[1] Alcuin ad Elipandum, iv. 13---"Audi me, obsecro, patienter, scholastica Hispaniae congregatio, tibi loquentem, quae novi semper aliquid audire vel praedicare desideras, non contenta ecclesiae universalis Catholica fide, nisi tu aliquid per te invenies, unde tuum nomen celebrares in mundo." [2] Lateran Council, 1215. [3] See, however, Alcuin's letter to the clergy of the province, Ep., 71. Migne, vol. ci. p. 1594. [4] Rohrbacher, "Hist. Univ. dé l'Eglise Cathol.," ix. 309. That this error was due in any sense to the influence of the Arabs in the neighbouring territories of Spain, it is of course impossible to affirm, but at all events the reform was quite in the spirit of the verses of the Koran: "O ye who have received[1] the Scripture come to a just determination between us and you, that we worship not any except God, and associate no creature with Him: and that the one of us take not the other for lords, beside God." And "They take their priests and monks for their lords besides God."[2] [1] Chap. iii. p. 39. See Sale's note: "that is, come to such terms of agreement as are indisputably consonant to the doctrine of all the prophets and Scriptures, and therefore cannot reasonably be rejected." [2] Chap. ix. Mohammed charged the Jews and Christians with idolatry both on other grounds and because "they paid too implicit an obedience to their priests and monks, who took upon them to pronounce what things were lawful and what unlawful, and to dispense with the laws of God." See Sale, _Ibid._ _Cp._-- Haughty of heart and brow the warrior came, In look and language proud as proud might be, Vaunting his lordship, lineage, fights, and fame, Yet was that barefoot monk more proud than he. And as the ivy climbs the tallest tree, So round the loftiest soul his toils he wound; And with his spells subdued the fierce and free. Till ermined age and youth in arms renowned Honouring his scourge and hair-cloth meekly kissed the ground. And thus it chanced that valour, peerless knight, Who ne'er to king or kaiser veiled his crest, Victorious still in bull-feast or in fight, Since first with mail his limbs he did invest, Stooped ever to that anchoret's behest; Nor reasoned of the right, nor of the wrong, But at his bidding laid the lance in rest, And wrought fell deeds the troubled world along, For he was fierce as brave, and pitiless as strong. --SCOTT'S "Don Roderick," xxix. xxx.