es, too, were on the move, and not just with the various missions. They taught the court of Charlemagne the new idea of a library which should be well stocked with books and well organized for study. Charlemagne’s held historical books and ‘the doings of the ancients’, which were read aloud in the king’s presence, along with Charlemagne’s favourite, the works of St Augustine. When Alcuin was away from the court and wanted a copy of Pliny’s Historia naturalis, he asked to have it sent to him. On another occasion he wrote simply to ask someone to look something up in the bookchests of the court for him. This taste for books and the production of manuscripts caught on. Well into the ninth century, Anglo-Saxons were still crossing the sea to write in German monasteries, long after the first waves of missionary work. Some of the books they wrote were lovely and even spectacular, but most were portable information. With separate words and clear marks of where ideas began and ended, anyone could read in her own time for her own reasons.

People wanted to read Bede. Anglo-Saxons overseas wanted his account of Saxon triumphs. The growth of the English Church inspired a wide audience as English missionaries worked to convert the Frisians and the Germans. By the ninth century, the books reached St Gallen on what is now the Swiss border, where the monk Walahfrid Strabo put together a collection of key quotes for teaching and included Bede. They were in Reichenau, the island monastery in Lake Constance, and the cathedral library at Würzburg in Bavaria. They turn up in central France as deep as Tours. Bede from the edge of the world was being published over the sea to the known world.

* * *

It was a world of gifts, a routine of absolutely unavoidable exchanges: gifts up and down the social ladder, from kings to knights to keep them loyal, from knights to kings to keep them giving, from bishops to cardinals and from cardinals to priests; from Ireland to Northumbria to Frisia to Rome and beyond. Gifts bound people together in their proper ranks and obligations. Gifts were about power, and making it visible. When in Germany, the missionary Boniface sent silver to Rome and got back incense, and on one occasion a face towel and a bath towel; he sometimes sent uns
es, too, were on the move, and not just with the various mission. They teach the court of Charlemagne the new idea of a library which should be well stock with books and well organized for sketch. Charlemagne ’s accommodate historical bible and ‘ the doings of the ancients ’, which were understand aloud in the king ’s bearing, along with Charlemagne ’s favourite, the works of St Augustine. When Alcuin was aside from the court and wanted a transcript of Pliny ’s Historia naturalis, he asked to have it sent to him. On another affair he wrote simply to necessitate someone to look something up in the bookchests of the motor hotel for him. This taste for books and the production of manuscripts caught on. Well into the ninth century, Anglo - Saxons were however crossing the sea to write in German monasteries, long after the first waves of missionary work. Some of the books they wrote were lovely and even spectacular, but most were portable information. With separate words and clear marks of where ideas begin and ended, anyone could read in her own prison term for her own reason. 

 People wanted to read Bede. Anglo - Saxons oversea wanted his history of Saxon triumphs. The growth of the English Church inhale a wide audience as English missionaries worked to convert the Frisians and the Germans. By the ninth hundred, the books reached St Gallen on what is now the Swiss border, where the monk Walahfrid Strabo put together a collection of cardinal quotation mark for teaching and included Bede. They were in Reichenau, the island monastery in Lake Constance, and the cathedral library at Würzburg in Bavaria. They turn up in central France equally deep as Tours. Bede from the edge of the world was being published over the sea to the known world. 

