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life of St. Valbert, or Wandalbert. Cave mentions other works of his, but he deserves more credit as one of those who laboured in diffusing learning. Such was his reputation, that many bishops applied to him to establish schools in their dioceses, and he was even consulted by crowned heads on these and other subjects of importance. He died in Champagne in the year 992.1

ÆDESIUS, of Cappadocia, an eclectic philosopher of the fourth century, was of a family originally noble, but reduced to. poverty. His parents sent him into Greece to learn some means of subsistence, but he returned with only a love of philosophy. On this his father turned him out of doors; but at length was prevailed upon to forgive him, and even to let him pursue his studies, in which he soon surpassed the ablest masters of his country. In order to increase his knowledge, he went to Syria, and became the disciple of Jamblicus, and after the dispersion of that school by Constantine the Great, he settled at Pergamos, where he had a very flourishing school. What he taught, however, was a composition of mysticism and imposture, and he even pretended to immediate communication with the deities, and to obtain the revelation of future events. The time of his birth or death is not ascertained.2

ÆGEATES (JOHN), a Nestorian priest, lived, according to Vossius, under the emperor Zeno, about the year 483; but Cave is of opinion that he lived some years later, as he continued his history five books after the deposing of Peter the Fuller. This was an Ecclesiastical History, beginning with the reign of Theodosius the younger, when Nestorius published his opinions, and ending with the reign of Zeno, and the deposition of Peter the Fuller, who had usurped the see of Antioch. He wrote likewise a treatise against the council of Chalcedon. Photius praises his style, but censures his principles. There is only a fragment extant of his history in the Concilia, vol. VII., and in the collections of Theodorus Lector. 3

ÆGIDIUS (surnamed ATHENIENSIS), a Grecian physician and philosopher, who flourished in the eighth century, under the emperor Tiberius II. He turned Benedictine at last, and left a great many tracts behind, some of which have been in so much credit as to be read in the schools. The principal are " De Pulsibus," and " De

Venenis." Some think there is another of this name and profession, a Benedictine also, and physician to Philip Augustus king of France, to whom they attribute a work in Latin hexameters, on the same subject, Paris, 1528, in 4to; but this is perhaps only another version. Being accidentally wounded with an arrow, he would not suffer the wound to be dressed, that he might have an opportunity of exercising his fortitude in pain.

ÆGIDIUS (DE COLUMNA), one of the most learned divines of the thirteenth century, entered into the Augustine order, and studied at Paris under Thomas Aquinas, where he became so eminent as to acquire the title of the Profound Doctor. He was preceptor to the son of Philip III. of France, and composed for the use of his pupil his treatise " De regimine Principum," Rome, 1492, fol. The Venetian edition of 1498 is still in some esteem. He also taught philosophy and theology with high reputation at Paris. He was preferred by Boniface VIII. to the episcopal see of Berri, and, according to some writers was, by the same pope, created a cardinal. He was, however, elected general of his order in 1292, and assisted at the general council of Vienna in 1311. He died Dec. 22, 1316, at Avignon, leaving various works, enumerated by Cave; which afford, in our times, no very favourable opinion of his talents, although they were in high reputation during his life, and long after. One only it may be necessary to notice as a very great rarity. The title is "Tractatus brevis et utilis de Originali Peccato," 4to, printed at Oxford, 1479, and is supposed to be the third, or second, or, as some think, the first book printed there. Dr. Clarke has described it. 2

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ÆGIDIUS (JOHN of ST. GILES), a learned Englishman of the thirteenth century, was born at St. Alban's, and as Fuller conjectures, in the parish of St. Giles's in that town, now destroyed. He was educated at Paris, where he became eminent in logic and philosophy. He then turned his studies to medicine, and became not only professor of that faculty in the university, but a celebrated practitioner in the city, and was employed about the person of Philip the French king. From Paris he removed to Montpellier, where he studied the diseases of the mind; and on his return to Paris, confined himself entirely to the study of dis

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vinity, and soon became a doctor in that faculty, and a professor in the schools. In 1223 he joined the Dominicans, and was the first Englishman of that order. This occasioned his removal to Oxford, where the Dominicans had two schools, in which he became a professor and lecturer both in the arts and in divinity, and was of great service to the Dominicans by his personal credit and reputation. A close intimacy took place between him and the celebrated Grossetete, bishop of Lincoln, who obtained leave of the general of the Dominicans that Ægidius might reside with him as an assistant in his diocese, at that time the largest in England. Leland, Bale, and Pitts ascribe some writings to him, but they seem to be all of doubtful authority. ÆGIDIUS (of ALBI). See GILLES, PETER. ÆGIDIUS, or GILES (PETER), a lawyer, was born at Antwerp in 1486. He was educated under the care of the celebrated Erasmus, with whom he lived afterwards in close friendship, as he did with the illustrious sir Thomas More, and other eminent scholars of that age. More introduces him in the prologue to his Utopia with high praise, as "a man there in his country of honest reputation, and also preferred to high promotions, worthy truly of the highest. For it is hard to say whether the young man be in learning or in honesty more excellent. For he is both of wonderful virtuous conditions, and also singularly well learned, and towards all sorts of people exceeding gentle." Sir Thomas adds, that "the charms of his conversation abated the fervent desire he had to see his native country, from which sir Thomas had been absent more than four months." He occurs also with high praise in the life and writings of Erasmus. In 1510, on the death of Adrian Blict, first notary at Antwerp, he was unanimously elected into his place. He died Nov. 29, 1533. His works are, 1. "Threnodia in funus Maximiliani Cæsaris, cum Epitaphiis aliquot et Epigrammatum libello," Antwerp, 1519, 4to. 2. "Hypotheses, sive Spectacula Carolo V. Cæsari ab S. P. Q. Antver." ib. 4to. 3. "Enchiridion Principis ac Magistratus Christiani," Colon. 1541. He edited also "Titulos Legum ex Codice Theodosiano," Louvain, 1517, folio. *

ÆGINETA. See PAULUS.

