EGBERT
326
EGBERT
dowed. From all these regenerated centres, like-
wise from the Abbeys of Echternach and St. Maxi-
min, that needed no reformation, a beneficent,
spiritual, and intellectual influence radiated in all
directions through the diocese.
Egbert was an intimate friend of Otto II, and with W'illigis of Mainz exerted a wholesome influence over the emperor, whom he accompanied on his journey to Italy in 98.3. After Otto's death he stood at first for Henry the Wrangler (Ziinker), but soon went over to Otto III and his mother Theophano. Other evidence of the religious renaissance in the Diocese of Trier is found in the admirable works of ecclesiastical art in- spired by Egbert and executed mostly in Trier itself. Among these are several valuable manuscripts: the famous "Codex Egberti", a book of Gospels written at Reichenau and richly adorned with miniatures, now preserved in the city library of Trier; the " Psalte- riimi Egberti", written in 981 and now in the chapter library of Ci\'idale (Italy), to which it was donated by St. Elizabeth of Thuringia (also called the "Codex Gertrudianus", after the Russian Grand Duchess Gertrude, who became its possessor in 1085) ; the " Co- dex Epternacensis", which contains also the Four Gospels and is kept in the Gotha library; likewise several Sacramentaries, transcripts from the "Letter Book" (Registrum) of St. Gregory the Great (596- 604), etc. The arts of the goldsmith and of the worker in enamel were particularly well cultivated at Trier. Among valuable specimens still extant are: at Trier a portable altar, at Limburg the golden case or cover- ing with richly adorned head of the so-called St. Peter's Staff, once a part of the relics of the Trier cathedral, now m the sacristy of the Franciscan church at Lim- burg. Egbert was buried in the chapel of St. Andrew, built by him near the cathedral of Trier.
HiRSCH, Jahrbucher des deiUschcn Reiehcs unter Heinrich II. (Berlin, 1862); Uhurz. Jahrbucher des deulschen Reiches unter OUo II. und Olio III. (Berlin, 1902), I; Bracn, Geschichte der Trierer Buchmalerei (Trier, 1S96); Kracs. Die Minialuren des Codex Egberti (Freiburg im Br., 1SS4); Sauerland and Hase- LOFF. Der Psalter Erzbischofs Egbert. Codex Gertrudianus, in Cividale (Trier, 1901); Beissel, Erzbischof Egbert und die by- zantinische Frage in Stimmen aus Maria-Loach (Freiburg im Br.), XXVII (1884), 260-274, 479-496; Lamprecht, Der Bil- derschmuek des Codex Egberti und des Codex Epteimacensis in Jahrbucher des Vereins von Altertumsfreunden im Rheinlande, LXX (1881). 56-122; Wattenbach. Deutsehtands Geschichls- queUen im Mitlelalter (7th ed., Stuttgart, 1904). 408 sq.
J. P. KlRSCH.
Egbert, Archbishop of York, England, son of Eata, brother of the Xorthimibrian King Eadbert and cousin of King Oolwulf, to whom the \enerable Bede dedi- cated his history; date of birth unknown; d. 19 No- vember, 766. He received his early education in a monastery, and then went to Rome with his brother Ecgred, where he was ordained a deacon. Ecgred died in Rome and Egbert immediately returned to Xorth- umbria. On the resignation of the Bishopric of York by Wilfrid II in 732, King Ceolwulf appointed Eg- bert his successor. Shortly after his accession Bede wrote a long letter to him advising him to give much time to study and prayer, to ordain more priests for the administration of the sacraments, and to translate the Creed and the Lord's Prayer into the .Sa.xon tongue. He also urged hira to strive to obtain the subdivision of many of the dioceses of the North in order that episcopal visitations might be more frequently made. He called his attention to many disorders that were prevalent and particularly urged hira to secure the pallium for himself. Acting upon this advice Egbert obtained the pallium from Gregory III at Rome in 735, and thus liecamc the second Archbishop of York, that title h.iving been lost to the Church of York ever since Paulinus had fled into Kent more than a century before. During all those years no one had sought for the restoration of that lost dignity, and this neglect was afterwards used as a strong argument in fuA-our of the precedence of Canterbury, when the well-known
controversy arose between the two sees. The restora-
tion of the pallium to Egbert increased his power and
authority over the Northern bishops, who thus became
his suffragans; and his power was still more strength-
ened in 738 when his brother Eadbert succeeded to the
throne of Northumbria.
