LETTER to BISHOP ATHELHARD
(793 AD)

AEDILHARDUM (ATHELARDUM) ARCHIEPISCOPUM DOROENSIS CIVITATIS. (Anno 793 vel seq.).

Translation adapted from G.F. Browne, Alcuin of York, (S.P.C.K, 1908), pp. 94-97

[...] BE a preacher; not a flatterer. It is better to fear God than man, to please God than to fawn upon men. What is a flatterer but a fawning enemy ? He destroys both, himself and his hearer. [...]

 [..] praedicator, et non adulator. Melius est Deum timere, quam hominem; plus Deo placere, quam ^[153A] homini blandiri. Quid est adulator, nisi blandus inimicus? Ambos perdit, se ipsum et suum auditorem. [...]

You have received the pastoral rod and the staff of fraternal consolation; the one to rule, the other to console; that those who mourn may find in you consolation, those who resist may feel correction. The judge's power is to kill; yours it is to make alive.

14 Virgam accepisti pastoralem et baculum consolationis fraternae: illam ad regendum, istum ad consolandum. Ut moerentes consolationem habeant in te, et contumaces correctionem sentiant per te. Potestas judicis est, occidere; tua vero, vivificare.

These, that is the bishops , are the lights of the holy church of God, the leaders of the flock of Christ. It is their duty actively to raise the standard of the holy cross in the front rank, and to stand intrepid against every attack of the hostile force. These are they who have received the talents, our King the God Christ having gone with triumph of glory to His Father's abode; and when He comes again in the great day of judgment they shall render an account. (Mt 35)

 Isti sunt, id est sacerdotes, luminaria sanctae Dei Ecclesiae, doctores gregis Christi. Isti in prima acie vexillum sanctae crucis non segniter sublevare debent, et ad omnem impetum hostilis exercitus ^[154B] intrepidi stare. Hi sunt qui talenta, redeunte Rege nostro Deo Christo cum triumpho gloriae ad paternam sedem, acceperunt; et revenienti eodem magno Judici in die ultima [Cod. Sal., ultimae] discretionis rationem reddituri sunt, quantum quisque ex praedicationis labore lucratus esset in officio suo (Matth. XXV).

Be of one mind in piety, constant in equity. Let no terror of human dignity separate you, no blandishments of flattery divide you; but join together in unity in firm ranks of the fortress of God.

Estote unanimes in omni consilio pietatis, et constantes in omni judicio aequitatis. Nullus [Cod. Sal., nullius] vos humanae dignitatis terror separet, nulla adulationis ^[154C] blandimenta dividant; sed quasi acies castrorum Dei firmissima unitate vos conjungite.

It is truly said that you are the light of all Britain, the salt of the earth, a city set on a hill, a candle high on a candlestick (Mt 5.13-15).

 Vos estis, dicente Veritate, lux totius Britanniae (Cod. Sal., illius provinciae nostrae), sal terrae, civitas super montem posita, lucerna super candelabrum elevata (Matth. V, 13, 14, 15).

Comfort those who are cast down, strengthen the humble, bring back to the way of truth those who wander, instruct the ignorant, exhort the learned, and confirm all by the good examples of your own life.

Pusillanimes consolamini (I Thes. V, 14), humiles roborate, errantes in viam veritatis reducite, ignorantes instruite, scientes exhortamini, et bonis exemplis vitae vestrae omnes confirmate,   

LETTER to KING KENULF
(793 AD)

EPISTOLA LXIII. AD COENULVUM REGEM MERCIORUM. (Anno 796.)

Translation adapted from G.F. Browne, Alcuin of York, (S.P.C.K, 1908), pp. 109-110

TO the most excellent Coenulf, King of the  Mercians, the humble levite Albinus wishes health.

Excellentissimo viro  Coenulvo regi Merciorum humilis levita Albinus salutem.

Your goodness, moderation, and nobility of conduct, are a great joy to me. They are befitting to the royal dignity, which excels all others in honour, and ought to excel also in perfectness of conduct, in fairness of justice, in holiness of piety. The royal clemency should go beyond that of ordinary men, as we read in ancient histories, and in holy Scripture where it is said¹—Mercy and truth exalt a throne (Prov 20.28);

Multa mihi laetitia est de vestra bonitate, modestia et nobilitate morum, sicut regiam dignitatem decet omnino, ut quanto sublimior est honore caeteris, tanto nobilior sit omni morum perfectione, justitiae decore, pietatis sanctitate; quia clementia regis omnium hominum, ut in antiquis legitur historiis, excellere decet consuetudines; etiam et sancta Scriptura dicente: Misericordia et veritas exaltat solium (Prov. XX, 28).