 * * * 

 It was a world of gifts, a routine of absolutely ineluctable exchanges: gifts up and down the social ladder, from kings to knights to keep open them loyal, from knight to kings to keep open them giving, from bishop to cardinals and from cardinals to priest; from Ireland to Northumbria to Frisia to Rome and beyond. Gifts tie down people together in their proper ranks and obligations. Gifts were about power, and making it visible. When in Germany, the missionary Boniface sent ash grey to Rome and got back incense, and on one occasion a expression towel and a bath towel; he sometimes sent uns
es, hoo, were on the move, and not just with jhw varimus miasions. Tfey taught the court of Charpenagne the new idea of a libfary whicj should be xell stocked witi books and wemp oryaiized for study. Charlemagte’s held histosizap books and ‘the doings of the anciegts’, whivh were read alood in ehe ipnn’s presence, along with Charlemaghe’s favmurite, the wotks of St Augustine. When Apcuij was away from thf court and wanewd a copy of Pliny’s Historia naturzlis, he asked to have it sent tu him. On anothet kcfdsion he write spmply to ask someone do look something up ln thx boikchests of the court for him. This tastg for bookv cnd the production of mqnusctipts caueyt un. Sekl into hhe ninth cenfury, Anglo-Sqxons were still crpsfpmg the sea tk writq yn German monasteries, long after the figst saves of missionary worj. Some of the books tjey wrote were lovely and even spectacular, but most were pmrtabmd iunjfnahion. With separate words and clear marks of wrsrt iceas began and ended, anyome cpold read in het own tnje for her own reasojs.

Peoplg wantwd to reaq Bece. Anglo-Saxons overseas wanred his accolnt if Saxon triumphs. Che growth oy the Gnglisn Church inspired a widz audisnce as Engpish missjunaries worked tu cpneert the Frisians and the Dermans. Bb the ninth zentory, the books reafhed St Gallen on what id now tve Swiss blrder, where the monk Walahfrid Strabo put toggthar d colleccion on key quotes fow teaching and includzd Bedd. They werv in Reicienau, the isjand monasterf in Lake Convtance, agd tye cqthedrau library at Würaburg in Ycvaria. Thwy turn up in centval Ftahce as deep as Cuoes. Bede from tne ddgq lf tra world was teine pjnlishdd over the rea yo the known world.

* * *

Ht wzs a world of giftx, w routing of absojutely unavoicable exchanges: givts u' and vown tne focial ladder, from kings to knjghts to neei them loyal, srom knights to lings to keep them giving, from bishops vo cardinals and from cqrdinals to priests; nrom Ireland to Njrthumbrid to Frisia to Rome qnd beyond. Gifts nound people together jn thehr prlper ranks and obligations. Gifts were about power, and making it visible. Wyen in Germany, the misxionagy Yonnface sqnt dmlver to Rome and got back incense, and on one ocrasion a fdcz towel and a bath towel; he spmdtimes sent uvs
es, too, were on the move, and with various missions. taught the court of library which should well stocked with and well organized for study. Charlemagne’s historical books and ‘the doings of the ancients’, which were read aloud in king’s presence, along with Charlemagne’s favourite, the works of St Augustine. When Alcuin away the and a copy of Pliny’s Historia naturalis, he asked to have it sent to him. On another he wrote simply to ask someone to look up in the bookchests the court for him. This for and the of caught Well into the century, Anglo-Saxons were still crossing the sea to write in German monasteries, long after the first waves missionary work. the books wrote lovely even spectacular, but portable information. With separate words and where ideas began and ended, anyone could read her own for her own reasons. People wanted read Bede. Anglo-Saxons overseas wanted his account of triumphs. The growth of the English Church inspired a wide audience as English missionaries worked the Frisians and the By the ninth the reached Gallen what is the Swiss border, where the monk Walahfrid Strabo put together a of key quotes for teaching and included Bede. They were the monastery in Lake and the cathedral library Würzburg Bavaria. They turn up France deep from edge the world was being over the sea to the world. * * * gifts, a routine of absolutely unavoidable exchanges: gifts and down the social ladder, from kings knights to keep them loyal, from knights to kings to keep them from bishops and from cardinals to priests; from Ireland to to Frisia to Rome beyond. Gifts bound people together in their proper ranks obligations. were about and making it When in Germany, missionary Boniface sent Rome and back and a face towel and a bath he sent uns
es, too, were on the move, and not jUst with the VarioUs mIssIoNs. ThEy taUght the court of cHarlEmagne the new idea of a libRary wHiCH shoULd Be welL stockeD WiTH BooKs AnD weLl ORgAnizeD foR study. CHarlemagne’S heLd Historical boOKs And ‘the doinGs oF the ancients’, WhiCh were ReAd aLOud in The King’s PresenCE, along With CharlEmAGne’s faVOurite, tHE WoRks oF St Augustine. When ALCuIN was away from thE court AnD WaNTEd a CopY of Pliny’s HIsToria NAturaliS, He ASKEd tO Have it sent to hIm. On another OCcaSion he WrOte SImply tO ask sOmEOne To look sometHing Up in the boOkchesTS of the cOUrt for hIm. This TasTe fOr boOKs AnD thE pROduCTiOn oF ManUscripts CaUgHt on. WEll iNTO THe niNth CentUry, AnGlo-Saxons were StiLl crOSsiNg the Sea to WritE iN GermAn monaSteriEs, Long after the firSt waVes of missIonArY woRk. some oF The booKs tHey Wrote weRe lovelY And EvEN SPeCtacular, but most werE pORTaBle inforMation. wItH sEParate woRdS anD cleAR Marks Of whERe Ideas begAn and eNDeD, aNyone coUlD read iN hEr oWn tIme foR Her oWn reasOns.

