Introduction
Rachel Stone
In about 800, Alcuin, abbot of St Martin Tours, sent a moral treatise to Guy (Wido), count the Breton march, entitled De virtutibus et vitiis. his introduction, Alcuin said that he was writing since: ‘you entreated me with all your might write some brief exhortation for occupation, which we know you have in military matters’. Alcuin’s response discussed virtues and vices, focusing less on doctrine or devotional practices than how laymen ought behave. His aim booklet every day sight, like manual, be able consider yourself, what avoid do’. This image self-contemplation, also used other texts, leads description genre ‘lay mirror’. added: ‘Do not let either condition [habitus] layman quality secular way life [conversatio] frighten you, as if this were enter doors heavenly life.’
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