Charles Platts

“ The latter volume was Earle's most popular work; it largely helped to popularise the results of the new science of comparative philology, as applied to the English language. With the later developments of comparative philology Earle hardly kept pace. He was always more interested in tracing the development of language as an instrument of thought, and in analysing the various elements which had contributed to the formation of English, than in purely philological science. ”

“ In ecclesiastical matters Earle was never a partisan, though his historical sense made him value whatever illustrated the continuity of the English church or conduced to the seemliness of public worship. In 1849 he proceeded M.A., was ordained deacon, and was elected to the professorship of Anglo-Saxon, then tenable only for five years. At the time the chair was little more than an elegant sinecure, but Earle raised it to a position of real usefulness before his retirement in 1854. Thenceforth he assiduously pursued his Anglo-Saxon studies. ”

“ In 1857, when he took priest's orders, he was presented by his college to the rectory of Swanswick, near Bath, which he retained till death. In 1871 he was appointed to the prebend of Wanstrow in Wells cathedral, and from 1873 to 1877 he was rural dean of Bath. ”