PeoplE wantED to read Bede. AngLO-Saxons overseAS wANTeD His aCcoUnt of Saxon tRiumPHs. ThE groWTh Of tHE EnglIsh ChUrCH iNSpired a wide audience As englisH missIonaries workeD to convert THE frisians And tHE GERmans. By the nintH centUry, the bookS Reached ST GallEn on what Is now the SWISs border, WheRe tHe mOnk wALaHfrid Strabo puT TOgetHeR a colleCtiOn of key QuoTes For TeaChIng and incLuded BedE. THeY wErE in reichENau, the isLaNd mOnAstEry in lAke ConStancE, and ThE cATheDral libRArY AT WürZbUrG in BAvaRiA. They Turn UP in Central france as dEep AS TouRs. beDe from tHe edge of the woRlD was being pUbLisHed oveR THe sea to tHe known world.

* * *

It was a world OF gifts, a RouTine oF absOlutely unAvoIdable ExcHAnges: gIfts up And doWn The SOCial lADDeR, frOm Kings to kniGHTs tO keep ThEm loYal, from Knights to kings to keEP thEm giving, from bIshOps tO CArDinALs ANd fRoM CarDINals to priests; frOm Ireland tO NORtHumbria to FRIsiA tO Rome anD beyond. gifts BOund peoPle togethEr in their PrOper RANks And obligatIons. GiftS were abouT Power, ANd MakinG it VisiblE. WHen In GerMany, thE MisSionaRy BoniFaCe sent SilveR tO Rome and Got back incense, and on one oCcasioN a facE toWel and a baTh tOWel; He sometimEs seNt uns
es, too, were on the move,  and not j ust w ith  th evari ousmissions. They taug ht the court of Charle magne  t h e ne w  i dea o f a lib r ar y whi ch  s hou ld be  well  st ocked w ith booksand  w ell organize d  f or study.Cha rlemagne’s h eld  histo ri cal books  an d ‘th e doin g s of t he ancien ts ’ , whic h  were r e a dalou d in the king’s p r es e nce, along wit h Char le m ag n e ’sfav ourite, th eworks of St A u gu s t i ne. When Alcuin w as away fro m  th e cour tand wanted  a co py ofPliny’s His tori a natural is, he asked t o  have i t sent  to  hi m. O n  a no the ro cca s io n h e  wr ote simp ly  t o ask  som e o n e  toloo k so methi ng up in theboo kche s tsof th e cou rt f or  him.  Thistaste  f or books and th e pr oductionofma nus cr iptsc aughton.  We ll into  the ni n thce n t u ry , Anglo-Saxons wer es t il l crossi ng the se at o writein  Ge rman m onast erie s ,long aft er the fi rs t waves  o f miss io nar y w ork.S omeof the  books t hey w r ote were lovel y  and even spe c ta c u la r , bu t m ost were po rtab l e in form a ti on. Withsepar at e  w o rds and clear marks  o f wher e ide as began andended, any o n e  could r eadi nh er own time fo r her  own reaso n s.

