93 



pmployed, in transcribing aaid imiltiplying, copies of books. 

 Many of these manuscripts, they illuminated and embalm 

 lished in a most beautiful manner, with miniature paint- 

 ings and gilding.* By this means,, the ecclesiastics dis- 

 seminated an acquaintance with the classics and other 

 books.;-]- and also, promoted arts and manufactures. Yet 

 the degree of classical learning, thus circulated, bore the 

 stainp of the barbarism of tlie times, and of the want of 

 true taste. Rhyming , Latin verses, and a puerile style in 

 composition, with a fondness for trilling conceits, prevail- 

 ed in poetry, such as it was; and the prose of tliose days 

 was jejune and inflated, bombastic and barbarous. . 



The priests reflected deeply, in a. spirit of cordial co- 

 operation, on the best methods of swaying and governing 

 tlie mind. Considering, man, as the creature of sense, they 

 addressed themselves most elaborately to his eye and his ear: 

 they engrossed to themselves every thing that was. most mag- 

 nificent and aAvful, as far as they were able: .and, not con- 

 tent with that, they even desired to become a source of 

 aniusement,:|; a sort of masters of the revels to the people. 

 To this object they directed their shows, processions, and 

 festivals. It appears^ also, that they were jealous of the 

 minstrels, Avhom they considered as rivals in. their, profes- 

 sion. 



* See, in Coke upon Littleton, the extreme value which was set upon a 

 book called the Grail. 



t It must be confessed, however, they wei'e chiefly employed in multi, 

 plying psaltei's and missals. 



X See Warton's History of English Poetry, Godwin's Life of Chaucer. 



