TRANSMISSION AND ADAPTATION
Scott G. Bruce
Despite the dangers of long-distance travel in an uncertain age, monks ability and promise were continually on move between monasteries northern Europe tenth eleventh centuries. The Rule Benedict generally frowned itinerant monks, but its precepts made allowance for individuals to leave abbey precincts legitimate reasons with abbot's permission. Some took roads official capacity as royal escorts, like Anglo-Saxon monk-bishop Coenwald, who 929 escorted two sisters King AEthelstan court Henry Fowler Germany. Coenwald opportunity this journey visit local abbeys, including St. Gall, where he entered names his kinfolk king into confraternity book. Others traveled more discreetly monastic centers teachers students. In 985, Abbo Fleury went Ramsey England, stayed years instruct customs community. Likewise, throughout century, promising youths sent Loire Valley learn life. Among them Oda, became archbishop Canterbury (941–958), nephew Oswald, later York (972–992). Whatever their purpose or destination, these brethren bore intimate knowledge own houses well a curiosity about traditions foreign they encountered among whom lived short time.
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