal friend; and that, if they
became nearer neighbours, he had determined to treat him as his son and
relieve the poverty of Charles from his resources: and how, upon hearing
this, Charles was unable to contain any longer the fiery ardour of his
heart and had exclaimed: "Oh, would that pool were not between us; for
then we would either divide between us the wealth of the east, or we
would hold it in common."
But the Lord, who is both the giver and the restorer of health, so
showed his favour to the innocency of the blessed Leo that he restored
his eyes to be brighter than they were before that wicked and cruel
cutting; except only that, in token of his virtue, a bright scar (like a
very fine thread) marked his eyelids.
27. The foolish may accuse me of folly because just now I made Charles
say that the sea, which that mighty emperor called playfully a little
pool, lay between us and the Greeks; but I must tell my critics that at
that date the Bulgarians and the Huns and many other powerful races
barred the way to Greece with forces yet unattacked and unbroken. Soon
afterwards, it is true, the most warlike Charles either hurled them to
the ground, as he did the Slavs and the Bulgars; or else utterly
destroyed them, as was the case with the Huns, that race of iron and
adamant. And I will go on to speak of these exploits as soon as I have
given a very slight account of the wonderful buildings which Charles
(Emperor, Augustus and Caesar), following the example of the all-wise
Solomon, built at Aix, either for God, or for himself, or for the
bishops, abbots, counts and all guests that came to him from all
quarters of the world.
28. When the most energetic Emperor Charles could rest awhile he sought
not sluggish ease, but laboured in the service of God. He desired
therefore to build upon his native soil a cathedral finer even than the
works of the Romans, and soon his purpose was realised. For the building
thereof he summoned architects and skilled workmen from all lands beyond
the seas; and above all he placed a certain knavish abbot whose
competence for the execution of such tasks he knew, though he knew not
his character. When the august emperor had gone on a certain journey,
this abbot allowed anyone to depart home who would pay sufficient money:
and those who could not purchase their discharge, or were not allowed to
return by their masters, he burdened with unending labours, as the
Egyptians once afflicted the people of God. By such knavish tricks he
gathered together a great mass of gold and silver and silken robes; and,
exhibiting in his chamber only the least precious articles, he concealed
in boxes and chests all the richest treasures. Well, one day there was
brought to him on a sudden the news that his house was on fire. He ran,
in great excitement, and pushed his way through the bursting flames into
the strong room where his boxes, stuffed with gold, were kept: he was
not satisfied to take one away, but would only leave after he had loaded
his servants with a box apiece. And as he was going out a huge beam,
dislodged by the fire, fell on the top of him; and then his body was
burnt by temporal and his soul by eternal flames. Thus did the judgment
of God keep watch for the most religious Emperor Charles, when his
attention was withdrawn by the business of his kingdom.
29. There was another workman, the most skilled of all in the working of
brass and glass. Now this man (his name was Tancho and he was at one
time a monk of St Gall) made a fine bell and the emperor was delighted
with its tone. Then said that most distinguished, but most unfortunate
worker in brass: "Lord emperor, give orders that a great weight of
copper be brought to me that I may refine it; and instead of tin give me
as much silver as I shall need--a hundred pounds at least; and I will
cast such a bell for you that this will seem dumb in comparison to it."
Then Charles, the most liberal of monarchs, who "if riches abounded set
not his heart upon them" readily gave the necessary orders, to the great
delight of the knavish monk. He smelted and refined the brass; but he
used, not silver, but the purest sort of tin, and soon he made a bell,
much better than the one that the emperor had formerly admired, and,
when he had tested it, he took it to the emperor, who admired its
exquisite shape and ordered the clapper to be inserted and the bell to
be hung in the bell-tower. That was soon done; and then the warden of
the church, the attendants and even the boys of the place tried, one
after the other, to make the bell sound. But all was in vain; and so at
last the knavish maker of the bell came up, seized the rope, and pulled
at the bell. When, lo and behold! down from on high came the brazen
mass; fell on the very head of the cheating brass-founder; killed him on
the spot; and passed straight through his carcass and crashed to the
ground carrying his bowels with it. When the aforementioned weight of
silver was found, the most righteous Charles ordered it to be
distributed among the poorest servants of the palace.
30. Now it was a rule at that time that if the imperial mandate had gone
out that any task was to be accomplished, whether it was the making of
bridges, or ships or causeways, or the cleansing or paving or filling up
of muddy roads, the counts might execute the less important work by the
agency of their deputies or servants; but for the greater enterprises,
and especially such as were of an original kind, no duke or count, no
bishop or abbot could possibly get himself excused. The arches of the
great bridge at Mainz bear witness to this; for all Europe, so to speak,
laboured at this work in orderly co-operation, and then the knavery of a
few rascals, who wanted to steal merchandise from the ships that passed
underneath, destroyed it.
