[475] See Mullinger, J. B., The Schools of Charles the Great, p. 120, for Alcuin’s silly explanations of astronomical phenomena.
[476] The Vernacular Studies would naturally be confined chiefly to the schools situated in Ireland. It is possible that they were taught in some of the schools in Scotland and in those schools on the Continent which had Irish pupils. It might be remarked that some writers attribute the early literary development of vernacular poetry in Northern England to the example set by the Irish monks in using their native tongue for poetry.
[477] Perhaps Clement, the successor of Alcuin at the Palace School, should also be ranked as one of the greatest Irish scholars. It is well known that he was a famous Greek scholar and is believed by many to have been a much greater scholar than Alcuin, his rival in royal favour. We have not yet succeeded in collecting sufficient evidence to warrant his inclusion in the present connection.
[478] Lecky, Rationalism in Europe, III., p. 5.
[479] Zimmer, H., Irish Element, p. 62; Healy, John, op. cit. p. 369.
[480] Healy, John, op. cit. pp. 569–571.
[481] Healy, John, op. cit. p. 571.
[482] Zimmer, H., Irish Element, pp. 62–63.
[483] Annals of the Four Masters, I., sub anno 784 A.D.
[484] Published by Walckenaer, Paris, 1807; by Letronne in a more critical edition, Paris, 1814; by Gustav Parthey, Berlin, 1870.