Testimonies concerning John Scotus Erigena.

At that time, it was a workshop of fine letters original: "bonarum literarum officina"; a metaphor for a productive center of learning. Ross, in his book On Kings, brings forth these points concerning Ireland from a certain ancient writer:

While English studies were suspended [by Gregory I from the time of Augustine], science flourished in Scotland and Ireland; indeed, Ireland was then the storehouse and foster-mother of all knowledge. There studied Saint Chad, formerly a disciple of Saint Aidan, Bishop of Lindisfarne, afterwards Bishop of York, and finally of Lindsey and all Mercia; his fellow student in Ireland was Egbert.

---- and many men distinguished in character and knowledge from England. I have said that he was called an Irishman for the reason that he devoted himself to letters there. The same happened to a certain Mark, who was commonly called the Irishman original: "Hibernus", although he was a Briton by nation; but he was educated in Ireland, as Eric of Auxerre writes of him at the end of Book 1 of The Miracles of Saint Germain. The same happened to Saint Patrick, Pelagius, and many others.

To embrace my conjecture in a few words: I am of the opinion that this John was called Erigena from his birthplace, as it seems. Now, Ergene is a significant part of the county of Hereford, bordering Wales. Indeed, it was one of the kingdoms of Wales at this time, tributary to Alfred. In this region, I find a place called Eriuven, a word which differs little from Eriugen (and contracted as Ergene). Now the whole land is called by the modern Welsh themselves Erynug, or Ereinuc. Whoever observes how great the changes usually are in distorting other barbarian words to the Latin standard will not hardly grant me these slight alterations in this word. Truly, the Book of the Church of Llandaff in Volume 3 of the English Monasticon, and also Giraldus Cambrensis in the Description of Wales chapter 3, will teach more fully concerning this small region: of which the latter notes it was part of the diocese of St Davids original: "Menevenſis"; where Asser was Archbishop, who was a relative of the Asser who heard John Erigena teaching. The book Domesday also mentions this little province, in which I read thus:

These were the customs of the Welsh in the time of King Edward T.R.E. stands for "Tempore Regis Edwardi" in Archenfield, that is, Ergene.

Furthermore, both Giraldus and the Llandaff book note that the Scots In this period, "Scoti" often referred to the Gaels of Ireland or Scotland sometimes occupied the borders of the Welsh; from which the surname of "Scot" could have been added to our John. But to return. These things also seem to be confirmed by the fact that John Erigena is expressly called a Welshman by writers. So says the compiler of the Annals of Hyde, and so says Ross in his book On Kings. Indeed, he himself hints not obscurely that he is a Welshman in a poem to Charles the Bald ----

John the stranger original: "Advena Joannes"
I devote to my Charles.

For the word Wallus Welshman and advena stranger/foreigner are equivalent in meaning. He who wrote the life of Grimbald reveals that John was sent as an envoy with Asser to Flanders to invite Grimbald, in the name of Alfred. It does not lack probability that Master John performed this embassy with his disciple. John had heard through Fulk (now, in the year 882, Archbishop of Reims, lately Abbot of Saint-Bertin) of the fame of Grimbald of Saint-Bertin; having returned to England in the year 883, he had recommended him to Alfred. From this followed that embassy in or about the year 884; for Grimbald arrived here in the year 885. These things are said lest anyone should think that Erigena remained in Gaul at this time. But more on this matter soon.

Finally, it can be asked of those who contend that this John was Irish by race and house, why he alone out of so many of his countrymen was surnamed Erigena. Certainly the Saxon Annals testify, Eric of Auxerre testifies, and others among the most learned James Ussher of Armagh.