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ABBO Abbot of Fleury. * 1.1

ABBO or Albo, Monk of Fleury or S. Benedict upon the Loire, was born at Orleans, and in∣structed and Educated in the Schools belonging to the Monastery of Fleury, where he studied under Wolfaldus the Abbot; and for several years together had the Government of the Schools of that Monastery. He went afterwards to Paris and Rheims, to study Philosophy and Astronomy; but making no great Progress in them, he return'd to Orleans, where he learnt Musick. From thence he was invited over to England, where he taught publickly for the space of Two years, after which he return'd to the Monastery of Fleury, of which he was made Abbot. This did not hinder him from prosecuting his Studies. He had some Differences to adjust with Arnulphus Bishop of Orleans, which occasion'd him to write an Apology directed to the Kings Hugh and Robert, wherein he exhorts them to turn out Hereticks; among whom he reckons such as believ'd that the Revenues of the Church belong'd to them, and who had made an unlawful Seisure upon them. He would have the same thing done to those Bishops who assert that the Churches and Altars belong to them. He observes that Jesus Christ does not say that the Church is the Church of S. Peter; but that his Church is built upon * 1.2 S. Peter. From whence he concludes that his Successors cannot say that the Churches which they govern, are theirs, much less can they make a gain of them, as he says they then did every day. He likewise in his Apology gives an account of what passed in the Council of S. Dennis about the * 1.3 year 995. where he himself was present, wherein having maintain'd against the Bishops, the Right which the Monks and Laicks had of possessing several Tithes, the People rose up in Arms against the Bishops, who were forc'd to fly for it; and forasmuch as Sigwin Archbishop of Sens, who was at the Head of them had been wounded in the Flight, Abbo was accus'd of being the Author of this Se∣dition. He made his Defence in this Epistle. He wrote a Letter to Bernard Abbot of Beaulieu in the Diocess of Limoges, to disswade him from giving a Sum of Money which the Count of Thoulouse and the Archbishop of Bourges would exact from him, for the making him Bishop of Cahors. That Abbot having resolv'd upon taking a Journey to Jerusalem, was disswaded from it by Abbo, who advis'd him rather to go to Rome, whither he retir'd upon Mount Gargan; and being afterwards intreated to return into the World, to relieve his Relations, he again consulted Abbo about what he ought to do in the Case, who in a very elegant Letter return'd him this Answer, That he ought not to think of quitting his Solitude to involve himself in the Affairs of this World. As to the Question which Bernard propos'd, Whether he ought to keep or leave his Abbey? he return'd him this Answer, That Cir∣cumstances would direct him what to do; and recommends to him the using his utmost Discretion to examine in his own Conscience, which of the two was the most honourable for him, and most beneficial to others: because on one side tis a great Duty to discharge the Functions of an Abbot, when one can conduct Souls to God: but that on the other side, when there is no hopes of being able to do any good, by reason of the Wickedness of those one has to govern, 'tis more convenient to retire, to provide for ones own Salvation. Sometime after Abbo went to Rome to obtain a Confirmation of the Priviledges of his Church. He there met with Pope John XV. upon the Holy See, who was not (says Aimoin the Author of his Life) such an one as he wish'd him, or as he ought to be. Having this Pope in detestation, he return'd after he had offer'd up his Prayers in the Holy Places of God's Worship. Upon his return from this Journey, he wrote a Letter to the Abbot of Fulda, publish'd by Monsieur Baluzius in the first Tome of his Collection of Miscellanies. He was afterwards sent a second time by King Robert to Pope Gregory V. Successor to John, who threatned to lay the Kingdom under an Interdiction upon the Account of Ar∣nulphus Archbishop of Rheims. He met this Pope at Spoleto, was very kindly receiv'd by him, and obtain'd of him a Priviledge for his Abbey, by which the Bishop of Orleans was prohibited entring into that Monastery, unless he were invited thither▪ and the Monks were permitted to celebrate Divine Service in their Monastery always, even tho' the whole Kingdom were laid under an Inter∣diction by the Pope. He adjusted the Business of Arnulphus; and having engag'd his word to the Pope, that that Archbishop should be releas'd out of Prison and re-establish'd, he was intrusted to carry the Pall to him. Upon his return to France, what he had promis'd was accordingly done, and he gave the Pope notice of it. About the end of his Life, he re-establish'd the Monastery of Squires in Gascony, which was call'd the Monastery of the Rule, and in the Country Language la Reoule, where he was kill'd in the year 1004. in an Insurrection which the Monks or Women of that Country rais'd against him. Monsieur Balusius has publish'd a Circular Letter written by the Monks of Fleu∣ry, upon his Death.

Besides the Apology and the Letters of Abbo which we have already mention'd, the Author of his Life makes likewise mention of the following Tracts. Of a Letter in Hexameter Verse, in praise of the Empero•• Otho: The Verses begin and end with the same Letter, and may be read six manner of ways, which make so many different Senses. Of a Treatise directed to Odilo Abbot of Cluny, a∣bout the Harmony of the Gospel: and of another Tract concerning the Cycles of all the Years, from the Birth of Jesus Christ down to his time, which Sigibert says is a Commentary on the Treatise of Vi∣ctorius. They likewise atribute to him the Abstract of the Lives of the Popes, taken out of the Hi∣story of Anastasius the Librarian, printed at Ma•…•…ce in the year 1603. The Life of S. Edmond King of England and Martyr. Father Mabillon has given us an Excellent Collection of Canons com∣pos'd by Abbo, and dedicated to the Kings Hugh and Robert, in the second Tome of his Analects.

Abbo's stile is very pure and elegant, and his Conceptions are accurate: He was very well vers'd in the Rules of Discipline and Morality. His Zeal for the Monastical Order, and the Interest of the Monks, created him a great many Enemies: because, as he says himself, he had always in his Thoughts the protection of the Monks; and had consulted their Interest upon all occasions, and op∣pos'd all who annoy'd them.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Abbo Ab∣bot of Fleury.
• * 1.2

  [How much this Abbot is mistaken in the latter part of his Remark (which says, That our Saviour says his Church was built upon S. Peter) will appear to any who consult our Lord's Words in the Original, Matth. 16. 18. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: which words in our Version run thus, And I say unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this Rock will I build my Church. Where we may observe that he does not say, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. from whence it must be concluded that he does not mean the Person, but the Faith of S. Peter, the Rock upon which he would build his Church. This Remark seems pertinent, since the Romanists from this Text, and that of S. John, chap. 21. v. 15, 16, &c. pretend to prove the Infallibility and Universality of the Pope.]
• * 1.3

  The Coun∣cil of S. Dennis 995.