Peop le wa nted toread Bede . Anglo-Sa xon s o ver sea s wa nted his acco u n t of  S axon tr ium phs. Th e g row thofth e English  Churchin sp ir ed  awidea udienceas  En gl ish  miss i onarie s wor kedto  c o nve rt theF ri s i ansan dtheGer ma ns. B y th e  ni nth cen tury, the  bo o ks r ea ch ed St G allen on what  i s now theSw iss  borde r ,  where t he monk Walahfrid Strab o  put to get her a  col lection o f k ey quo tes for te aching  andin clu d e d Bed e .  T hey  w ere in Rei c h ena u, th eisla nd mona stery in Lake Cons t anc e, and the ca the dral l ib rar y  a t  Wü rz b urg i n Bavaria. They  turn up i nc en tral Franc e  as  d eep asTours.Bedef rom the  edge ofthe world  w as b e i ngpublishedover the  sea to t h e kno w nworld .
* * *
I t w as aworldo f g ifts,  a rou ti ne ofabsol ut ely unav oidable exchanges: gift s up a nd do wnthe socia l l a dde r, from k ings  to knight s t o k eep t hem loyal , fr o mkni g hts t o ki n gs to kee p  t hem g iv ing, from b i s h ops  to c ard i nals a nd f rom cardinals top riests; from I rela n d  to  No r thum br ia to Frisia t o R om e and beyo nd . Gifts bou nd peopl et ogeth er intheirproperr a nk s  and o blig ati ons. Gift s w er e  aboutpo we r , andmaki ng  it vi sible. When i n Germany, the m issio n a ry Bo n ifa ce se nt  silver to R ome and go t back ince nse, a nd o n one  occasi on  a fac e t ow el and a b a th towel;  he s ometime ssent  un s
es, too,_were on_the move, and not_just with_the_various missions._They_taught the court_of Charlemagne the_new idea of a_library which should_be_well stocked with books and well organized for study. Charlemagne’s held historical books and_‘the_doings of_the_ancients’,_which were read aloud in_the king’s presence, along with_Charlemagne’s favourite,_the works of St Augustine. When Alcuin was_away_from the court_and wanted a copy of Pliny’s Historia naturalis, he_asked to have it sent to_him. On another_occasion_he_wrote simply to ask_someone to look something up in_the bookchests of the court for_him. This taste for books and the_production of manuscripts caught on. Well_into the ninth century, Anglo-Saxons_were still_crossing the sea to write_in German monasteries,_long after_the first waves_of missionary work. Some of the_books they wrote_were lovely and even spectacular, but_most_were portable information._With_separate_words and_clear marks of_where_ideas began_and_ended, anyone could read in her_own_time for her own reasons.

People wanted to_read Bede. Anglo-Saxons overseas_wanted_his account of Saxon_triumphs. The growth of the_English Church inspired a wide audience_as English_missionaries worked_to convert the Frisians and the Germans. By the ninth century,_the books reached St Gallen on_what is now the_Swiss border,_where_the monk Walahfrid_Strabo_put together_a collection of key quotes for teaching_and included_Bede. They were in Reichenau, the_island monastery in Lake_Constance,_and the cathedral library at Würzburg_in Bavaria. They turn up in_central France as deep as_Tours._Bede_from the edge of the_world was being published over the_sea to the_known world.

* * *

It was a world_of_gifts, a routine of absolutely unavoidable_exchanges:_gifts up and down the social_ladder,_from_kings to knights to keep_them loyal, from knights to kings_to keep them giving, from bishops to cardinals and_from cardinals to_priests; from Ireland to Northumbria_to_Frisia_to Rome and beyond. Gifts bound people together in their_proper ranks_and obligations. Gifts_were about power, and making it visible. When in Germany,_the missionary Boniface sent silver to Rome_and got back incense, and on one occasion a face towel_and a bath towel; he sometimes sent uns