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https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61385#0077
Chapter VI.—Relation of Speculum to Guy Romances. Ixxi
likewise moulded skilfully to a historical groundwork of facts dia-
metrically opposed in nature and origin. Count Guido,* 1 Guido
Comes, knight of renown, active in war, holding at Tours positions
of honour and trust,2 appeals to Alenin, Dean3 of the order of St.
Martin4 796—804, cultured priest of the school of the palace,
preceptor of one greater than Count Guido, superior to youthful
neophytes, beloved teacher of the king and emperor5 Charlemagne,
a humble6 servant consecrated to righteousness. Inspired with
religious exaltation through purpose of chivalric glorification of God,
Count Guido pleaded for a homily7 to deepen spiritual consecration
under the austerity of war, Spec. 49—64 and Liber. The devoted
friar responded with an exposition of virtue, the Liber popular
during many ages. There is some ground for believing that the
vigilant Count became successor to Alcuin,8 and to the period of his
death was Abbot of the monastery of St. Martin of Tours. The
tradition continues to embody with consistent fidelity historical facts
of Count Guido’s life, for, on authority of Lydgate :—
mence Guy de Warwick chevalier D’agleterre, qui en son temps fit plusieurs
prouesses et conquestes en Allemaigne,” etc.
That England claimed the warrior chief seems evidenced in the “address”
of the same edition of Rowlands. The first address is “To the Noble English
Nation; ” the second, “ To the Honorable Ladies of England.”
1 In similar guise the exploits of Charlemagne and his retinue of brave
warriors are glorified in Fyrumbras, or the Song of Roland in its various ver-
sions, and the victories of King Arthour in his “ table round” of noble verse.
2 Cf. Liber, Epistola Nuncupatoria, and Speculum, verses 27—-36. See
Adamson under Alcuin in Dictionary of National Biography for facts regarding
Albinus Flaccus.
3 As presiding officer of the monastic school Alcuin delighted to be called
Dean, simple deacon, Migne, vol. i. p. 31, § xxiv. : beatus Alcuinus in epistolis
suis nunquam se monachum, sed vel levitem, vel, quod illo tempore idem sig-
nificabat diaeonum inscribat, cf. Speculum, v. 41.
4 Speculum, verses 37—44.
0 Alcuin, Carissime in Christo prceceptor (Ep. 124), was inseparable from
Charlemagne in pedagogy, theology, struggles, battles, beloved teacher, theo-
logian, and author. See Schonfelder, Alcuin, 1873.
6 humillissimms is the epithet selected by Alcuinus in epitomizing his own
character; see MS. Arundel 218, fol. 2, where Alcuin is described as humil-
lissimus levitas in Deo felicitas, and Monnier, Alcuin et Charlemagne, p. 344, Sa
religion et son humilite etaient mat d I'aise au milieu de tout de richcsse. See
also Monnier, Alcuin et son influence UMraire religieuse et politique sur les
Franks, Paris, 1853.
7 A sermon book was not inconsistent with the times of the great teacher.
This form of homily was continued in Germany in ecclesiastical legislation until
the close of the fifteenth century; see Charles I. or Life of Charlemagne, pp. 85,
86 ; Werner, Alcuin und sein Jahrhundert, 1876, p. 252, and, for the English
homily, ten Brink, I. 49, 290, 291; Morley, vol. iii. pp. 350—352.
3 Alcuin held the highest monastic benefice. As Abbot he enforced the
rigorous dispensation of the Benedictine Order; cf. Ep. 43.
likewise moulded skilfully to a historical groundwork of facts dia-
metrically opposed in nature and origin. Count Guido,* 1 Guido
Comes, knight of renown, active in war, holding at Tours positions
of honour and trust,2 appeals to Alenin, Dean3 of the order of St.
Martin4 796—804, cultured priest of the school of the palace,
preceptor of one greater than Count Guido, superior to youthful
neophytes, beloved teacher of the king and emperor5 Charlemagne,
a humble6 servant consecrated to righteousness. Inspired with
religious exaltation through purpose of chivalric glorification of God,
Count Guido pleaded for a homily7 to deepen spiritual consecration
under the austerity of war, Spec. 49—64 and Liber. The devoted
friar responded with an exposition of virtue, the Liber popular
during many ages. There is some ground for believing that the
vigilant Count became successor to Alcuin,8 and to the period of his
death was Abbot of the monastery of St. Martin of Tours. The
tradition continues to embody with consistent fidelity historical facts
of Count Guido’s life, for, on authority of Lydgate :—
mence Guy de Warwick chevalier D’agleterre, qui en son temps fit plusieurs
prouesses et conquestes en Allemaigne,” etc.
That England claimed the warrior chief seems evidenced in the “address”
of the same edition of Rowlands. The first address is “To the Noble English
Nation; ” the second, “ To the Honorable Ladies of England.”
1 In similar guise the exploits of Charlemagne and his retinue of brave
warriors are glorified in Fyrumbras, or the Song of Roland in its various ver-
sions, and the victories of King Arthour in his “ table round” of noble verse.
2 Cf. Liber, Epistola Nuncupatoria, and Speculum, verses 27—-36. See
Adamson under Alcuin in Dictionary of National Biography for facts regarding
Albinus Flaccus.
3 As presiding officer of the monastic school Alcuin delighted to be called
Dean, simple deacon, Migne, vol. i. p. 31, § xxiv. : beatus Alcuinus in epistolis
suis nunquam se monachum, sed vel levitem, vel, quod illo tempore idem sig-
nificabat diaeonum inscribat, cf. Speculum, v. 41.
4 Speculum, verses 37—44.
0 Alcuin, Carissime in Christo prceceptor (Ep. 124), was inseparable from
Charlemagne in pedagogy, theology, struggles, battles, beloved teacher, theo-
logian, and author. See Schonfelder, Alcuin, 1873.
6 humillissimms is the epithet selected by Alcuinus in epitomizing his own
character; see MS. Arundel 218, fol. 2, where Alcuin is described as humil-
lissimus levitas in Deo felicitas, and Monnier, Alcuin et Charlemagne, p. 344, Sa
religion et son humilite etaient mat d I'aise au milieu de tout de richcsse. See
also Monnier, Alcuin et son influence UMraire religieuse et politique sur les
Franks, Paris, 1853.
7 A sermon book was not inconsistent with the times of the great teacher.
This form of homily was continued in Germany in ecclesiastical legislation until
the close of the fifteenth century; see Charles I. or Life of Charlemagne, pp. 85,
86 ; Werner, Alcuin und sein Jahrhundert, 1876, p. 252, and, for the English
homily, ten Brink, I. 49, 290, 291; Morley, vol. iii. pp. 350—352.
3 Alcuin held the highest monastic benefice. As Abbot he enforced the
rigorous dispensation of the Benedictine Order; cf. Ep. 43.