Note 664 — Chapter VIII · THE EARLY YEARS OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.[497] A.D. 1028–1051. (continued 2)

I suppose that a knowledge of Greek is implied in the description given by William of Jumièges (vi. 9); “Ortus Italiâ quidam vir erat, quem Latinitas, in antiquum ab eo restituta scientiæ statum, tota supremum debito cum amore et honore agnoscit, nomine Lanfrancus. Ipsa quoque in liberalibus studiis gentium magistra Græcia discipulos illius libenter audiebat, et admirabatur.” The odd expression of “Latinitas” occurs also in the passage in the Saint Wandrille Chronicle just referred to. “Potestas secundi Richardi, velut amore diluculi, in toto Latinitatis orbe serena refulsit.” I suppose it takes in all nations of Romance speech.