Kings & rulers > History of the reign of the Emperor Charles V. > Volume 1

242 PROOFS and illustrations.
middle ages, are collefted by that induftrious compiler,
to whom I refer fuch of my readers as deem this fmall
branch of literary hiftory an objeiS of curiolity. When
any perfon made a prefent of a book to a church or mo-
naftery, in which were the only libraries during feveral
ages, it was deemed a donative of fuch value, that he
offered it on the altar fro remedio aninuz Jure, in order to
obtain the forgivenefs of his fins. Murat, vol. iii. p. S36.
Hift. Lit. de France, tom. vi, p. 6. Nouv. Trait, du
Diplomat, par deux Benedi^iins, 410. tom. i. p.481.
In the eleventh century, the art of making paper, in the
manner now become univerfal, was invented j by means
of that, not only the number of manuferipts increafed,
but the ftudy of the fciences was wonderfully facilitated.
Murat, ib. p. 871. The invention of the art of making
paper, and the invention of the art of printing, are two
confiderable events in literary hifiory. It is remarkable
that the former preceded the firft dawning of letters and
improvement in knowledge towards the clofe of the
eleventh century; the latter ufhered in the light which
fpread over Europe at the aera of the Reformation.
NOTE XL Sect.I. p. 21. [L].
ALL the religious maxims and pra£Hces of the dark
ages are a proof of this. I fhall produce one remark¬
able teftimony in confirmation of it, from an au¬
thor canonized by the church of Rome, St. Eloy or
Egidius, bifhop of Noyon, in the feventh century.
“ He is a good Chriftian who comes frequently to
church ; who prefents the oblation which is offered to
God upon the altar; who doth not taffe of the fruits
of his own induffry until he has confecrated a part of
them to God j who, when the holy feftivals approach,
lives chaftely even with his own wife during feveral
days, that with a fafe confcience he may draw near the
altar of God ; and who, in the laft place, can repeat the
Creed and the Lord’s Prayer. Redeem then your fouls
from deftruftion, while you have the means in your
power ; offer prefents and tythes to churchmen ; come
more frequently to church j humbly implore the patron¬
age