Tanner. Pegge's Life of Grossetete. - Saxii Onomasticon.

Foppen Bibl. Belgic, Dibdin's edition of sir Thos. More's Utopia.-Jo

ÆGYPTIUS. See EGIZIO.

ALFRED. See ALFRED.

ÆLFRIC, successively bishop of Wilton and archbishop of Canterbury, and one of the greatest luminaries of his dark age, was the son of an earl of Kent, and after receiving a few scanty instructions from an ignorant secular priest, assumed the habit of the Benedictine order of monks in the monastery at Abingdon, over which Athelwold then presided, having been appointed abbot in the year 955. Athelwold, being created bishop of Winchester in the year 693, settled several of the Abingdon monks in his cathedral. Among these was Ælfric; who, in return for the benefit which he had formerly derived from the instructions of Athelwold, was now eager to show his gratitude, by forwarding the wishes of his benefactor to instruct the youth of his diocese. With this view he drew up his "Latin-Saxon Vocabulary," and some "Latin Colloquies." The former of these works was published by Somuer, under the title of a Glossary, Oxon. 1659 (See SOMNER). During his residence in this city, Ælfric translated, from the Latin into the Saxon language, most of the historical books of the Old Testament: the greatest part of which translations has reached our time, having been printed at Oxford in 1698. Here, likewise, at the request of Wulfsine, bishop of Sherborn, he drew up what has been called his "Canons," but might more properly be styled, a charge to be delivered by the bishops to their clergy. They are preserved in the first volume of Spelman's Councils, and were composed, between the years 980 and 987. Some time about this last year, Ælfric was removed to Cerne Abbey, to instruct the monks, and regulate the affairs of that monastery. Here it was that he translated, from the Latin fathers, the first volume of his "Homilies." After remaining in this place about a year, he was made abbot of St. Alban's in the year 988, and composed a liturgy for the service of his abbey, which continued to be used there till Leland's time. In the year 989 he was created bishop of Wilton, and during his continuance in that see, translated, about the latter end of the year 991, a second volume of "Homilies." These are the volumes of which Mrs. Elstob issued proposals for a translation, in 1713, accompanied with the original, but did not live to publish the work. Here also Ælfric wrote his "Grammar," a supplement to his Homilies, and, probably, a tract dedicated to Sigeward or Sigeferth, containing two epistles on the Old and New Testament, which his biographer concludes to have been written between the years 987 and 991. In 994, he was translated to Canterbury, where, after exerting himself for some years, with equal spirit and prudence, in defending his diocese against the incursions of the Danes, he died Nov. 16, 1005. He was buried at Abingdon, the place where he first embraced the profession of a monk, whence his remains were afterwards transferred to Canterbury, in the reign of Canute.

ÆLIAN (CLAUDIUS), an historian and rhetorician, born at Præneste in Italy, about the year 160, taught rhetoric at Rome, according to Perizonius, under the emperor Alexander Severus. He was surnamed Μελιγλωσσα, Honeytongue, on account of the sweetness of his style. He was likewise honoured with the title of sophist, an appellation in his days given only to men of learning and wisdom. He loved retirement, and devoted himself to study; and his works shew him to have been a man of excellent principles and strict integrity. He greatly admired and studied Plato, Aristotle, Isocrates, Plutarch, Homer, Anacreon, Archilochus, &c.; and, though a Roman, gives the preference to the writers of the Greek nation. His two most celebrated works are his "Various History," and that "Of Animals." He wrote also an invective against Heliogabalus, or, as some think, Domitian; but this is not certain, for he gives the tyrant, whom he lashes, the fictitious name of Gynnis. He composed likewise a book "Of Providence," mentioned by Eustathius; and another on divine appearances, or the declarations of providence. Some ascribe to him also the work entitled "Tactica, or De re Militari;" but Perizonius is of opinion, that this piece belonged to another author of the same name, a native of Greece. There have been several editions of his "Various History." The Greek text was published at Rome in 1545, by Camillus Peruscus. Justus Vulteius gave a Latin translation, which was printed separately in 1548; and joined to the Greek text in a new edition, by Henricus Petrus, at Basil, 1555. It contains likewise the works of several other authors, who have treated on such subjects as Ælian. John Tornæsius published three several editions at Lyons, in 1587, 1610, and

Ed, Rowe Moresi de Elfrico Commentarius, a G. J. Thorkelin, 4to, Lond. 1789.-Mouth. Rey. vol. M. N. S. p. 387.

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