[21] Dial. ii. 85. Benedict there narrates that he saw the whole world collected into one ray of the sun, in which the soul of Germanus, bishop of Capua, ascended to the heavens.
[22] Ps. cvi. 1.
[23] Francia, both here and in Alcuin’s Letter 35, where he writes as if with these words in his mind: “I came to France, under pressure of ecclesiastical need, and to confirm the reason of the Catholic Faith.”
[24] There is a tradition that Alcuin wrote the Office for the Mass on Trinity Sunday. See [Appendix A].
[25] The “hereditary right” seems to indicate that by these “benedictions” the library of York is meant, of which more will be said later on.
[26] “Talentum sui domini”, sc. Elcberti?
[27] The perpetual presence of Sigulf was needed for the celebration of masses, Alcuin remaining a deacon. There is a curious mention of Alcuin’s part in the administration of Holy Communion, and of the action of the young King Louis when receiving at his hand; see [p. 32].
[28] We can date this meeting fairly closely by the fact that Karl granted a privilegium to Parma on March 15, 781.
[29] The bishop George whom we know as intimately concerned with the affairs of Hadrian I and with British interests was Bishop of Ostia. If this is he, we shall hear of him again in connexion with the Archbishopric of Lichfield.
[30] Abbat of St. Martin of Tours, a curiously early connexion of Alcuin with his future home. To him Alcuin addressed the earliest letter of his which is extant; see [p. 205].