abbot of St. Augustine's, "was so well instructed in literary
studies, that he had no small knowledge of the Greek tongue,
and knew the Latin as well as the English, which was his
native language."[2] "A most learned man" was another
disciple, Tobias, bishop of Rochester, who, besides having
a great knowledge of letters, both ecclesiastical and general,
learned the Greek and Latin tongues "to such perfection,
that they were as well known and familiar to him as his
native language."[3]

[1] H. E., iv. 2, tr. Sellar.

[2] Ib. v. 20.

[3] Ib. v. 23.


Canterbury's most notable scholar was Aldhelm, the
first bishop of Sherborne. In him were united the
learning of the Canterbury and the Irish monks, for he
studied first under Maildulf, the Irish monk and scholar
who founded and gave his name to Malmesbury, and then
under Hadrian. When he went to be consecrated an incident
befell him which at once shows his zeal for learning, and casts
a welcome ray of light on the importation of books. While
at Canterbury he heard of the arrival of ships at Dover, and
thither he journeyed to see whether they had brought
anything in his way. He found on board plenty of books,
among them one containing the complete Testaments. He
offered to buy it, but his price was too low; although,