* 1.1XI. CHAP.
1.2. &c. The beginning of the Raign of the Charlemagne, &c
4 Of two learned English Virgins.
* 1.21. THE year of Grace seaven hundred six∣ty nine is notable through the whole Church, for the beginning of the Raign of that most famous King, and afterward Em∣perour, Charles sirnamed the Great:* 1.3 Hunting∣don and Hoveden doe thus write o•• it: In the said year, which was the fifteenth of the Raign of Kenulf King of the West-Saxons, began a great change of the right hand of the most High: For then did Charles the Grea•• King of France upon the death of his Father King Pipin, beg••n his raign: to whom thirty years after the Roman Em∣pire which had been glorious so many ages, became subject: and continues so to his Successours to these times.
2. We declared before how a great league of freindship and Royall presents interven'd between the two late Kings Pipin and Egbert King of the Northumbers: The like freind∣ship and society did Al••ed now King of the Northumbers demand of Charles the glorious Successour of King Pipin. This we collect from a Letter written by him and his Queen Og••••fu to S. Lullus Arch-bisop of Mentz.* 1.4
In which he desires him to assist with his counsell and fa∣vour the Embassadours which he had sent to his Lord and Patron the most glorious King Carl, that peace and freindship many be esta∣blished between them.
3. In the same Epistle likewise which is an answer to one sent him from S. Lullus in be∣half of the disquietted Churches in his domi∣nion,* 1.5 the same King and Queen not only humbly begg the Holy Bishops prayers for themselves, but likewise send him a Cata∣logue of the Names of their speciall kinred & freind•• lately dead, of whom they desire him to be mindfull at the Holy Altar: assuring him that the same Charity shall be extended to all his relations in their Churches. Indeed we can scarce meet with any Epistle•• written in the••e times▪ but this is generally on•• clause and part of the busines.
4. About this time saith Harpsfeild,* 1.6 there flourished in Brittany two Religious Virgins, famous for their piety and learning calld Ri∣ctrudis and Gisla, Disciples of the famously learned Alcuin, who taught very many a•• this time in Brittany. He was not unmindfull of the advice given him by his Master, Arch∣bishop Egbert, of going to Rome and thence returning into France: But seeing how use∣full and even necessary his abode was in Brit∣tany, he delayd the said iourney, till a fitt op∣portunity was presented him, as we shall de¦clare. And as touching the foresaid Illustrious Virgins we shall in due time mention the kind and learned Letters which passed be∣tween them and their Master, when he lived in France.