If any churches, within the royal domain, wanted decorating with carved
ceilings or wall paintings, the neighbouring bishops and abbots had to
take charge of the task; but if new churches had to be built then all
bishops, dukes and counts, all abbots and heads of royal churches and
all who were in occupation of any public office had to work at it with
never-ceasing labour from its foundations to its roof. You may see the
proof of the emperor's skill in the cathedral at Aix, which seems a work
half human and half divine; you may see it in the mansions of the
various dignitaries which, by Charles's device, were built round his own
palace in such a way that from the windows of his chamber he could see
all who went out or came in, and what they were doing, while they
believed themselves free from observation; you may see it in all the
houses of his nobles, which were lifted on high from the ground in such
a fashion that beneath them the retainers of his nobles and the servants
of those retainers and every class of man could be protected from rain
or snow, from cold or heat, while at the same time they were not
concealed from the eyes of the most vigilant Charles. But I am a
prisoner within my monastery walls and your ministers are free; and I
will therefore leave to them the task of describing the cathedral, while
I return to speak of how the judgment of God was made manifest in the
building of it.
31. The most careful Charles ordered certain nobles of the neighbourhood
to support with all their power the workmen whom he had set to their
task, and to supply everything that they required for it. Those workmen
who came from a distance he gave in charge to a certain Liutfrid, the
steward of his palace, telling him to feed and clothe them and also most
carefully to provide anything that was wanting for the building. The
steward obeyed these commands for the short time that Charles remained
in that place; but after his departure neglected them altogether, and by
cruel tortures collected such a mass of money from the poor workmen that
Dis and Pluto would require a camel to carry his ill-gotten gains to
hell. Now this was found out in the following way.
The most glorious Charles used to go to lauds at night in a long and
flowing cloak, which is now neither used nor known: then when the
morning chant was over he would go back to his chamber and dress himself
in his imperial robes. All the clerks used to come ready dressed to the
nightly office, and then they would wait for the emperor's arrival, and
for the celebration of mass either in the church or in the porch which
then was called the outer court. Sometimes they would remain awake, or
if anyone had need of sleep he would lean his head on his companion's
breast. Now one poor clerk, who used often to go to Liutfrid's house to
get his clothes (rags I ought to call them) washed and mended, was
sleeping with his head on a friend's knees, when he saw in a vision a
giant, taller than the adversary of Saint Anthony,[69] come from the
king's court and hurry over the bridge, that spanned a little stream, to
the house of the steward; and he led with him an enormous camel,
burdened with baggage of inestimable value. He was, in his dream, struck
with amazement and he asked the giant who he was and whither he wished
to go. And the giant made answer: "I come from the house of the king and
I go to the house of Liutfrid; and I shall place Liutfrid on these
packages and I shall take him and them down with me to hell."
Thereupon the clerk woke up, in a fright lest Charles should find him
sleeping. He lifted up his head and urged the others to wakefulness and
cried: "Hear, I pray you, my dream. I seemed to see another Polyphemus,
who walked on the earth and yet touched the stars, and passed through
the Ionian Sea without wetting his sides. I saw him hasten from the
royal court to the house of Liutfrid with a laden camel. And when I
asked the cause of his journey, he said: 'I am going to put Liutfrid on
the top of the load, and then take him to hell.'"
The story was hardly finished when there came from that house, which
they all knew so well, a girl who fell at their feet and asked them to
remember her friend Liutfrid in their prayers. And, when they asked the
reason for her words, she said: "My lord, he went out but now in good
health, and, as he stayed a long time, we went in search of him, and
found him dead."
When the emperor heard of his sudden death, and was informed by the
workmen and his servants of his grasping avarice, he ordered his
treasures to be examined. They were found to be of priceless worth, and
when the emperor, after God the greatest of judges, found by what
wickedness they had been collected he gave this public judgment:
"Nothing of that which was gained by fraud must go to the liberation of
his soul from purgatory. Let his wealth be divided among the workmen of
this our building, and the poorer servants of our palace.
32. Now I must speak of two things which happened in that same
place.[70] There was a deacon who followed the Italian custom and
resisted the course of nature. For he went to the baths and had himself
closely shaved, polished his skin, cleaned his nails, and had his hair
cut as short as if it had been done by a lathe. Then he put on linen and
a white robe, and then, because he must not miss his turn, or rather
desiring to make a fine show, he proceeded to read the gospel before God
and His holy angels, and in the presence of the most watchful king; his
heart in the meantime being unclean, as events were to show. For while
he was reading, a spider came down from the ceiling by a thread, hooked
itself on to the deacon's head, and then ran up again. The most
observant Charles saw this happen a second and a third time, but
pretended not to notice it, and the clerk, because of the emperor's
presence, dare not keep off the spider with his hand, and moreover did
not know that it was a spider attacking him, but thought that it was
merely the tickling of a fly. So he finished the reading of the gospel,
and also went through the rest of the office. But when he left the
cathedral he soon began to swell up, and died within an hour. But the
most scrupulous Charles, inasmuch as he had seen his danger and had not
prevented it, thought himself guilty of manslaughter and did public
penance.
