A testimony whereof is, that there are still living
at this day some of their scholars, who are as well versed in
the Greek and Latin tongues as in their own, in which they
were born."[1] Elsewhere he mentions some of these scholars
by name. Albinus, already referred to as the first English
abbot of St. Augustine's, "was so well instructed in literary
studies, that he had no small knowledge of the Greek tongue,
and knew the Latin as well as the English, which was his
native language."[2] "A most learned man" was another
disciple, Tobias, bishop of Rochester, who, besides having
a great knowledge of letters, both ecclesiastical and general,
learned the Greek and Latin tongues "to such perfection,
that they were as well known and familiar to him as his
native language."[3]
[1] H. E., iv. 2, tr. Sellar.
[2] Ib. v. 20.
[3] Ib. v. 23.
Canterbury's most notable scholar was Aldhelm, the
first bishop of Sherborne. In him were united the
learning of the Canterbury and the Irish monks, for he
studied first under Maildulf, the Irish monk and scholar
who founded and gave his name to Malmesbury, and then
under Hadrian.
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