Note 925 — Chapter IX · THE CLERGY AND MONKS.

We do not sufficiently prize our own advantages, and the blessings which the mercy of God has vouchsafed to us in this respect. But let one fact be mentioned, which ought to arrest the attention of even the least reflecting man. In the ninth century there was not a single copy of the Old and New Testaments to be found in the whole diocese of Lisieux. We learn this startling fact from a letter sent by Freculf, its bishop, to Hrabanus Maurus. “Ad haec vestrae charitatis vigilantia intendat, quoniam nulla nobis librorum copia suppeditat, etiamsi parvitas obtusi sensus nostri vigeret: dum in episcopio, nostrae parvitati commisso, nec ipsos Novi Veterisque Testamenti repperi libros, multo minus horum expositiones.” Opera Hrabani. Ed. Colvener. ii. 1.