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EANBALD.— EANBALD II.
93
Saxon scholar, and always treated him with the
utmost consideration. Alcuin never forgot York, or
the churches and monastic houses of Northumbria.
He gave good advice to king and priest alike. He
rebuked Ethelred, and gave wise and holy counsel to
the clergy of Hexham and the monks of Lindisfarne,
Wearmouth, and Jarrow, and wrote in terms of the
most affectionate regard to the brethren at York.
Eanbald died August loth, 796.
Another of the same name succeeded. He had
been a favourite pupil of Alcuin, who wrote many
letters to him, addressing him under the name of
Symeon. In one he mentions a ship-load of metal
he was sending to cover the bell-turrets of the Minster.
Another is full of practical suggestions for the maintenance
of discipline in the diocese. Things had
become somewhat lax, for it appears that the Northumbrian
clergy had. caused some scandal by their
love of fox-hunting. He reminds the Archbishop at
the same time that the shepherd was to set a wholesome
example to the flock. Proof sufficient may be
gathered from this letter of the grave deterioration in
manners and morals which then prevailed, especially
in the monastic houses, but it conveys no precise or
specific information with respect to the great diocese
over which Eanbald H. then presided. Incidental
evidence is given of the maintenance by the Archbishop
of a large body of armed retainers. The disturbed
state of Northumbria probably rendered this
a necessity.
Alcuin wished to have ended his days at York, but
was unable to obtain Cliarlemagne's consent to his