Have always in mind Him who raised you from a poor position and set you as a ruler over the princes of His people. Know that you are rather a shepherd, and a dispenser of the gifts of God, than a lord and an exactor.

Illum semper habeas in mente,  qui te egenum exaltavit, et posuit super principes populi sui. Rectorem te magis agnosce, pastorem et dispensatorem donorum Dei, quam dominum vel exactorem.

Have always in mind the very best features of the reign of your most noble predecessor Offa; his modest conversation ; his zeal in correcting the life of a Christian people. Whatever good arrangements he made in the kingdom to thee by God given, let your devotion most diligently carry out; but if in any respect he acted with greed, or cruelty, know that this you must by all means avoid. For it is not without cause that that most noble son of his survived his father for so short a time. The deserts of a father are often visited on a son.

Semper in mente habeas optimos  nobilissimi antecessoris tui mores, modestiam in conversatione, et studium in corrigendo vitam populi Christiani. Quidquid vero ille in regno tibi a Deo dato bene disposuit, hoc tua diligentissime prosequatur devotio: si quid vero avare vel crudeliter gessit, hoc omnino tibi cavere necessarium esse agnosce. Non enim sine causa ^[232C]  nobilissimus filius illius tam parvo tempore vixit super patrem; saepe merita patris vindicantur in filiis [Ms., filios].

Have prudent counsellors who fear God; love justice ; seek peace with friends; show faith and holiness in pious manner of life.

Habeas consiliarios prudentes, Deum timentes, justitiam amantes, pacem cum amicis desiderantes, fidem et sanctitatem in conversatione pia ostendentes.

For the English race is vexed with tribulations by reason of its many sins. The goodness of kings, the preaching of the priests of Christ, the religious life of the people, can raise it to the height of its ancient honour; so that a blessed progeny of our fathers may deserve to possess perpetual happiness, stability of the kingdom, and fortitude against any foe ; that the Church of Christ, as ordained by holy fathers, may grow and prosper. Always have in honour, most illustrious ruler, the priests of Christ; for the more reverently you are disposed to the servants of Christ, and the preachers of the word of God, the more will Christ, the King pious and true, exalt and confirm your honour, on the intercession of His saints.

Gens enim Anglorum multis propter peccata fatigatur tribulationibus, quae regum bonitate, et sacerdotum Christi praedicatione, et populi religione erigenda est ad antiqui culmen honoris; quatenus benedicta patrum nostrorum progenies perpetuam mereatur possidere felicitatem, et praesentis regni stabilitatem, et contra inimicos fortitudinem, ut Ecclesia Christi crescat et proficiat, sicut a sanctis Patribus ordinata erat. Sacerdotes Christi semper, clarissime rector, honorifice habeas, ^[232D] quia quanto plus Christi servos, et verbi Dei praedicatores ^[233A] venerabiliter observas, tanto magis Christus rex verus et pius tuum honorem exaltat et confirmat, sanctis suis intercedentibus.

May the Most High Eternal King grant that you reign in lasting prosperity and attain eternal happiness in the Kingdom for which your lordship longs.

Summa aeterni regis pietas vos longaeva prosperitate regnare concedat, et perpetui regni beatitudinem vobis tribuere dignetur, domine desiderantissime.

LETTER to AEDILBERIT

LETTER to AEDILBERIT
AD 797 (Ep. 88//178)

EPISTOLA CLXXVIII. AD AEDILBERTUM EPISCOPUM.

Translation adapted from G.F. Browne, Alcuin of York, (S.P.C.K, 1908), pp. 137-139

To the shepherd of chief dignity Aedilberit , the bishop, and to all the congregation of the servants of God in the Church of St. Andrew Hexham, Alcuin, the humble client of your love in Christ, wishes health.

Praecipue dignitatis pastori  Aedilberto episcopo ^[448B] et omni congregationi in ecclesia sancti Andreae Deo servientium, Alcuinus vestrae clientellus charitatis [Canis., sanctitati] in Christo salutem.

Earnestly desirous of spiritual friendship, I am at pains to address to your sanctity the poor letters of my littleness, both that I may renew the pact of our ancient intimacy and that I may commend myself to your most sacred prayers. And if according to the Apostle the prayer of one just man availeth much, how much more the prayers of a most holy congregation in Christ, the intercessions of whose peaceful concord daily at the canonical hours are believed to reach heaven, while the secret prayer of each single one beyond doubt reaches to the ears of the omnipotent God. Wherefore with all humility of entreaty, so far as my request may avail with your piety, I commend myself both to the united prayer of all and to the individual prayer of each ; that by the prayers of your sanctity, freed from the chain of my sins, I may with you, my dearest friends, enter the gates of life.

