The Writings of Gerbert.
GErbert was without question the most Learned Man of his Time, especially in Prophane Learn∣ing: * 1.1 for he had to his Study of the Languages and Philosophy joyn'd that of the Mathe••aticks, wherein he was a great Proficient. He informs us himself that he had compos'd several Tracts of Rhetorick, Arithmetick, and Geometry. He speaks of a Sphere which he had made, and he com∣pos'd a small Treatise of the manner of its Construction. He invented Clocks, and made one at Magdeburgh, which he regulated according to the Motion of the Polar Star, the which he view'd through a Telescope. They likewise attribute to him a Treatise concerning the Astrolabe, written in Dialogue-wise, between him and Leo the Pope's Legat. This Art made him pass for a Magician, and gave rise to the Fable of his being promoted to the Papal Chair by a Contract which he made with the Devil. He had a great Hand in all the Affairs of the State, and especially in those which related to the Church of Rheims; and was in great repute with the Emperors and the Kings of France. He behav'd himself so well in those difficult times, that he fell into disgrace with none. The Archbishop Adalberon, as well as the Princes and Princesses of his time and several others made use of his Pen to write their Letters. He wrote likewise several Letters in his own name to several Persons about the Affairs of Church and State, or about particular Affairs, or else about some Points of Learning. There is a Collection made of an Hundred and sixty of them, which are publish'd from the Manuscript in the Library of Papyrus Mason, and printed by the Care of his Brother in the Year 1611. at Paris, with the Letters of John of Salusbury, and Stephen of Tournay. They are penn'd in a very pure Stile, and such as is truly Epistolar, with a great deal of Beauty and Spirit, but they do not contain much of Ecclesiastical Affairs. He is likewise the Author of the History of the Acts made by the Council of Rheims against Arnulphus, writ with a great deal of E∣legance and Energy; which shews that he was no less skill'd in Ecclesiastical, than he was in Pro∣fane Learning. His Speech to the Council of Mouzon is a farther proof of both; as well as the Speech which he made, when Pope, for the instructing of Bishops, publish'd by Father Mabillon in the Second Tome of his Analects. In this last Piece he Remonstrates to the Bishops that the higher their Station and Dignity is, the greater Obligations they lye under of answering the height of their Post by their Sanctity and their Merits; and that their Fall is by so much the more deplorable, by how much the more the height is from which they fall: That God requires more of them than of the rest of the Clergy; and that their Faults shall meet with a severer Punishment than those of others. He explains to them the Qualifications which St. Paul requires of Bishops in his first Epistle to Timo∣thy. Afterwards he declares against Simony, which was so common in his time, that Bishops gave Money to Archbishops for their Ordination; Priests, Deacons, and other Clergy-men to Bishops. He exclaims very highly against this abuse, and exhorts the Bishops to whom he directs his Discourse, not to drive such a dishonourable Trade, but to lead an unblameable Life.