the welfare of his people, he realized his
deficiencies, and sought to overcome them by diligent study.

He called to his court the most learned men of the world, received
personal instruction from them, and had them read to him and converse
with him while at his meals. In this way he overcame, in a measure, the
defects of his early education. He thoroughly mastered Latin, became
familiar with Greek, and learned also grammar, rhetoric, logic, music,
astronomy, and natural history. He never learned to write well, owing to
the late period of life at which he began, and to the clumsiness of the
hand accustomed to wielding the sword rather than the pen.

Among his instructors was _Alcuin of England_, the most celebrated
teacher of his time. Charlemagne established the "School of the Palace,"
and placed Alcuin at its head. Here the children of the emperor as well
as his courtiers were taught. He had his own daughters learn Latin and
Greek. France is indebted to Alcuin for its polite learning. Alcuin was
also the counselor of the emperor in the educational matters of the
empire, and it was probably his influence that led Charlemagne to adopt
such broad views concerning the culture of his people.

=General Education.=--We have seen that the prevailing idea was that
education should subserve the interests of the Church. Charlemagne
turned the current of thought toward the national idea. He believed in
religious training, but wanted to found a great State, and therefore
insisted that those things which encouraged intelligent patriotism
should be taught. He protected the Church, but insisted that the Church
was subordinate to the State, and that his will was law over both.
Consequently he required priests to preach in the native tongues rather
than in Latin, and decreed that monasteries that would not open their
doors to children for school purposes should be closed. The priests, he
insisted, should be able to read and write, should have a knowledge of
the Holy Scriptures and of the chief doctrines of the Church, and should
instruct the people in these things.

The seven liberal arts formed the basis of school instruction. Monks
were not to remain in idleness and ignorance, but were required to
teach, not only in the monasteries, but also outside of them. He also
encouraged education among his nobles, and plainly intimated that merit
and not noble birth would entitle them to favor. Charlemagne visited the
schools himself, and