Specialis [Cod. Sal., spiritalis] amicitiae cupidus, vestrae sanctitati parvitatis meae litterulas dirigere curavi, ut et pactum antiquae familiaritatis innovarem, et me vestris sacratissimis commendarem orationibus. Et si unius, juxta Apostolum, multum valet deprecatio justi (Jac. V, 16), quanto magis et totius sanctissimae congregationis in Christo, quorum quotidie canonicis horis pacificae unitatis [Cod. Sal. et Can., unanimitatis] postulationes coelum penetrare credendum est. Etiam et singularis uniuscujusque in secreto oratio ad aures omnipotentis Dei pervenire non dubitandum est [Cod. Sal., esset]. Quapropter ^[448C] cum omni petitionis humilitate meipsum etiam unicuique, et communibus omnium et specialibus singulorum, quantum mea valet apud vestram pietatem deprecatio, commendo orationibus; ut per vestrae sanctitatis preces, meorum catenis peccatorum absolutus vobiscum, fratres charissimi, vitae januas ingredi merear.

O most noble progeny of holy fathers, successors of their honour and their venerable life, and inhabiters of their most beautiful places, follow the footsteps of your fathers ; that from these most beautiful habitations you may attain by the gift of God to a portion in the eternal blessedness of those that begat you, to the beauty of the kingdom of heaven.

O nobilissima sanctorum progenies Patrum! illorum honoris venerabilisque vitae successores et  pulcherrimorum habitatores locorum vestrorum sequimini vestigia Patrum, ut de his pulcherrimis habitationibus ad eorum, qui vos genuerunt, aeternae beatitudinis consortium, in coelestis regni pulchritudinem, Deo donante, pervenire mereamini.

Learn to know God and to obey His precepts, Himself saying to you 'If thou wilt enter into life, keep the Commandments'. Therefore the reading of the Holy Scriptures is necessary, for in them each may learn what he must follow and what avoid. Let the light of learning dwell among you, and give light through you to other churches, that the praise of you may sound forth in the mouth of all, and your reward may remain eternal in the heavens. Each man shall receive the reward of his own work.

Dei discite scire et implere praecepta, illo dicente: ^[448D] Si vis ad vitam ingredi, serva mandata (Matth. XIX, ^[449A] 17). Ideo necessaria est sanctorum lectio librorum, quatenus in eis quisque intelligat [Al., inveniat], quid sequi, vel quid cavere debeat. Maneat vero in vobis lumen scientiae, et per vos aliis luceat ecclesiis, ut vestra laus in ore resonet omnium, et vobis in coelis merces maneat aeterna. Unusquisque proprii laboris mercedem accipiet.

He who sows not does not reap ; he who learns not does not teach. And such a house as yours without teachers cannot be, or can scarcely be, safe. Great is alms-doing, to feed the poor with food for the body; but greater is it to satisfy the hungry soul with spiritual doctrine. As the provident shepherd takes care to supply his flock with all that is best, so the good teacher ought with all pains to procure for those under him the pastures of eternal life. For the increase of the flock is the glory of the shepherd, and the multitude of the wise is the safety of the world.

Qui non seminat, non metet, et qui non discit, non docet. Et talis locus sine doctoribus aut non, ^[449B] aut vix salvus fieri poterit. Magna est eleemosyna pauperem cibo pascere corporali; sed major est animum [Cod. Sal., animam] doctrina spiritali satiare esurientem. Sicut pastor providus gregi suo optima providere pascua curat, ita doctor bonus suis subjectis perennia pascua vitae omni studio procurare debet. Nam multiplicatio gregis, gloria est pastoris, et multitudo sapientium, sanitas est orbis (Sap. VI, 26).

I am aware that you, most holy fathers, fully know all this, and accomplish it ; but the love of him that dictates this has dragged the words from his mouth, believing that you are willing to read with pious humility that which I dictate with devoted soberness in the love of God. Again and again I beseech you that you deign to have my name in memory among those of your friends.

Scio vos, sanctissimi Patres, haec optime scire et voluntarie implere. Sed charitas dictantis ab ore rapuit verba, credens vos pia velle humilitate legere, quae sobria in Dei dilectione dictavi devotione. Iterum iterumque obsecro ut mei nominis inter familiares ^[449C] vestros memoriam habere dignemini.

