CHARLES THE GREAT 
25 
reign the poorer landowners were allowed to join, two 
or three together, in equipping a soldier, instead of 
attending in person. 
Although Charles promulgated many laws, he did zur u 
not attempt to make any code of laws for the whole Terms 
Empire. The various races, Franks, Lombards, etc.,, 
were tried according to their own laws, which Charles 
caused to be reduced to writing wherever possible. 
But regulations for the whole of the Empire were pro- 
mulgated in the Capitularies issued from time to time. 
In these Capitularies there are many passages enforc- 
ing obedience to the laws of the Church, which show the 
interest taken by the Emperor in religious matters. 
No less striking was his zeal for education. At his Encour- 
court he established a palace school, attracting to it as She 
teachers learned men from abroad, of whom the most CATION 
famous were the English Alcuin and Paul the Deacon, 
the historian of the Lombards, 
He was greatly concerned about the ignorance of the 
clergy and did all he could to improve their education. 
Writing to an abbot he complains that in letters 
received from the monasteries he has noted ‘correct 
thoughts but uncouth expressions: for what pious 
devotion dictated faithfully to the mind, the tongue un- 
educated on account of the neglect of study was not 
able to express without error. We therefore began to 
fear lest perchance as the skill in writing was wanting 
so also the wisdom for understanding the Holy 
Scriptures might be much less than it rightly ought 
to be.”1 
It was not only for the education of the clergy 
however that he was eager. He desired cathedral and 
Robinson, ‘‘ Readings from European History,” p. 145: