HALLAMS MIDDLE AGES—ALLEGED IGNORANCE OF THE CLERGY

Sir,—When reading Hallam's *History of the Middle Ages* a short time ago I was startled by the following passage which occurs amongst other evidences of the ignorance of the clergy during the period subsequent to the dissolution of the Roman Empire. "Not one priest in a thousand in Spain about the age of Charlemagne, could address a common letter of salutation to another."—*Hallam's Middle Ages*, vol. iii. p. 332. And for this statement he refers to Mabillon, De Re Diplomatica, p. 52. On referring to Mabillon, I find that the passage runs as follows:— "Christiani posthabitis scripturis sanctis…