Egbert was thus placed in a position which enabled him to carry out many reforms, and in the perform- ance of these he proved himself a strict disciplinarian; but though stern when correction and rebuke were justly deserved, he was remarkable for his sweetness and gentleness. His pupil Alcuin frequently speaks of his piet}- and energy and always refers to him in terms of the deepest affection. " He is said to have been the first prelate who possessed a mint at York. He paid great attention to the services and music of his church, introducing the observance of the Hours. He was also a benefactor to the fabric of the minster, bestowing upon his cathedral the choice work of the jeweller and the goldsmith, and giving to it figured curtains of silk of foreign workmanship. He was, in all probability, the first introducer of the parochial sj'stem into the North" (Fasti Ebor.). One of his greatest works, perhaps, was the foimdation of the famous School of York and its celebrated library. The renown of its masters and scholars soon spread through every Chris- tian coimtry, and noble youths from all parts flocked to York to be taught by the great archbishop. He him- self taught divinity, whilst his assistant AJbert, who afterwards succeeded him as archbishop, gave lessons in grammar and in the arts and sciences. The fact that the illustrious Alcuin was Egbert's pupil, sheds no little lustre on this famous school.
The archbishop's daily work has been thus de- scribed by Alcuin himself: "As soon as he was at leis- ure in the morning, he sent for some of the young clerks, and sitting on his couch taught them succes- sively till noon, at which time he retired to his private chapel and celebrated Mass. After dinner, at which he ate sparingly, he amused himself with hearing his pupils discuss literary questions in his presence. In the evening he recited with them the service of com- plin, and then calling them in order, he gave his bless- ing to each as they knelt in succession at his feet" (Mabillon, Acta SSl Ord. S.B., ad an. 815). Towards the end of his life he left the care of the school to Albert and Alcuin, giving himself more time and op- portunity to prepare for his end in peace and tranquil- lity. In this life of retirement and prayer he was joined by his brother King Eadbert, who vohmtarily resigned his throne to enter the monastery in 757. Egbert died before his brother, having ruled over the Diocese of York nearly thirty-four years. He was buried in one of the porches of his cathedral at York. His best-known work is the "De Jure Sacerdotali ", a collection of canonical regulations. Extracts from it made in the eleventh century, under the title of "Excerptiones e dictis et canoni'bus SS. patrum ' ' (Mansi, XII, 41 1-32 ; Wilkins, I, 101-12), were long current as a work of Eg- bert. Among the writings attributed to him are a "Pontificale", or series of special offices for the use of a bishop; a "Dialogus Ecclesiasticje Institutionis"; a " Confessiohale ' ', and a " Pcenitent iale ' ', both of which were written in the vernacular as well as in Latin. The "Pontificale", an important liturgical text, has been published by the Surtees Society, and his other works may be found in the second vokmie of Thorpe's "Ancient Laws and Institutes of England". In its present shape the "Pcenitentiale Egberti" (P. L., LXXXIX, 411 sqq.) contains but little from the hand of Egbert, and is a ninth-century Prankish compila- tion, puttogethermostly from Halitgar. Similarly, the "Dialogus Eccl. Institutionis" (.Mansi, XII, 4S2-S8) is said not to be from Egbert in its present form (see York; Penitf.ntial Books; Liber Pontificalis).
ForthewritinKsofEr.BERTseeP.L.. I.XXXIX. C£. Raime. Fasti Eboracenses (London, 1863), I, 94 sqq.; Mabilujn, Acta SS. Ord. S.B. (Venice, 1733). sac. III. 548-9, and s«c. IV, 148-
