Section III

Meanwhile Northumbria had become one of the leading
centres of learning in Europe, almost entirely through the
labours and influence of Irish missionaries. St. Aidan, an
ascetic of Iona who journeyed to Northumbria at King
Oswald's request, founded Lindisfarne, which became the
monastic and episcopal capital of that kingdom. Aidan
required all his pupils, whether religious or laymen, to read
the Scriptures, or to learn the Psalms. The education of
boys was a part of his system. Wherever a monastery was
founded it became a school wherein taught the monks who
had followed him from Scotland. Cedd, the founder and
abbot of Lastingham, was Aidan's pupil, so was his brother,
the great bishop Ceadda (Chad), who succeeded him in his
abbacy. At Lindisfarne was wrought by Eadfrith (d. 721) the
beautiful manuscript of the Gospels now preserved in the
British Museum, and a little later the fine cover for it.
Lastingham, founded on the desolate moorland of North
Yorkshire, "among steep and distant mountains, which
looked more like lurking-places for robbers and dens of
wild beasts, than dwellings of men," upheld the traditions
of the Columban houses for piety, asceticism, and studious
occupations. Thither repaired one Owini, not to live idle,
but to labour, and as he was less capable of studying, he
applied himself earnestly to manual work, the while better-
instructed monks were indoors reading.

In many directions do we observe traces of Aidan's
good work. Hild, the foundress of Whitby Abbey, was for