Grammatical questions submitted to Alcuin by Karl.—Alcuin and Eginhart.—Eginhart’s description of Charlemagne.—Alcuin’s interest in missions.—The premature exaction of tithes.—Charlemagne’s elephant Abulabaz.—Figures of elephants in silk stuffs.—Earliest examples of French and German.—Boniface’s _Abrenuntiatio Diaboli_.—Early Saxon.—The earliest examples of Anglo-Saxon prose and verse 280 CHAPTER XVIII Alcuin’s latest days.—His letters mention his ill health.—His appeals for the prayers of friends, and of strangers.—An affectionate letter to Charlemagne.—The death scene 298 APPENDICES A. A letter of Alcuin to Fulda 305 B. The report of the papal legates, George and Theophylact, on their mission to England 310 C. The original Latin of Alcuin’s suggestion that a treatise by Felix should be sent to the Pope and three others 319 D. The Donation of Constantine 320 E. Harun Al Raschid and Charlemagne 324 INDEX 325 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE Plate I. St. Martin’s, Tours, before the pillage _To face page_ 210 Plate II. The Tour St. Martin 211 Plate III. The Tour Charlemagne 212 Plate IV. The Tomb of St. Martin 213 Plate V. Some remains of Marmoutier 222 Plate VI. Early capital at Cormery 227 Plate VII. Elephant from robes in the tomb of Charlemagne 290 Plate VIII. Inscription worked into the above robe 291 Plate IX. Silk stuff of the seventh or eighth century 292 Plate X. Archbishop Boniface’s form for renouncing the devil 295 Plate XI. The earliest piece of English prose 296 Plate XII. The earliest piece of English verse 297 ALCUIN OF YORK. CHAPTER I The authorship of the anonymous Life of Alcuin.—Alcuin’s Life of his relative Willibrord.—Willibrord at Ripon.—Alchfrith and Wilfrith.—Alcuin’s conversion.—His studies under Ecgbert and Albert at the Cathedral School of York.—Ecgbert’s method of teaching.—Alcuin becomes assistant master of the School.—Is ordained deacon.—Becomes head master.—Joins Karl.