33. Now the most glorious Charles had in his suite a certain clerk who
was unsurpassed in every respect. And of him that was said which was
never said of any other mortal man: for it was said that he excelled all
mankind in knowledge of both sacred and profane literature; in song
whether ecclesiastical or festive; in the composition and rendering of
poems and in the sweet fulness of his voice and in the incredible
pleasure which he gave. [Other men have had drawbacks to compensate for
their excellences]:[71] for Moses, the lawgiver filled with wisdom by
the teaching of God, complains nevertheless that "he is not eloquent"
but slow of speech, and "of a slow tongue," and sent therefore Joshua to
take counsel with Eleasar, the high priest, who by the authority of the
God, who dwelt within him, commanded even the heavenly bodies: and our
Master Christ did not allow John the Baptist to work any miracle while
in the body, though he bare witness that "among them that are born of
women there hath not arisen a greater" than he: and He bade Peter revere
the wisdom of Paul, though Peter by the revelation of the Father
recognised Him and received from Him the keys of the kingdom of heaven:
and He allowed John His best-loved disciple to fall into so great a
terror that he did not dare to come to the place of His sepulchre,
though weak women paid many visits to it.
But as the scriptures say: "To him that hath shall be given"; and those,
who know from whom they have the little which they possess, succeed;
while he who knows not the giver of his possessions, or, if he knows it,
gives not due thanks to the Giver, loses all. For, while this wonderful
clerk was standing in friendly fashion near the most glorious emperor,
suddenly he disappeared. The unconquered Emperor Charles was
dumfoundered at so unheard of and incredible an occurrence: but, after
he had made the sign of the cross, he found in the place where the clerk
had stood something that seemed to be a foul-smelling coal, which had
just ceased to burn.
34. The mention of the trailing garment that the emperor wore at night
has diverted us from his military array. Now the dress and equipment of
the old Franks was as follows:--Their boots were gilt on the outside and
decorated with laces three cubits long. The thongs round the legs were
red, and under them they wore upon their legs and thighs linen of the
same colour, artistically embroidered. The laces stretched above these
linen garments and above the crossed thongs, sometimes under them and
sometimes over them, now in front of the leg and now behind. Then came a
rich linen shirt and then a buckled sword-belt. The great sword was
surrounded first with a sheath, then with a covering of leather, and
lastly with a linen wrap hardened with shining wax.
The last part of their dress was a white or blue cloak in the shape of a
double square; so that when it was placed upon the shoulders it touched
the feet in front and behind, but at the side hardly came down to the
knees. In the right hand was carried a stick of apple-wood, with regular
knots, strong and terrible; a handle of gold or silver decorated with
figures was fastened to it. I myself am lazy and slower than a tortoise,
and so never got into Frankland; but I saw the King of the Franks[72] in
the monastery of Saint Gall, glittering in the dress that I have
described.
But the habits of man change; and when the Franks, in their wars with
the Gauls, saw the latter proudly wearing little striped cloaks, they
dropped their national customs and began to imitate the Gauls. At first
the strictest of emperors did not forbid the new habit, because it
seemed more suitable for war: but, when he found that the Frisians were
abusing his permission, and were selling these little cloaks at the same
price as the old large ones, he gave orders that no one should buy from
them, at the usual price, anything but the old cloaks, broad, wide and
long: and he added: "What is the good of those little napkins? I cannot
cover myself with them in bed and when I am on horseback I cannot shield
myself with them against wind and rain."
In the preface to this little work I said I would follow three
authorities only. But as the chief of these, Werinbert, died seven days
ago and to-day (the thirteenth of May) we, his bereaved sons and
disciples, are going to pay solemn honour to his memory, here I will
bring this book to an end, concerning the piety of Lord Charles and his
care of the Church, which has been taken from the lips of this same
clerk, Werinbert.
The next book which deals with the wars of the most fierce Charles is
founded on the narrative of Werinbert's father, Adalbert. He followed
his master Kerold in the Hunnish, Saxon and Slavic wars, and when I was
quite a child, and he a very old man, I lived in his house and he used
often to tell me the story of these events. I was most unwilling to
listen and would often run away; but in the end by sheer force he made
me hear.