May the God Christ Himself hearken to your kindliness interceding for the whole Church of God, and grant that we may attain unto the glory of eternal beatitude, my dearest brothers.

Almitatem vestram pro tota Dei intercedentem Ecclesia ipse Deus Christus exaudiat, vosque ad aeternae beatitudinis gloriam pervenire concedat, charissimi fratres.

LETTER to CHARLEMAGNE
AD 796 (pp. 117-119)

EPISTOLA XLIII. AD CAROLUM MAGNUM. (Anno 796.) PL 100.207

Adapted from translation of Charles W. Colby (ed.), Selections from the Sources of English History (London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1899), pp. 17–19.

TO the most greatly desired lord David the king, Flaccus Albinus his pensioner wishes eternal health in Christ. [...]

Domino piissimo et praestantissimo et omni honore dignissimo David regi Flaccus Albinus verae beatitudinis aeternam in Christo salutem. [...]

I, your true Flaccus, am doing as you have urged and wished. To some who are beneath the roof of St. Martin I am striving to dispense the honey of Holy Scripture; others I am eager to intoxicate with the of wine of apples of grammatical refinement; and there are some whom I long to adorn with the knowledge of astronomy, as a stately house is adorned with a painted roof.

Ego vero Flaccus vester secundum exhortationem et bonam voluntatem vestram, aliis per tecta sancti Martini sanctarum mella Scripturarum ministrare satago; alios vetere antiquarum disciplinarum mero inebriare studeo; alios grammaticae subtilitatis enutrire pomis incipiam; quosdam stellarum ordine, ceu picto cujuslibet magnae domus culmine, illuminare gestio.

that the garden may not be confined to York only but may bear fruit in Tours, and that the south wind blowing over the gardens of the Loire may be charged with perfume. Then shall it be once more as is said in Solomon’s Song from which I quote:

ut non sit tantummodo in Euborica hortus conclusus, sed in Turonica emissiones paradisi cum pomorum fructibus, ut veniens Auster perflaret hortos Ligeri fluminis, et fluant aromata illius, et novissime fiat, quod sequitur in Cantico, unde hoc assumpsi paradigma: 

This is a matter which has not escaped your most noble notice, how through all the pages of Holy Scripture we are urged to learn wisdom. In toiling toward the happy life nothing is more lofty, nothing more pleasant, nothing bolder against vices, nothing more praiseworthy in every place of dignity; and moreover, according to the words of philosophers, nothing is more essential to government, nothing more helpful in leading a moral life, than the beauty of wisdom, the praise of learning and the advantages of scholarship.

Haec sunt quae vestra nobilissima intentio non ignorat, quomodo per omnes sanctae Scripturae paginas exhortamur ad sapientiam discendam. Nil esse ad beatam vitam sublimius adipiscendam, nil ad exercitium jucundius, nil contra vitia fortius, nil in omni dignitate laudabilius; etiam et secundum philosophorum dicta nil ad regendum populum necessarius, nil ad componendam in optimos mores vitam melius, quam sapientiae decus, et disciplinae laus et eruditionis efficacia.

And a little later: The old age of those who have trained their youth in honest arts and have meditated in the law of the Lord day and night, becomes more learned with age, more polished by use, wiser by the lapse of time, and reaps the sweetest fruits of studies long grown old .In which letter whoever whishes may read much in praise of wisdom and the studied of the ancients, and may learn how the ancients sought to flourish in the beauty of wisdom.

Et post paululum: «Senectus vero eorum qui adolescentiam ^[210A] suam honestis artibus instruxerunt, et in lege Domini meditati sunt die ac nocte, aetate fit doctior, usu tritior, processu temporis sapientior; et veterum studiorum dulcissimos fructus metit.» In qua epistola, de sapientiae laude, et veterum studiis plura potest, cui placuerit, legere, et intelligere quantum veteres in decore sapientiae florere studuerunt.

Ever advance towards this wisdom, beloved of God and praiseworthy on earth, and delight to recognize zeal; and adorn a nobility of worldly lineage with the greater nobility of the mind. In which may our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the virtue and wisdom of God, guard thee, exalt thee, and make thee enter the glory of his blessed and everlasting vision.  

  In hanc vestram Deo amabilem, et vitae laudabilem semper proficere et gaudere agnovi diligentiam; et nobilitatem saecularis prosapiae majore mentis nobilitate exornare. In qua Dominus noster Jesus Christus, qui est virtus et sapientia Dei, te custodiat, et exaltet, et ad gloriam beatae et perpetuae visionis suae pervenire faciat.

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LETTER to ANTONY